Ship's Log 2000 "DNA"

04/05 Lee Stocking Island (23.46N 76.06W) - Caribbean Marine Research Center. Another interesting day. We left Black Point around 8:15AM, went through the cut into the Exuma Sound (deep water), and started motor sailing south. Up till now we had been on the Great Bahama Bank where the water is less than thirty feet deep. The Sound is in the hundreds of feet.
     It was a nice run and we were doing about six knots towing the dinghy. The wind kept building as the weather front was chasing us. We had rolled in the jib and was sailing with only the main when we reached Lee Stocking Island six hours later. The wind was blowing about 20 when Andi went forward to take down the main. Somehow the 'sail stop' bent and allowed the sail to come out of the track as it came down. Andi had her arms full of mainsail and couldn't let go and I was trying to keep us into the wind. We had no choices. I continued to let the main down and Andi continued to gather it in. How she did it, I don't know. When it was down, I was able to go forward with some lines and secure the loose sail for later. The seas had started to build and we were getting wet from the spray.
     Thirty minutes later we made our final turn and was heading down the back side of Lee Stocking for the Research Center's moorings. One of the boaters came on the radio and recommended we get closer to the island. Too late, we had just bumped the bottom twice when he was hailing us. We turned and DNA came to a stop. We weren't going fast so I felt we were ok. After a few minutes we accepted the offer for some help. Five dinghies came out and we tried everything. We tried pushing, pulling, healing DNA by pulling her over with a line attached to the top of the mast, to dropping an anchor in the channel and winching to the anchor. The anchor came to DNA. At some point in all this fun, the dinghy line rapped around the prop.
     I got a knife went into the water and was holding on the swim ladder. I would dive under, swim to the prop, work on freeing the line, and return to the ladder. As I was returning to the ladder from the second dive my foot hit something. When I surfaced, I told Andi, "This is stupid.'. She asked why. I turned loose of the ladder and walked to the side of DNA where the prop was closer. DNA draws between five and six feet of water and we were hard aground. I had kicked the bottom.
     After all our efforts, DNA was more aground than before. There was apparently a small ridge between us and where we wanted to be, so we decided to give up and wait for the next high tide. One of the boats traveling with us, passed and ran aground about 200 yards farther on. They were able to get him free. We didn't go any where for the next five hours. About an hour before high tide and dark, we were still stuck. I shifted all fuel and water to the port side, swung the boom out over the side and climbed out on it while Andi maneuvered DNA. First left, then right, then left, trying to plow a trench to deeper water. I had just went below and was calling for some help when she broke through. Andi's eyes got bigger and bigger as she realized we were finally moving. With a little help from our friends, we're safely secured to the mooring as dark closed in. Andi's final comment was "I got us stuck, I got us off".
     The next day we explored the island. That included walking a trail, about two miles, to the highest point in the Exumas. The third day we rested.

04/08 George Town - Great Exuma Island (23.31N 75.45W) - Stocking Island - Elizabeth Harbor. We arrived about 1:30PM after a four hour motor trip with the wind on the nose.
      On the way, we decided to try fishing, for the first time. The line was about seventy feet behind DNA when we got a hit. While I grabbed the pole and started tightening the drag to slow it down, Andi was yelling "DO SOMETHING!". The pole began to bend, the line continued to sing, and Andi continue to provide support: "DO SOMETHING! IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL THE LINE!". And so it did. He jumped twice and looked to be about 4ft long and 6in around. It was too far back to tell what kind. Later we found a lever on the real that appears to be a break. We have re-threaded the real with new line and can't wait till next time. I hope Andi's near the pole.
     We went to town for a look around. Did some shopping and tried to get E-mail. I think we tried every pay phone in town and when the direct line at the phone company hang-up the forth time, I gave up. Later that evening, we went to a beach party and cookout the boaters were having. Not a bad first day. We got back to DNA about midnight.
    Update 04/14 - The day after the party the bad weather started. Today is the first day everyone isn't trapped on their boats by the high winds and rain. A boater we met at the party, remembered us saying our ice-box wasn't working, and came by with refrigerant and the gauges to put it in. We didn't know how much to use and it wasn't in the owners manual, so we guessed. It had started to cool again, but not as good as it did before.
     While we were trapped, the head stopped up. After checking each step in the system, we found the problem was the hose that connects the head to the holding tank. It had built up a calcium deposits, over the years, till it became plugged. We tried to root it out with no luck. Finally, we had to use a hammer on the hose to break it up. The hose was old and did not take kindly to the hammer. We used duck-tape to patch the holes as best we could. If the wind is just right, I think we missed some. They don't carry our size hose here so we may have to wait till we return to the US, around August.
    Update 04/18 - We have finally been able to get off DNA and do some looking around. We went to the phone company again and was able to exchange e-mail but couldn't update the web page. ATT.Net's stupid restriction on a page size of 3k prevented the update. You will be forced to view 2000 in sections, if I can ever get it to work. We have spent $108.50 so far, and it's not updated yet. The computer is not enjoying George Town very much. Twice it has fallen from where it was setting. The case has broken in several places. Except for the CD drive, it's still works. I can't believe it.
    Update 04/23 - The dinghy motor is getting worse. I bought 2 new plugs and less than two days later one plug went bad and shorted out. The motor is getting hotter than I think it should. I changed the oil in the foot but t didn't help. I've got to find a way to restore our confidence level in the dinghy.
     One of the boaters came up with an idea of dinghy race using an umbrella as a sail. It could not be attached to the boat and only one crew member could hold it. I think over forty boats entered. It was about two miles away, so we rode over with a friend. There was a cookout afterwards. It was a lot of fun.
    Update 05/02 - Last week was race week in George Town. We had to move away from town to make room for the racing fleet and the race course. Because of our outboard, trips to town were out. We got a new outboard today. The old one started making allot of noise yesterday. We took it apart and found the overheating problem in a stopped up water line to motor. Unfortanily it was after the screw heads twisted off on the impeller case. After taking it to several places in town, with no luck, we put out a call on the boaters net and found a three year old 3.5hp Nissan. With a little J.B.Weld and 5200,  I got our old motor back together. If it runs tomorrow, we will keep it as a spare. If the new motor works out we plan on getting out more and do some exploring/snorkeling several spots around George Town.
    Update 05/07 - This weather is starting to get old. The wind has not let up for over two weeks. The day we put the new motor on the dinghy, and started back to DNA, the waves were so bad we broke one of the seats. I got on the boaters-net and found a replacement donation. With a little sawing and fiberglass I think it's going to work. The seat bracing still requires some work. It's still a little weak from the break.
     We plan on taking DNA to the marina, this week, to get fuel and have our ice box checked out.

05/12 Long Island - Calabash Bay (23.40N 75.21W) - Left George Town with another boat for a few days of snorkeling. During the 5.5 hr motor trip, we decided to try fishing again. Twice we hooked a nice 5 or 6 pound fish and twice it broke the line. Once Andi had it within 5 ft of the boat. We have replaced the line with new 20lb test and Andi has made some new lures using strips of cloth and knitting thread.
     We explored a couple of reefs and one of the beaches. Our friends are teaching me how to snorkel. We also met a couple from Texas on another boat that came into the anchorage. They are off on an around the world passage.

05/13 Rum Cay - Port Nelson (23.38N 75.52W) - The farthest point east we have ever been. We will be heading back west when we leave here. We motored about seven hours today. Fished all the way without a bite. Within 15 minutes after anchoring, Andi caught our supper. We went ashore and walked about a mile to the Sumner Point Marina. They gave us a short tour and were very nice. They have a smoke-house, where they dry fish, attached to the Bar-B-Q. We also checked out the reefs from the dinghy using our glass bottom bucket. The current was strong and the reefs were just below the surface, so we decided not to go in the water.

05/15 Rum Cay - Sandy Point (23.40N 74.57W) - We move to the west end of Rum Cay to check out the reefs there. There are very few fish and the wind is blowing pretty strong. We decided to explore the beach and probably move on tomorrow.

05/16 Conception Island (23.51N 75.07W) - By far the most beautiful anchorage we have been in. We will take photos to post on the page when we get back.
    Update 05/20 - Still here. This is a cool place. We explored a creek that you can only enter at high tide. Once in, you only have about two hours and it's like being in the everglades. We brought back some conch to use for fishing bate and to make a conch horn to blow at sunset.
     Yesterday we went on a four hour hike with our friends. We took the path across the island to the other side, down the beach, climbed the cliff, down the bluff past the shipwreck on the reefs, up two more hills, down through the thick woods/brush, and out on the beach in a lagoon on the north/east side. We beached combed for about an hour and found some stuff we could use on the boat. After decided no one was going to carry it, we put it down and started back.
    Update 05/22 - Beach party - There were about six boats in the anchorage. One was a fishing trawler with four boys on board. They offered to share their catch (Wahoo) and the party was on. Each boat brought a dish and we built a fire on the beach for the fish. It was fun meeting the other boaters and sharing stories. After joining in with the boys, I no longer believe I can still play Frisbee.

05/24 George Town - (23.30N 75.46W) - Pulled up the anchor at 6AM and motored from Conception Island to George Town. We wanted to enter the anchorage with the sun at our back. We dropped anchor in Elizabeth Harbor at 1:15PM.
    Update 05/29 - One day we took the dinghy and explored Crab Cay, south or George Town. At the top were the ruins of a plantation. It was abandoned around 1830, I couldn't find the history of why. The view of the harbor was impressive. We also explored the remains of a still hull ship wreck on northeastern shore.
     My tooth broke off next to a filling, so I had to checkout the local dentist. He was very nice, there was no pain, and the price was very reasonable. I came close to losing the tooth, but he was able to repaired it. We plan on heading north in the next couple of days.

05/31 Leaf Cay near Lee Stocking Island - (23.47N 76.08W) - Pulled up the anchor at 7:25AM and dropped it at 12:19. We put up the main and ran the motor because there was very little wind. We had no luck trying to catch our supper, not even one bite. We are anchored in 11ft of water off a rocky shore and we are the only boat.
    Update 06/03 - We have explored the surrounding islands and beached by dinghy. There are also several nice reefs in the area that have more fish than I have seen on any of the other reefs we have looked at. One casualty, the current grabbed our glass-bottom bucket out of Andi's hand and carried it off.
     Because we are still the only boat here, I have been able to snorkel around the boat and shower on deck in the nude. Andi is a little more conservative. Total freedom, this is what I thought it would be like.

06/04 Little Farmer's Cay - (23.58N 76.19W) - The thimble size jelly fish began to show up so we decided to head north. Left at 7:45 on a rising tide and anchored at Farmers 11:35. We made a quick trip to town to pull down e-mail and look around. We only saw two people while we were there.

06/07 Black Point settlement on Great Guana Cay - (24.06N 76.24W) - Pulled anchor at 8:30AM and left Little Farmer to motor up the Banks. After an hour of not finding a channel with enough water for DNA, we decided to go outside, up the Sound. Dropped anchor at noon and went ashore to check out the town.
     In town we stopped by Lorene's. a small cafe we heard about. While drinking a coke we mention to Lorene that we never had conch that we liked. While we sat and drank our coke, she went into her kitchen and whipped up a small batch of conch and served it to us. Free, it was very good. That was the first time we enjoyed conch. It was so good that, that night we and another couple went there for conch and fish dinners. Fantastic, this is a place everyone should stop.
      The next morning we pulled anchor and motored to the cove just south of the point. There was a nice beach there, we went ashore and walked to the other side. Don went down a path to see some ruins. I saw some lizards so I stayed on the beach. This is a nice anchorage and well protected from the north.

06/08 Big Major Spot at Staniel Cay (24.11N 76.28W) - Motored two hours and dropped anchor at 3:00 P.M. The next morning we dinghyed around and went to the Thunderball cave and snorkeled. Later in the day, the weather got bad. thunder, lighting, rain, and wind. On the 10th it rained all day. When we though it had stopped, we went to the store. But got rained on, on the way back.

06/11Cambridge Cay in the Exuma Park - (24.18N 76.32W) - Pulled anchor at 9AM and stopped by Staniel Cay Marina to top off fuel. We then went out to the Exuma Sound and motored to Cambridge, dropping anchor at 12:40.
     We dinghy to shore, took a path to the other side of the island, and climbed to the top of a cliff on the Sound side of the island. We could see DNA at anchor behind the island. It was an impressive sight. To the east was the Sound for as far as the eye could see. North and south a narrow band of islands. To the west, the Banks as far as the eye could see. DNA was the only boat in sight.
    Update 06/12 - We had the anchorage all to our selves till this after noon. We are now sharing it with a nice size cruiser and a large mega yacht that's traveling with two 18 to 20 ft chase boats numbered #3 and #4.
    We also had a visit from the park ranger. Nothing wrong, we had volunteered to deliver a shipment of new t-shirts for the park,  from George Town.

06/15 Shroud Cay in the Exuma Park - (24.32N 76.48W) - Pulled anchor at 9:15AM and sailed to Shroud, dropping anchor at 3PM. It was just about high tide, so we dinghyed up the creek to the other side of the Island. The long way around. There was a nice beach, and a path that goes up to the top called Camp Driftwood. That was a place were in 1960 a man lived like Robinson Cruso. To this day cruiser have been leaving their cards, t-shirts, flags and what ever, to show that they were there. We found an empty bottle and put our card in it and left it. On the way back we took the short cut out of the creek.
     The next morning at 8:00 A.M. at high tide, we went to the creeks on the south end of the island. On the way out of the creek we saw a big shark, about five feet. A little further we saw mama shark, a litter bigger. Don tried to get close. Further on, guess what we saw? Daddy shark, and it was not afraid. It came to us, right under the dinghy. He was bigger then the dinghy. That's when I told Don I don't want to play any more. And we left!!

06/16 Norman's Cay - (24.36N 76.49W) - Pulled anchor at 9AM and motored, dropping anchor at 10:15AM.
    Update 06/17 - Windy, windy, windy. We went to McDuff's for lunch, hamburgers are really good here. After, we dinghyed over to the dry land to look for some Sandy Dollars. Then  we went further north of Norman's to a pond to see two caves that are there.  On the way back we hit bottom and broke the shear pin on the motor. It was a good thing we were close to a beach. We beached the dinghy and fixed it, then got on our way back to DNA. As we approach the last bend the current got rough, the waves were bigger then the dinghy. They were coming over the side. As Don kept the motor going, I kept bailing out water. We made it though and beached the dinghy to recuperate. When we got on our way again, surprise, surprise the motor would not start. Guess who got their exercise today? I rowed us a 1/2 back to DNA, good thing the current was in my favor.
    Update 06/18 -Windy again. We dinghyed to the dry land again, but we went on the inside this time. I had to go look for more Sandy Dollars as the others all broke doing our adventure yesterday. Don left me out on the beach looking , while he dinghyed along the small channel. While he was in the dinghy he spotted a shark about 4ft long. He likes to chase them. After a while we notice the weather was looking bad, so we headed back. About 5-10 min. before we got to DNA, the wind picked up a lot and I got to bail out water again. As the waves started to come over the side. We made it back just in time, before a Gail Storm hit.
    Update 06/19 - Rain, Rain, Rain all day. The wind is very strong about 40 are so. When we got up this morning, there was 4 boats here. Through out the day boats have been coming in to get out of the weather. At less 11 more are here.

06/20 Nassau - (25.05N 77.20W) - The skies were clear so we decided to make a move.   Pulled anchor at 7:45AM and motored/sailed to Nassau. The skies were clear and wind around 10. We made good time, and dropping anchor in Nassau (off B.A.S.R.A.) at 2PM. Andi caught a ten pound fish that our fish book said was excellent eating. So I flayed it and put in the frigid.
    Update 06/21 -  Today we spent $120 on groceries, stopped by a local marina for a long hot shower, and ate the fish Andi caught. Andi did the fish and I did the baked potatoes. It was super.
    Update 06/29 -  It's been a nice stay in Nassau. We spent a night in a marina to play in there pool and visit with some of my relatives from out of town. We had a nice sit-down dinner on there yacht and had a nice visit.
     After several trips to the casino, with not much luck, we are ready to start heading west.

06/30 Russell Light - (25.29N 78.38W) - Pulled anchor at 7:40AM and motor/sailed 72 miles and dropping anchor at 7:40PM.

07/01 Miami Beach FL (25.47N 80.10N) - Anchorage next to Government Cut. Long day, we pulled anchor at 6:25AM and dropping anchor in Miami at 8:40PM. We crossed the banks and entered the gulf at Gun Cay around 1PM. The trip was relatively relaxed until we ran into a thunder storm in the middle of the Gulf Stream around 4PM. The rain was so hard you could hardly see the bow of DNA. We got some good experience playing with the radar to filter out the rain. We were able to miss most of the lighting by altering course south and staying in front of the storm as long as possible. I think we ducked the worst half.

0705 Miami Beach FL - (25.48N 80.09W) - Pulled anchor at 9:15AM motor around to the anchorage near the public ramp, dropping anchor at 9:45AM. The weather has been rainy for the last several days. It cleared up a little yesterday, just in time for the 4th's fireworks. We have move to the other anchorage to take on supplies a nearby grocery.

07/06 Ft. Lauderdale FL - Lake Sylvia - (26.06N 80.07W) - Pulled anchor at 7:30 and went outside for the trip. We motored up the cost about three miles off shore. It was a nice trip and we dropping anchor at 12:30AM.

07/07 Ft. Lauderdale FL - Coole's Landing - (26.07N 80.09W) - Pulled anchor at 8:30AM and motor up the New River. and arrived around 9:30AM. We came to Ft. Lauderdale to see a man about a new ice box system for DNA and checkout some other local businesses we have heard about.

07/09 Delray Beach FL (26.25N 80.04N) - We anchored in a basin opposite the Delray Harbor Club where we anchored last Christmas. Just before reaching Delray we had some excitement. We met a large cruiser throwing a huge wake. as he passed, we turned into his wake and the bow went about 2ft under the water. The bow anchor broke lose and started taking chain out of the locker. We stopped DNA and pulled up and secured the anchor. There was no damage. Losing the anchor was our fault. We had unshackled it to make room for the anchor lines at the marina and not put it back when we got underway . A good case for a check list.

07/10 Ft. Pierce FL - (27.28N 80.20W) - We left Delray at 8AM and motored up the ICW and dropped anchor at 7PM. Andi has reluctantly agreed to a overnight passage off shore. I am checking to see if the weather will cooperate.

07/12 Ortega River Boat Yard, Jacksonville FL (31.16.44N 081.42.33W) - We pulled anchor at 7:30AM and went outside. Andi wanted to stay in sight of the shore so most of the day we paralleled the coast. Later that afternoon we had to angel farther off shore to get around Cape Canaveral. Most of  trip we motored/sailed and arrived off Jacksonville Beach around 1PM.
         After dropping sail, we motored up the ST. Johns River to the city of Jacksonville. We arrived around 5PM and drop anchor to wait for the bridges to reopen at 6PM. We pulled into our slip at the Ortega River Boat Yard at 7:30PM.
    Update 07/22 -  To date, we have installed a new head and hose and have taken down the sales for some minor sewing repairs. A friend has a sewing machine and said he would help.      
        Andi has decided to return home for a visit with her family. Her bags are packed and she is scheduled to leave tomorrow morning. One of her sons is taking his family to Disney World and wants her to come with them. She will also be returning to Chattanooga with them. I will stay on DNA to install the SSB and complete other projects.
    Update 12/01 -  It's about time!!! First, I want to apologize to all the friends who have e-mailed asking what's going on. Please don't take it personal, you are not the only one I haven't send a response to. I have been a little in the dull drums lately. I'll try and bring you up do date. DNA is still in Jacksonville FL, Andi has decided not to return to DNA, and I have decided not to leave DNA. Andi is staying in Chattanooga to spend some time with her kids and grandkids. She will probably return for visits, but passage making is out for now. I plan on heading south around the first of the year. 
     New equipment: * SSB - I was able to locate a new ICOM 710 on the Boat US auction website for $900 and some good cruiser friends give me a ham ICOM AH-4 automatic antenna tuner. Because of the expense, I decided not to insulate the backstay at this time. I temporally ran a length of copper-rope wire with an insulator at each end, to the top of the mast. I connected it to the tuner with marine type GTO 15-14 AWG cable. To test it out I grounded to tuner to the engine block with a length of copper wire (not ribbon) and the radio to one of the chain plates. I talked with a vessel in Boston harbor that reported I had a good signal. I have also bee able to reach every station I could hear. I think I will leave the setup alone for now. Note: Because of an AH-4 restriction, I am only operating the 710 at 60 watts.     * Replaced our rusty anchor chain. I was able to shop around and purchase 200 ft of new 5/16 proof coil for $1.03 a ft. I put 100 ft on each anchor.      * An s/v friend gave me an older size 26, 12-speed bike. This has made trips to the grocery a lot quicker. I'm not sure if it doesn't require moor physical labor. I also haven't figured out where I'm going to stow it.     * A recently retired pilot friend, on a cruiser, gave me a six-man life raft with a stainless steel caring cage. He was cleaning out his storage locker, preparing to get under way. After exploring several options, I determined it was a little too large for DNA. I passed it on to a friend with a 42' s/v that he charters out of the keys. I also gave him our old outboard motor. He wanted to play around with fixing it and I wanted the locker space.    * Another s/v friend had an air compressor setup with a sixty ft hose. He used to dive under the boat. I was able to the get the $100 display compressor from The Home Depot for $75. It took another $50 to make up the hose. I am currently shopping around for a regulator.     * The new compressor created another problem. It was electric and would run on my small 140-watt inverter. I went back to the Internet and found a new 1500-watt inverter on Ebay for $300. Note: If you are keeping score, you are right. I did paid $300 to operate my $75 compressor. Me, myself, and I are still debating this one. We do know we can now use the toaster when cruising.

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