Sun of a Sailor Goes Cruising

Ocean sailing is not something to be taken lightly.  Of course, safety is always the most important thing.  Followed closely by comfort. As I planned my trip offshore, up the Atlantic Coast, I knew that rounding Cape Hatteras was a serious issue.  After all, they don't call Cape Hatteras the 'Graveyard of the Atlantic' for nothing.  The issue is that there are shoal waters extending 10 - 15 miles offshore.  Additionally, the warm waters of the Gulf Stream flow northward and meet right at the Cape with the southward flow of the cold waters from the Labrador Current.  Enough info to know that if you sail around Hatteras in the wrong conditions or at the wrong time you might be both unsafe and certainly uncomfortable... Here's a map that shows the Cape, the Islands of the Outer Banks, the Diamond Shoals, and the many shipwrecks that lie at the bottom of the Ocean. As I got close to this leg of the trip I spoke to some of the local mariners who told m...

My crew has been an important part of my trip up to this point...  Since I am planning off-shore sailing during this part of the journey I need crew to help me with the routine of sailing the boat. Off-shore sailing entails sailing round the clock as you go from port to port.  I have done several overnight sails before on small boats in addition to the long term sailing I did as a  CoastGuardsman... So - I know that on a small boat, sailing round the clock is not a single-handed venture. For the first leg of the trip Janet was my crew...  Now - don't laugh - even though Janet doesn't do much on the boat she can and does help me when needed...  For example, when we first left Miami we had a semi-serious issue where water was back-siphoning through our bilge pump.  The boat was flooding and the pump had shorted out...  Janet manned the 'manual bilge pump' while I sorted out the problem... Additionally, on one of the days, we were planning an earl...

When I was about 14, my Dad took me sailing in Florida for the first time. We were on the 24’ vessel “Green Ayes,” and we tooled around the Intracoastal Waterway for about a week. What I remember most from that trip is that I was a surly teen who spent most of the time in the dark boat cabin listening to Green Day, and getting sea sick on day 1. I also remember watching my Dad and knowing even as a teenager that he was truly in his element. During an insane lightning storm, as I cowered in the cabin, Dad was on deck in his foul weather gear singing the theme to Gilligan’s Island. About 20 years later, here we are. While some stuff has changed (we’re on Green Ayes II not Green Ayes I, and we’re all a little greyer), we still share the same spirit of adventure. Kendra and I arrived to Cape Canaveral to find the boat well outfitted and Dad already well on his way to a base tan. We spent the day  chilling out since Kendra and I took an overnight flight from Seattle. That fl...

We did the first overnight sail of the cruise when we left Port Canaveral and sailed 160 miles to Fernandina Beach, FL.  I say sailed but actually we motor-sailed about 2/3 of the way.  Winds have been light which is fine and the engine is running great and getting lots of good 'engine exercise'.  To get ready for the overnight watches we all made sure we took some day-time naps (essential whether going overnight or not!)  Anyway after dinner I went below to get some sleep and Rich and Kendra took the watch at about 8pm... this was right after I beat Rich at our first game of Cribbage... We really didn't set a firm watch schedule so I just slept a couple hours and then went topside...  To my surprise I did not see Rich and Kendra in the cockpit!!! had they gone overboard!!@@##... rather... they were sitting comfortably up on the bow of the boat keeping their eyes peeled as lookouts and allowing auto-pilot to drive the ship... When I went up on the bow to s...

So - Janet and I left Miami last week and stopped in Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Fort Pierce and Cape Canaveral. I have been hanging out at a nice Marina in Port Canaveral for the past few days... Janet left this past Wednesday and just this morning (Saturday) I picked up Rich and Kendra who will be joining me for the next leg of the journey... I picked up all the stuff yesterday that they wanted me to get from their grocery list and I'm amazed the boat is still floating!!!  and that I found some place to stow all the goodies..  we'll be eating well this next week... We plan to leave Port Canaveral tomorrow (Sunday) morning and head to Fernandina Beach, FL which is an over-night sail of about 170 miles.  We'll hang out in Fernandina then head to Savannah, GA (another overnight sail) and ultimately Charleston, SC... That is the plan for the next week... One of the highlights of these past couple days was my visit to the Kennedy Space Center.  Totally cool...

OK.  So we (Janet and I) got underway on the cruise and left Miami this past Thursday. We sailed to Fort Lauderdale and hung out there for a day... Left Lauderdale and sailed to Palm Beach... Left Palm Beach and sailed to Fort Pierce which is where I am as of this post... Gonna hang out here for the day  - then sail to Cape Canaveral... So far we have covered about 110 nautical miles.  And have already experienced quite a few things on our adventure including: Overheating Engine 1 hour after leaving Miami!  Found a wad of seaweed fouling the cooling pump... problem resolved.. Locating the Gulf Stream right offshore of Ft Lauderdale and cruising an average of nearly 10 knots (normal speed is around 5 knots).. Take a look at this short video for a feel for the sail in the Gulf Stream:   https://youtu.be/f1bmWvEYys8 Failed bilge pump with water coming into the bilge - Figured out that this was due to a backwar...

OK I'm gonna do a BLOG.  I wasn't planning on it - but I had lots of people ask me to do a blog... and maybe some of them really mean it... So I can't really believe it, but I have actually begun my year-long cruising adventure... I thought this first post should be a couple thank yous to all of those who have helped make this a reality... First - DAD...  He instilled the spirit of adventure in me and particularly the love of all things related to the sea...  He is with me always and I know he will look over me and keep me safe.  Many of you know that I believe he is re-incarnated as a Dolphin... and nearly every time I sail here in Florida I spot him swimming along side...  Saw him just the other day when I was out with brother Michael and his family... Second - JANET...  How many husbands have a wife who support such a crazy idea?!!  I give Janet a ton of credit for making this trip a reality.  She has taught me to live life for toda...