Ship's Log 1999 "DNA"
01/01 Ross Yacht, Clearwater FL (27.58.33N 082.49.07W) -
This is DNA wishing you a Happy New Year from a deserted boat yard in FL.
Update 01/09 - Volvo located the problem and sent the correct injector sleeve. The motor and transmission are now repaired. Monday, we will schedule DNA's hall out to replace propeller shaft.
Update 01/15 - DNA pulled, bottom cleaned, and the shaft replaced. We have rented a car to re supply and clear customs. We plan to leave, for Marathon FL, Sunday or Monday depending on weather and complete securing DNA for cruising.
I also want to thank Competition Marine in Tampa and Ross Yacht in Clearwater for all their help. If you're ever in trouble in the area, I recommend you give these folks a call.
01/18 Pass A Grill FL (27.42.41N 082.43.55W) - First time out in the gulf in a while. The wind was light so we motored. We came back in that afternoon and found a quite little anchorage across from a large pink Hotel that was lit up at night. Because the weather was a little cold, we decided to stay another day. The fog came in and made it a three-day stay.
After reviewing the charts and weather, we have decided to run the Intercostal Waterway down to Ft. Myers.
01/21 Sarasota Bay FL (27.19.30N 082.32.59W) - Large open anchorage with lots of other boats.
01/22 Cape Haze FL (26.50.50N 082.17.12W) - A small inlet off the waterway, surrounded by a nice subdivision. A storm is coming, so we're staying another day to let it pass.
01/24 Ft Myers Beach FL (26.27.25N 081.56.40W) - Nice large protected anchorage surrounded by marinas and restaurants. DNA's jib had some stitching come loose on the way down, so we found a local sail shop to do repairs. They should be complete Friday.
01/31 Marco FL (25.57.55N 081.43.30W) - Wind was from the south so we motored here from Ft Myers. The anchorage is large and open, with several other boats, opposite a large marina. It looks like some bad weather is heading this way and will arrive before we can reach the keys. Because our route there is so remote, we have decided to remain here.
Update 02/01 13:00 - The weather looks good. If nothing changes we'll head south tomorrow. Because the route we've laid out is 50+ miles and we average 5+MPH, we'll have to leave extra early.
02/02 Little Shark River FL (25.19.39N 081.08.34W) - I am so proud of Andi. We were offshore from 8AM to 5PM with no land in sight for about five hours. Seas were 2 to 4 feet with 20 knot wind. Andi did not get sea sick, not even a little. I think she even enjoyed herself. Today was a super day!
02/03 Marathon FL (24.42.20N 081.05.59W) - Today was very good and bad. On the good side, Andi did super. Seas were fairly flat so she went up front on deck to get some sun. We also had a first, a stingray about 2ft across jumped twice right beside the boat. I think it was doing a dolphin imitation. Oh, this was a surprise, water in Marathon is from six to ten cents per gal.
On the bad side, on the way to Shark River, we spotted a tan sail boat. She ran about two to five miles away all day and anchored with us and three other boats that night. The next day was about the same. When we reached the bridge cut at Marathon, she was a couple of miles in front. Apparently, after going under the bridge, she made her turn too soon, and the call came over the VHF that she had hit an object and was taking on waters. There was nothing we could do but relay there position while they fought the water. The Cost Guard and BOAT/US were able to keep her afloat and towed to the Marathon Boat Yard. The hole was about a foot long and six to eight inches wide.
Update 02/11 - Still in Marathon checking weather, talking with other boaters, and preparing DNA. We have mounted the motor on the dinghy and are using it, for the first time, to go exploring and shopping. With help, we also have it rigged for sailing but haven't tried it yet.
We wanted to install and test the use PUR-35 water maker that we'd purchased several months ago, before leaving the states. A good thing, the motor was shot. PUR is checking on a rebuilt motor for $300+shipping and could be here the first of next week.
The next project is to prepare DNA, Don, and Andi for anchoring with two anchors. Because of tides and number of boats, this is a normal practice in the Bahamas. We have the grown tackle and the theory, all we lack is the practice.
We have decided to bypass the outer check in ports at Bimini and Gun Cay. The plan is to leave here for Key Largo(a one day sail). From there to cross the Gulf Stream, passed South Riding Rock Bahamas and on to Chub Cay for check in. This will be an overnight, 150+ mile, 25+ hour run. The weather is looking good for the end of next week.
Update 02/14 - Yesterday we rented a car, went to the Miami Boat Show, and bought an AIR Marine 400 watt turbine. We had been running the engine about two hours a day to supplement our solar system. With the addition of the wind generator, this should no longer be necessary.
Getting it back to the boat was interesting. In good conditions, it's about a ten-minute ride to the DNA from the dinghy dock. It was after 11PM when we got back from Miami, no moon, 20+knot winds, foot high waves, and temperature in the 50's. Because of the high winds, several boats drug during the night. DNA had no problems and was fine, once we were back aboard safe and sound.
Update 02/23 - Ran engine two hours today. The new turbine is installed but there was not enough wind to charge the batteries. Oh Well. No plan is perfect. We had a stand made and mounted it on top of the radar arch. It seems to be working good, when the wind blows, with acceptable vibration. It gets a little noisy at certain speeds.
We haven't gotten the water maker to work yet. We installed the new motor and the pump began leaking water when we started it up. We installed a repair kit, but it didn't help. We plan to call PUR to see if they can help.
It looks like we may leave this weekend. We met a couple today that plan to take the same route as us. It's there third time, so I hope we can go together.
02/27 Russel Light, Bahama Islands (25.28.19N 078.20.30W) - We left Marathon Fl about noon Fri-01/26 with two other boats, and picked up another before leaving FL. He asked where we were going, and decided to join us. Our destination was South Riding Rock (25.13.9N 79.09.3W), on the edge of the Bahama bank. We motor-sailed all night and arrived at 6:30AM, just as the sun was coming up. We kept on going and didn't stop till we dropped anchor here for the night.
We had some excitement as we left FL. We were about 24.52N 80.14W, it was dark, when Andi looked up and said "There's a boat!". I said "Where?". She said "THERE!" and pointed toward the right rear of the boat. As I turned to look, the large spotlight came on about six feet way. . . . . . I can't tell you what I did at that moment. . . . . I remember thinking we were about to be run over by a "BIG BOAT". I think I must have had the same look as a deer when it's caught in the beam of a car's headlights. The next thing I remember was the red and blue lights of US Customs boat and the Customs person coming up through a hatch in there front deck. As they cruised just off our starboard side, he asked where we were going, by what route, wished us a safe trip, turned the boat back the way he came, and quickly disappeared into the dark. We found out later that they had also checked the boat behind us. He said he thought he was about to collide with one of us. Having received the same answers twice, they didn't check the other two boats.
Just before leaving, we were able to get the water maker working. One of the boats had a test kit and checked the water for us. They said it was good, even more pure than their water maker's water. That made us feel good, we understand water here is $.50 a gal.
The Gulf Stream was nothing like we expected. Waves were less than two feet and staying on course was not a problem. Andi says, 'Even I enjoyed it.'. She never felt even a little sick for the entire trip.
02/28 Chub Cay Marina (25.24.43N 077.54.17W) - We had planned to anchor off Chub Cay Sunday night, come into the marina Monday morning, and clear customs. The water was so rough that Andi got sick after we had dropped anchor. After putting out a second anchor, we all decided to come into the marina for the night. Clearing customs was $55 dollars,($25 was Sunday overtime). The marina is nice. It's $1 a foot plus tax and the hot shower felt great. The washer and dryer in the laundry room required $3.50 each.
Update 03/04 - We left the marina the next day and anchored out. Several fronts were moving into the area so we picked up a mooring ball for two nights ($8 per night) outside a marina on the other end of the island.
Before the fronts came, we heard there was "CONCH' on a sand bar near by. Conchs have the large shells that people hold up to their ear to hear the ocean. We took our dinghies out to the bar, it was about a foot under water, and collected about five each of the largest ones we could find. The couple we were traveling with came back to DNA and showed us how to get them out of the shell and clean them. We cleaned and fried them for supper. It's not something we would want on a regular basis because they have no taste.
The next day we returned and anchored outside Chub Marina. We plan to leave for Nassau tomorrow.
03/04 Nassau Harbor (25.04.42N 077.19.44W) - We arrived here around 3:30PM after about a seven-hour motor sail. We sailed for the first several hours, because it looked like we may arrive about dark and the seas were three to five feet, we started to motor-sail. I'm glad we did, it took about an hour to locate a spot and set out two anchors. Andi also got a little sick once on the way over. Because of the large cruise ships, all vessels must clear with Nassau Harbor Control and request permission to enter or leave the harbor. They request the vessel's name, documentation number, number of people, last and next port.
Update 03/08 - Today we found a place called A.S.A.P. Services LTD. They have their own computers to send and receive E-Mail. You may also use your computer on a metered line. The rates to the USA was $5.94 for the first three min and $1.98 for each additional one. I'm glad I do ours off line. I don't know how well we can do this, the farther south we go.
Andi is a little disappointed with the Bahamas so far. It's just cold enough you can't enjoy yourself. The sun is nice, but the wind and water is cold. We went downtown yesterday and saw the big cruise ships. We didn't blend in with the other tourist to well because of our tans. They were either white, red, and in some cases both. Like good biscuits, we are turning nice and brown. We walked through most of the shops and Andi got a T-shirt she liked.
03/13 Chattanooga TN, USA - Vacation - We have found a secure location for DNA and came back home for a short vacation. After we do our taxes and secure things here, we plan to return to DNA for an extended cruise south. At this point, we plan on continuing the adventure for as long as it takes.
Update 05/09 - The estate sale is scheduled for the 5/23 & 24. After living on DNA for seven months, I'm overwhelmed by the STUFF that's here. Even the STUFF is full of STUFF. And getting rid of YOUR STUFF is hard. Oh Well, It's time to unload the past to make room for the future. We plan to be back on DNA this month.
05/31 Nassau Harbor (25.04.42N 077.19.44W) - We are back where we began after two and one half months ashore. Our visit was longer than expected, but not long enough to see everyone we had hoped. To cut expenses, we decided to liquidate before returning to DNA. This is now our only home.
If you're ever in Nassau, contact Nick and Carolyn on Ranger (CH 72). Things would not have gone so smoothly without their help.
What direction to go? Because we were gone so long, we have missed most of the cursing season. The hurricane season begins next week and we don't want to head south with no time to enjoy the experience. The two choices seem to be, stay in the Bahamas or return to the US and go north. We don't know the Bahamas that well and can't think of any places on the US east cost that's not in the path of most hurricanes. I think we'll decide tomorrow.
Update 06/01 - We have decided to return to the US for the hurricane season. Since our return, the wind in Nassau Harbor has been in excess of 20 knots with scattered showers. I believe it's worse outside the harbor, but it has not dampened our spirits. Today we made a trip to the grocery store, one to the laundry mat, and two trips to ferry water out to DNA. If the weather improves tomorrow, I plan on taking the computer to town to update the web page.
While the weather is not that bad, what would we do if BAD weather came NOW? Andi is about to get over seasickness, but not ready to head for open water in ruff weather. I'm not comfortable with my knowledge of the local area, holding conditions, and the way DNA interacts with this environment. I think Maverick's dad said it best. "A hero dies once, a coward dies a thousand times, and any time you can get a 1000 to 1 odds, takem".
Update 06/02 - Andi found the other casino in Nassau today. After playing for over four hours, we came home $20 ahead. It was a fun outing.
Update 06/06 - Still no luck connecting to the Net. One place we went we could only use their computer. The next place was down due to a lighting strike four days earlier. They were still waiting for a phone tech to show up and fix the problem. We even tried the phone company. They didn't have a place to plug in a computer. We had left the phone coupler and extra battery on DNA to lighten the load Andi was carrying in her backpack. She didn't like computers very much before, and now even less. We'll try again Monday if the weather permits.
This is also a three-day, holiday weekend in Nassau. We saw a small parade and the hotel across from us had fireworks one night. It reminded me of home, when we would watch fireworks from our house boat.
Update 06/08 - Still no luck connecting to the Net. After selling us a $10 payphone calling card, the phone company refused to let us use our coupler to hookup the computer. They did say we could try there other office across town. One of the local customer that was standing in line, bought the card from us. He said they wouldn't give us a refund. If you read this and have more questions than you started with, you're not alone.
We decided to take advantage of the lull to check some of the food lockers. We found a can that had rusted through, leaked, and started a rust chain reaction with the cans around it. We hadn't checked that locker in over eight months. The unpack and repack each locker on a regular scheduled would seam to be in order. One book recommended lining the locker with "plastic open-weave matting". If we can find some, we may try it.
It's 11:00 PM as I'm writing this. There was a noise outside so I stopped to check. There are four large cruise ships docked just down from where we're anchored. They had all there lights turned on and one was shooting off fireworks. Looks KOOL!
Update 06/16 - Still in Nassau Harbor enjoying the town. We are working on a new system for the casinos.
Update 06/25 - Still in Nassau Harbor, but planning to leave soon. The computer is on the blink. A potato went bad, in a hanging basket, and dripped onto the computer. It somehow found it's way inside and now the keyboard is going nuts, adding additional letters to some and not keying other. I tried cleaning it with contact cleaner which had no effect. I am writing this by using the cut and past method. I'll try to update the page before we leave, if I can get into the web update.
Update 07/05 - Nassau Harbor. We started to leave last week, but we heard that Club Med put on a good fireworks show on the 4th of July. We are anchored just across from them so we stayed. We didn't hear even one firecracker all evening. It rained some, but I don't think that was the reason.
Update 07/06 - Nassau Harbor. Last night we picked up a boat on the VHF radio requesting some tide information. No one responded, so we did what we could to help. The next morning I met them in the anchorage. Because of a work transfer, the boat was being taken from Venezuela to the USA to be sold. When I told him we wanted to go to Venezuela, he gave us all his charts for our help the night before. We have received a lot of help from a lot of good people while we've been out here, and this ranks high on that list.
Update 07/11 - Nassau Harbor. Yesterday was the Bahama Independence Day. The Alantis hotel, Club Med, and the Disney Cruise Ship had fireworks. Not bad.
Because we are near the mouth of the harbor, we took advantage of the incoming tide to clean DNA's bottom. With a rope in one hand and a 5'' scraper in the other, I dove under while Andi held the other end of the rope and moved us forward. No, we do not have scuba tanks. We cleaned most of the bottom except for the keel. It was too deep to reach in this current. We plan on completing the job at an anchorage when we head back, hopefully sometime this week.
Update 07/16 - Nassau Harbor. Today we left Nassau Harbor heading to Chub Cay. At least, that was the plan. In reality it was one of those 'learn by experience' day. Normally I say 'we' but, for the sake of accuracy, I will be using 'I' today.
By the time I was ready to up anchor, the marina where we planed to get diesel was crowded. Rather than wait in line, I went to another marina where we paid about .10 more per gal. I had decided to tow the dinghy to Chub. It got hung up under the fuel dock.
As we were heading out of the harbor, I noticed I had not raised the dinghy's motor out of the water. We were in the main channel heading out and there wasn't that much traffic, so I decided to raise it while underway. I slowed to idle, Andi took the helm, I pulled the dinghy up to DNA and climbed aboard. No problem. I made my way to the back and reached over to release the motor. I think it was a combination of things. The tow rope had front up, I had the back down, leaning over the back made it even lower, and the passing boat wake was the final straw. The back went under and the dinghy was about a third full of water before I could scrambled back to the center and begin my 'bail water rapidly' exercise. When everything was back to normal, we checked for other boat traffic, brought DNA to a complete stop, I raised the dinghy motor, returned to DNA, and we were back underway.
About an hour out, it appeared to me that the dinghy was slowing us down so I decided we should raise it. We are currently under full sail and motoring in one to two foot seas. To raise the dinghy, it ,must be parallel to the back of DNA to connect the pulley ropes to the front and back for raising. We couldn't do this with the motor running because of the exhaust, so we shut DNA's motor down. After several tries I was able to connect the front pulley rope. Now for the rear. With DNA sailing forward, this proved impossible. I turned DNA into the wind, she came to a stop and I connected the rear pulley rope.
Sail boats do not like to set still. DNA began to look for the wind and get back underway. She didn't care where, she just wanted to GO. I could not turn her back into the wind because of the slow speed and the dinghy was about to tip over and convert itself into a drag shoot. We began to raise the dinghy quickly. Half way up the rope jammed, leaving it stuck in mid air. The stuff in the dinghy began to shift, making it want to flip over and dump everything into the sea. I grabbed the side to hold it level.
Ok, Andi has one pulley rope. I have the other pulley rope in one hand and the side of the dinghy in the other. The dinghy is stuck swinging three foot above the water and DNA is off sailing to 'God knows where'. Think things can't get any worse, Don't Bet On It. We had installed bracing to carry the extra weight of the radar arch on the davits. The weight of the dinghy bouncing while DNA was sailing through the waves, caused the bracing to strip there set screws and let go completely. Both sides at the same time, the entire superstructure began to flexing back and forth.
We had to let the dinghy go NOW, but it was attached to the pulleys. We untied the knots in the pulley ropes so they would un-thread themselves completely. Then we lowered the bow side in the water and let it go. When the dinghy was following DNA, stern to, we let go the stern pulley line. The dinghy went to the end of it's bow line, spun around, and began following DNA. We retrieved the pulley lines, now trailing behind DNA, and used them as temporary braces for the arch and davits. We headed back to Nassau Harbor and dropped anchor at 1600.
Update 07/18 - Nassau Harbor. Today we reinforced the arch braces by drilling and installing pop rivets and reinstalled them on the arch. Then we removed the motor and all equipment from the dinghy and stowed it away. Raised and secured the dinghy on the davits. We're now ready to try again in the morning. . . I Think.
07/20 Chub Cay (25.24.32N 077.54.10W) - We left Nassau yesterday at 0900 and anchored off Chub at 1500. The trip started out bad, again. When we raised our anchors, the chains had rapped around each other into one bog-heavy ball. We managed to lift it on board, disconnected to ends, sort them out, and get every thing stowed away. It only took an hour. The rest of the trip wasn't bad. The waves were only a couple of feet but hit us on the right rear, causing DNA to kick sideways a little. Andi noted that the phrase "Smooth Sailing" is a contradiction in terms.
Update 07/21- Today we spent cleaning the keel, rudder, and the remainder of the bottom. Tomorrow morning, we top off the fuel at Chub Cay Marina and head for the US.
07/23 Titusvlle FL, USA (28.37.25N 080.48.15W) - We arrived back in the USA, last night, at Cape Canaveral FL. We wanted to see the space shuttle launch that was scheduled for 12:24am that night. We anchored just off shore for a clear view of the Cape. After a 33 hour cruise from Chub Cay, we decided to take a short nap. We slept through the launch, but made it on deck to see the rocket leave.
I'm very proud of Andi, she didn't get sick. We chose our weather window good. Waves were less than three feet for the entire trip.
For those tracking our route back to the US: Time: 0900 25.24.32N 077.54.10W
1200 25.30.05N 078.14.42W - 2100 25.58.48N 079.14.25W - 0300 26.37.18N 079.47.15W 0700 27.15.43N 079.45.20W - 1200 27.58.01N 080.02.08W - 1900 28.24.20N 080.36.00W.
Update 08/01- Anchored outside the Titusvlle Municipal Marina. Last week, while we were at the grocery store, a thunderstorm came through. It snapped one of the blades on our Air Marine wind generator. We called Southwest Windpower and they are sending us a replacement, under warranty. The marina is very nice and said we could have it shipped there. It should be here Monday, then the fun of fixing it begins.
Update 08/07- Still no replacement from Southwest Windpower. I called them again and found the replacement wasn't shipped till 8/3 and isn't scheduled to arive untill Monday 8/9.
08/10 Smyrna FL area (29.03.39N 080.55.51W) - Received a complete set of replacement blades from Southwest Windpower yesterday. We decided to head for Jacksonville FL and complete the repairs there.
08/11 Butler Beach FL area (29.48.27N 081.17.11W) - In Daytona FL today, we passed through about 50 boats casting nets for shrimp. Twenty minute later we were in a rain storm with 35+ winds. I had to slow DNA to stay close to the only buoy we could see. Ten minutes later, all was back to normal.
08/12 Jacksonville Beach FL area (31.19.43N 082.20.11W) - Found a good anchorage just short of the Saint Johns River. We will take it into Jacksonville tomorrow.
08/13 Jacksonville FL (31.21.00N 081.36.45W) - Anchorage in Saint Johns River just short of downtown Jacksonville.
08/14 Ortega River, Jacksonville FL (31.16.44N 081.42.33W) - Anchorage in river, just beyond Ortega River bridge. The main reason for stopping in Jacksonville was to exchange our two Seaworthy D4 batteries which are going bad. Boat US says they are on backorder and won't be in before 8/30, if then.
08/21 Ortega River Boat Yard (31.10.40N 081.42.43W) - We have been running the motor six hours a day to keep the failing batteries charged. The Ortega Yacht Club Marina is very nice, but we decided to dock next door at the Ortega River Boat Yard to take advantage or the yard facilities. We plan on staying here through September while we replace the batteries and make some minor repairs.--- MORE 1999 ---
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