50 knots of wind, blown out sail and a lost anchor

Vero Beach

Olive protecting the mooring 

Thursday March 21

We started talking about going to the Bahamas and not the Keys. Our friends on Makana, Coy and Charles were in Marathon and could not get a mooring ball. They had to anchor out on the ocean side. We have heard you have to make reservations a year in advance for a mooring ball in Marathon . Jack was wanting to go with us to the Bahamas. He had a doctor's appointment that was making it impossible to schedule going with us. George and I both wanted him to be on our boat or even to take Martini. It just wasn't in the stars! Now that Martini wasn't going and Indulgence was also having to go back I guess it will just be Celebration going alone. The first time I crossed the Gulf Stream it was just the two of us. No buddy boat.

Tonight everyone in the marina was to bring an hor d'oeuvre to share and your own drink. We meet Ann and Ray, John and Carolyn's friends. Had a good time and finished the evening with dinner at the Riverside cafe' . Ann offered to drive us the the outlet mall in Vero Beach! Man, were we excited! We were going to get to ride in a car!!

Friday March 22

Friday we went shopping with Ann, Carolyn's friend. The first stop STARBUCKS! Then on to Steinmart and then to the outlet malls. We had a great day! We had a late lunch, and as we were finishing up George called and said we have a weather window and we need to leave tomorrow! Holy Cow as Carolyn would say! I was not ready to go! There was a power squadron meeting and we were to be Ann's guest. George and I decided to stay back to put in some waypoints and prepare for the crossing. After putting in the way points we looked at the weather one more time. We were going to be hitting the weather window on the end . The sea would be getting up right as we were in the Gulf Stream. It would have been doable but not pleasant. I like pleasant! So we called Jack and John and told them we were not going.

Saturday March 23

Saturday we all got up and rode the bus to town and had breakfast at Southern Comfort Cafe. After we got back from town, George and I walked over to the bait and tackle shop to get a copy of our fishing license, since it looked like we would be in Florida for a least another week. Then we walked over to the boat show near the bait and tackle shop. The high light of the boat show was the pizza oven on wheels. Since George got his primo grill for Christmas he has been cooking pizza on the grill. The ladies were really nice and invited him back to see the oven and gave him some pointers on cooking pizza. Watch out Jerry we may have a pizza cook off!

Pit Master eat your heart out

About 4:00 we gathered up again to walk to the beach for dinner. Had a great meal with a great view. This was our farewell dinner with John ,Carolyn, Jack, and Lynda as they were leaving to go back to Brunswick tomorrow.

The Babes of the ICW

a beautiful walk to the beach

One of the live Oaks on the walk to the beach

Sunday March 24

Sunday we got up early to wave goodbye to Indulgence as she passed by us. Hollowed goodbye to John and Carolyn and wished them fair winds. Martini had been tied to the dock the night before. We called to tell Martini goodbye as well. I had an eerie feeling as they left. I was really going to miss all of them. We had such a good time with Indulgence and Martini as our buddy boats all last season.  You may remember from last year, Indulgence crossed with us and we both stayed in Marsh Harbor for a month.  Martini crewed by Jack and Greg joined a few weeks after we arrived in Marsh Harbor.

George and I decided to have a lazy day. Now I know what you are thinking we always have a lazy day, but not really when you have to get in your dingy to go any where and have to walk most every where.

I kept looking at the clock to see what time it was, saying I think they should be there by now. The wind was picking up so George turned on the Sirius weather. There was a marine advisory for this area including north of Vero. We knew then that Martini and Indulgence were some where getting hammered. The advisory warned of 50 knot winds and thunderstorms. We called Jack and Linda answered. George said you could hear the sheer terror in her voice. She said they had lost their Jib and their anchor. George then called John and he did not answer. We sent up prayers but did not hear back for a while. I sent Carolyn a text and she called me back a little later. She said the boats had been laying over and the winds were to strong to go to a marina. They picked an anchorage and dropped the hook. Their anchor held but Martini's anchor line broke. Then Martini disappeared into the rain. The rain let up and they saw Martini approaching the power lines next to the bridge. Not only had Martini's anchor line broken but the engine had quit too!!!! Jack later said when he got the engine running again he could have touched the pilings for the power line. Martini with no anchor had no choice but to continue on. Indulgence weighed anchor and followed Martini. There was limited communication between the boats as Martini's radio mike at the helm had gotten wet and stopped working. Their cell phones were of marginal use as well. The boats reached another anchorage an hour later just as the storm cleared. Indulgence anchored and Martini rafted up. John loaned Jack an anchor and helped him cut down the shredded jib. Martini anchored for the night and the wine began to flow.