Preparing for the Crossing

We are going to miss you guys 

We are going to miss you guys

Full Moon at anchor

Riverside Cafe'

Monday March 25th

We heard from Martini and Indulgence and they made it through the night. They headed to Halafax to tie to the dock. We checked our safety equipment today to be sure everything was ready for our crossing. We were sure to check the spot batteries. If you remember the spot is a satellite signal from us to let our family know we are ok while we are traveling from anchorage to anchorage. So we have to remember to send it or our kids , especial Courtney will call in the troops. We also have a satellite text instrument to text a message in case of emergence and they can text us. We went to West Marine, by the way, the first stop for the bus is west marine, to order some replacement parts.

Tuesday March 26

Tuesday was also chilly in fact Melbourn set a record for the coldest day on record. We keep looking at the weather to be sure we don't miss a good weather window. It really looks like next Monday or Tuesday.

Wednesday March 27

We stayed on the boat all day and got a lot of things done.

Thursday March 28

Thursday we took the bus to go to the mall. We've got this bus thing figured out ! I got some make up and we ate again at the riverside cafe. They are beginning to recognize us!

Friday Mach 29

Good Friday ...I am really getting home sick for Easter! We are looking for a place to go for either sunrise services or for a church service. Last year we were in the Bahamas and it was our first church service at the Church where we plan to attend this year. There is a worship service at the Riverside Park and a dinner at 1:00 for the cruisers at the Marina. We decided we would would probably do both but it is not the same as with family. Easter is my favorite family Holiday. Nothing better for a mother than to be in church with all of her family sitting beside her on Easter Sunday!

We went to town to buy an ink cartridge for the printer. We asked at West Marine and they said it was a three mile walk to Staples. We did not want to believe it. Our iPhone confirmed the three mile walk. So off we went. George and I were talking about what a healthy life style a cruiser has, walking everywhere. However, after walking three miles to Staples we would have to walk three miles back. About half way there we saw a CVS . We needed some sunscreen so we walked in, and guess what they also sold ink for our printer ! yeah CVS!! We then bought groceries and rode the bus back home. Then the job we dread to do every year, At least George dreads it. Rebuilding the head!! For you sailors you know what I am talking about. For those non sailors you don' want to know what I am talking about. Jack we miss you!!!!

We looked at the weather again tonight and decided it would be better to leave and cross on Sunday. I hate to go on Easter but what better way to experience an Easter sunrise than on the ocean!

Saturday March e30

We have to do final preparations for the crossing today. Changing of filters, and final laundry. We plan to leave at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, Easter Sunday. We will go in the "ditch" ,the ICW until we get to Ft, Pierce then we will go outside and head south. We will make our turn about 5:00 pm to head Northeast . We should be on the banks about 5:00 a.m. And at our first anchorage at great sail at 3:00 p.m. Monday.

This will be the last blog until we reach Marsh Harbor, Bahamas. I hated to leave on Easter Sunday but what better way to spend Easter than to experience the beauty of God's creation first hand.  

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.

Monday March 18th

This was wash day! I put in the clothes in the washer and went to take a shower. I take a pretty quick shower. George had finished his shower and was in the room where the washers were when John came in and said hello and asked where I was. George told John, "Freida went to take a shower but she has been in there so long I am afraid something is wrong." Then a lady who had just walked in said, " Oh no we just got to talking and she is fine". She was from Rhode Island and she was a hoot! I love meeting new and interesting people even in the shower! Linda, Carolyn and John visited with some of John and Carolyn's friends. Jack had lunch with us on the boat. After that Jack and I ( mostly Jack) hoisted George up the mast to fix the deck light. We decided George needs to go on a diet! We had some great spaghetti on Martini. Regrettably, because of bad weather,  we had to leave Martini before the Bailey's was offered!

Tuesday March 19th

Larry the Mechanic was to fix the oil sending unit so I decided to go shopping with the girls. We went into a consignment furniture store. It was more like a very nice antique shop. I mean really nice furniture! Most of it looked brand new! Then we were into another consignment shop for clothes, No loft stuff in here, mostly Lilly Pulitzer, Gucci, and some names I have never heard. When we got back to the dingy docks we called George to come and pick us up.We have a dingy that is bigger than Olive ( that is martini's dingy). George was busy with Larry the mechanic, so he sent John in our dingy. Just as John came into sight, the dingy engine stopped !! Out of gas! So we had to call Jack. So guess what ....little olive to the rescue. Jack said she was in the Seatow fleet.

     We had planned to go to the beach and watch a rocket launch but Larry the mechanic said we were in the perfect place to watch the launch. So we decided to have sundowners and appetizers on Indulgence. We did see the launch, all 5 seconds of it. We then decided to take a dingy ride to the beach before returning to our boats. After I saw that beautiful ocean, kinda made me sad we were not going to the Bahamas this year. Still not sold on the Keys.

Wednesday March 20

Got up early to ride to bus into town for breakfast. By the way, there is a bus here that you can ride from the marina to town for free! We are not frugal we are cheap! This is a quote from another sailor friend of ours. Anyway, we rode the bus into town and had a great breakfast. George and I had left our Florida fishing license at home, so we ask the waitress if she knew of a bait and tackle. They will look up you license and give you a copy. She told us there was one near the marina, so we rode the bus back. We decided to go to the boat and wait for it to open. We started talking about the trip to the Keys . Yes! Sailing plans are written in the sand, and are sometimes washed away. We both wanted to go to the Bahamas again. John came over for lunch and we told him our plans. John and Carolyn daughter and grandchildren are coming to Brunswick for spring break and so they are leaving on Monday. Wish they could go too but understand they want to see their sweet daughter, her husband and their three sweet grandchildren. We then called Jack and told him to think about going with us. The Plans are in the making!!!! 

From Fernandina to Vero Beach

I love having the bridge tender to open the bridges.  

St. Augustine 

Tuesday,March 12

We left Fernandina at first light. We had a great night sleep on the mooring ball. John and Carolyn said it got a little bumpy, but we never knew it! It rained on us until about 2:00. We docked at St Augustine at 4:00. Jack and Linda waited in St. Augustine for us. Coy and Charles had continued South due to scheduling demands. As customary, we ate at the Columbia Restaurant.

Bridges bridges and more bridges

Martini going under a bascule bridge

Wednesday, March 13

Got up early in hopes of seeing the electronics man who was to work on our auto pilot . Surprisingly he was pretty much on time. He was a very nice man named Pat. He, George and Jack took Celebration out to spin the compass, and to the fix auto pilot. It was an easy fix after reprogramming the system with no improvement, they found a loose connection. That evening we had hamburgers on Indulgence .

Thursday, March 14

Another early day!! We left again at first light! Dang this first light stuff has got to stop!! It was 43 degrees and only warmed to 57. In a sail boat with winds between 15-20 knots ..... It was cold! I had on insulated underwear, a sweater, patagonia jacket, and foul weather gear.. No we did not take pictures! After a long cold day , we docked at Daytona Beach. We met Josh Meeks, one of Scott's buddies, who is now in the Coast Guard and had dinner with him at the Chart House ! We really enjoyed our visit. We tried to talk him into boarding Martini tomorrow for an inspection. Maybe that was not such a good idea!

Friday, March 15th

Left at first light AGAIN! It was cold and I was at the helm thinking how nice It was that my blog was going to be boring this year. Not so much. Our oil pressure gauge indicated no pressure, at about the same time George noticed we were taken on water in our bilge , oh yea I was at the helm with 6 . 2 depth indicated and we have a 6 foot draft. Martini rafted up with us but we could not find the leak. Remember we have one auto bilge pump not working, in fact I asked George if that could be the trouble. We turned on our secondary bilge pump and dried all the water out. We checked the oil and it was fine. We determined it may be the sending unit that is not working. It was just a scare but we did entertain Martini and Indulgence for a few minutes! We scheduled a mechanic to put on an oil pressure sending unit in Vero!

I just want to make it clear.... Most men may have a women in every port...,,George has a mechanic in every Port!!

Saturday, March 16th,

Left again at first light. We have a ten hour trip to Vero Beach. This is where the refrigeration man meet us last year. Will heck George may have more than one mechanic in some ports! Anyway, we were about two hours into our trip and we started taking on water in our bilge again. Martini rafted up with celebration. Jack got on Celebration, while Indulgence dropped the hook and waited. Jack and George rechecked every though hull. Then George called Wayne Horn who is a mechanic in Brunswick that knows Celebration pretty well. When George told him we had worked on one of the bilge pumps, he said he felt that may be suspect. We closed the though hull and we were off again. Just before we arrived at the inlet going into Vero Beach Marina, Indulgence ran aground in the middle of the channel. She got off before we could come back to help. When we got to the mooring ball, some water was in our bilge but not a lot. We hope we have solved the problem. Had a great dinner at the Riverside Restaurant !

No that is not green cool aid 

Sunday, March 18

Slept late yea!!! Walked 2 1/2 miles to a the pub where we had lunch. Bought some groceries so we took a taxi home. We enjoyed corn beef and cabbage on Indulgence to celebrate St Patrick"s Day. It was a lot warmer today. This may be the last day for Blue jeans! 

  Monday March 11.2013      
       January and February were packed full of life, both good and bad. So we did not have the prep time for this trip as we have had in the past. We left Brunswick a little raddled and unorganized. Drew Orr worked on our anemometer until about 10:00. Got it fix but we were to tired to clean up. We decided I would organize while George was at the helm on our way to Fernandina. As we started out the inlet we realized our auto pilot was not working. We looked at each other and realized our hearts just were not into this trip. Maybe it was that we hadn't had enough prep time, or that we had not had enough time to think and get excited about the trip with all that had happened in the past few months, or maybe we were not excited about the Keys !  We have heard some horror stories about $14.00 a foot dockage, waiting days for mooring balls and very shallow waters. We were also tired from working so hard to get ready to leave, we were ready to sell our boat at A VERY REASONABLE price. Jack and Linda were on Martini, Coy and Charles were on Makana, they had left on Saturday. John and Carolyn, our buddy boat from last year waited for us to leave on Monday. At one time we had told them they needed to go with or without us on Monday. As the day went on we were felling better about the trip. We needed a filter screen for our bilge pump so we were picking it up in St Augustine. George called and scheduled someone to look at our auto pilot also in St Augustine.

Got to the mooring ball in Fernandina at 5:00. Popped a cold one, stayed on the boat, and had left over pizza. NOW we were starting having some fun! 

The long trip home

Tuesday the 14^th

This morning I woke up a little apprehensive, but also excited to be leaving for home.  This trip will not be a 7 days up the ICW, it will be a, ‘I WANT TO GO HOME, LET’S GET IT DONE!  We have a good weather window.  The seas should not be more than 2 feet and the winds are in the right directions.  We have planned to go straight from Nassau to Brunswick. We will get into the Gulf Stream and let it help us go north.  We will probably pick up two or three knots in the Gulf Stream so we will stay in it as long as possible.  If we have fuel issues we can put up the sails and hopefully sail out of the Gulf Stream and into somewhere in Florida.  Our shifts are the same as when we sailed to Nassau from Marsh. Charlotte from 9-12, George from 12-3, my turn is 3-6 and Greg is from 6-9.  That is a.m. and p.m.  Three hour watches will give us 9 hours to get some rest.  We will be traveling about 72 hours straight.  We decided to get our last cup of Starbucks before we left. We left the docks about 10:00.  Usually we would all feel a little jubilant but with the fuel problems we were a little reserved.  We left Nassau with a feeling of relief.  We always seem to have trouble going into Nassau. 

Had to go by this big boy when leaving Nassau

 At 3:00 p.m. I took my turn at the helm.  We were just passing Chub Cay.  There were a lot of AIS vessels showing up on my screen. They were at the docks at Chub Cay.  George said he had heard it was a very nice marina on Chub Cay.  I thought maybe we should have stared our long trip from there. I guess I should explain that if it had just been the two of us we would have had to go to Lucaya and then to West End to go home.  With only two people on the boat a 72 hours trip would have been very unwise.  That would have been 4 hours on the helm and 4 hours to rest.  That is ok for a 30 or maybe even a 48 hour trip but you get a little squirrelly after that many hours.  You really need to be as rested as you can to make good decisions.  I also believe you need to eat well when traveling night and day.  So after I got off at 6 p.m. and ate a good meal of seafood trio, (yes we still had some), George and I went to bed to rest.  The seas were smooth but both Greg and Charlotte had to deal with rain.  George got up at 12 and I was not really able to sleep after he got up.  The first day or two I do not sleep as well as I do as the trip progresses.  When I got up for my turn at the helm, the night was as dark as it could be, it was over cast, no moon and not a star was out.  I had to really get use to the darkness.  George always stays in the cock pit with me for a few minutes until I get orientated.  That night he lay down in the cock pit.  I wanted to wake him and tell him to go down but he was sleeping so well I hated to wake him.  He also said we were going though the banks and there are some rocks so stay to the starboard side of the line.  There was a beckon marking the channel.  I was seeing something on my radar but I could not see a light when I looked for a boat.  So I thought I will wake up George and ask him to look and see what was on the radar.  Big mistake, when I woke up George from a deep sleep I caused more commotion than I wanted.  Any way after he got up he went down to get some real rest, I figured out that the spot on the radar was marking the rocks but it was not a lighted beacon just a marker on the radar.  At 3:00 in the morning it gets really boring, not to complain but it can be difficult to keep yourself entertained.  I get off right before sunrise.

Wednesday 15^th  I had fixed some coffee from the keurig before we left the docks yesterday so I warmed it up for Greg and went to bed.  The seas are so smooth I slept two hours in the V berth.  Because the V berth gets most of the action (movement) of the boat, George and I had let the settee berth out.  It is in the middle of the boat and feels much smoother than the V berth.  I got up about 8:30 and made some breakfast.  Those of you who know me well know I like a good breakfast.  I made some cheese toast. After I get off my watch I am responsible for sending the spot.  You remember the spot sends a message that says we are ok and gives our headings to about 8 different people.  I can not remember to send it so I ask Greg when I get off remind me to send to spot.  He turns to Charlotte as tells her to remind him to remind me to send it.  At 9:00 a.m. when Charlotte goes on watch I realized how long the trip will be.  We have only been moving for 24 hours so we are only a third of the way home.  By the time George is in the middle of his watch we are in the Gulf Stream.  That means if we have trouble we can sail over to the Florida Coast.  We are members of Sea Tow and Boat US which are towing services.  I felt a little better knowing this.  The rain was off and on.  We had been dodging thunder storm all day. It seemed like when Charlotte was on watch it would rain but as she said, “as long as the seas are smooth I’m good”.  At 3:00 p.m. I took my turn at the helm.  I looked at the radar and he whole left side of the screen was red, meaning lots of rain was coming.  The big red blob was moving in my direction.  It is funny what you pray for when you are uneasy about things.  My biggest prayer was that the engine would not stop getting wet was not a concern. So I got ready to get wet, I had my fowl weather suit on and was ready for it.  However as it moved east it also moved north.  I got 2 or 3 minutes of really hard rain and that was all.  George had wanted to check the oil at about half way so about 5 it was time to shut the engine off and check the oil.  Yes, here we were sitting in the middle of the Gulf Stream checking oil.  However it was not bad we let the boat settle a little and measured the oil. Wayne the diesel mechanic at Brunswick had told George he should do this because is was a little low the last time we brought her in.  Turning off the engine made all of us a little nervous but no one mentioned the possibility of it not starting again.  It was a half quart low, so we decided not to add any oil.  Then he started her up again.  We were all smiles.   After I got off at 6:00 p.m., I thought this is not bad, We cook, eat and take showers just as if we were at the docks. Plus I had just finished my third watch which meant I only had three more to go, half way through.  We had hot dogs and fried potatoes that night for dinner.  After dinner I had a glass of wine, to help me sleep of course, we showered and when to bed.  I knew I was going to sleep well because now I was accustomed to my schedule.  I did sleep well.  George got up at 12 midnight for his watch and I went back to sleep.  The alarm went off and it woke me.  Charlotte even thought it was my watch but it was a weather alert alarm in the cock pit.  George could see some tornado activity in Florida to the South of us as he pulled up the weather on the GPS.  As I took over from George I saw all the weather on the screen.  George said,” I think it will be gone by the time we get there”.  Most of the time George is a bit of a pessimist but when he is on the boat he turns into a big optimist. This is for my sake of course.  I have learned to read between the lines.  As I was watching the weather and the wind get up I was wishing for my boring watch last night.  The seas were still smooth and no other boats in the way.  The “no other boats” was a little concerning.  Were they not out because they knew not to be out?  As my watch continued the weather got less red and more green, meaning just rain and the wind calmed.

Thursday the 16^th

 Greg took over and we had fried egg sandwiches for breakfast.  We were all starting to breathe a little easier. After breakfast I went down for a little rest.  In fact I was even sleeping when I heard George call out to Greg.  Greg was at the helm and the engine lost power.  George immediately started to change the filter.  He got the filter and I grabbed the bag to put it in.  By now we have changed it so much I know what to do without him telling me.  After that he pumped the fuel lines and Greg started the engine again.  We were all a bit relieved.  Greg and George started problem solving and decided what to do if it is air in the system, clogged filter or clogged fuel lines.  Charlotte and I were just spectators in the volleying of ideas.  George says that we are always using out of the port tank when it shuts down.  The problem is that we have enough fuel in the port tank to get to Brunswick but not in the starboard tank.  Last year we transferred fuel form the port tank to the starboard tank but we were on anchor.  We had both fuel tank inspection plates open and transferred fuel with a coffee cup and a bowl from one tank to the other.  They decided to transfer the fuel after we ate dinner.  When I went on watch at 3:00 p.m. the engine was still sounding good.  This may be my last watch because we were to reach Brunswick at Friday morning at1:00 a.m.  George told me not to count on it because  were still in the Gulf Stream and when we got out we would slow down.  When Greg took over about 6:00 p.m. he ask, “anything out there?”   I told him I only saw two boats and a bird. We had been very lucky to dodge all the severe weather.  All our thoughts are now about the engine. Will it continue to do well?  I guess when I am doing stuff I don’t have time to worry about the engine. The seas were smooth so I cooked some pan fried chicken, peas and corn, mashed potatoes, and green beans.  I was secretly thinking this may be our last night at sea but it may also be our hardest. The seas were so smooth we could even eat in the cock pit using forks on real plates.  After Charlotte and I finished the dished the guys started the task of transferring fuel.  Again they used the good old UGA cup to transfer the fuel to the bowl.  Same cup same bowl but this year the engine was running so they had to transfer it into the gallon fuel jug and carry the fuel up top and pour it into the tank. After 10 gallons, we all felt comfortable we had enough fuel to make it back. 

Greg dips the UGA cup to get the fuel from the port tank and then they
pour it in the the fuel jug.

George transfers the fuel into the starboard tank.

  I stayed up to see the sunset.  It was beautiful.  I knew this would be my last sunset of the trip so we took lots of pictures. We were at the bow taking pictures because the sunset was in front of us. As George and I went back to the cock pit and saw Charlotte and Greg we said wouldn’t that be a perfect picture if the sunset was in the back of us.  Greg or George said it could happen.  Greg proceeded to turn the boat around.  Holy Cow!, we were really doing this!  It was a little comic relief for all of us.  After the Kodak moment was over, George and I went to bed. 

Just another beautiful sunset !

When we turned the boat around to catch the sunset when
setting in the cock pit

It is our turn for the photo op

The sea was so smooth it was a little eerie!

Last of the sunset

I just could not get over how smooth the seas were all the way home!

T.ried to catch a picture of the dolphins but instead
I got another picture of the beautiful sea.

  I had asked George didn’t he want me to take his turn that way he could bring the boat in when we got closer to the channel near Brunswick, and he could get more sleep. The ETA was about 5:00 a.m. He said no we are staying on our same shift. He also said I want you to help me watch for markers so I will be getting you up early.  He got me up at 1:30 to help him watch for markers.  However, soon after he noticed the oil pressure gauge! We were losing oil pressure. At first he added a half of quart of oil with the engine running.  The oil pressure came up but not enough, so he shut the engine down, measured the oil and added another quart.  The engine cranked and the oil pressure went back to normal.  It was my time at the helm but we were in the channel and having to watch for markers.  George did not ask me to take the helm and I was not going to ask for it.  At about 4 AM the engine shut off again and Greg was up in a flash. Greg took the helm and George switched from the Racor 500 filter to the Racor 200 filter and bled the air out of the system. The engine cranked and seemed to purr. The Racor 200 is a short term fix so we started discussing what to do if the engine goes out as we come into the channel near the rocks. We had a head wind, so the plan was to turn the boat around and let out the jib, sail back into the ocean and stay away from the rocks.  There would be no more sleep for any of us. All eyes were on the watch for markers, red and green lights.  At night distances are very difficult to judge.  You can see a green light and it can be several hundred feet or a quart of a mile.  George said, ‘you see that boat over there he is a pilot boat”. About that time the pilot boat started putting his search light on us.  George asked, ”why doesn’t he just call us on channel 16?”  I looked at the radio, it was not on 16. George called on 16 and the pilot boat asked us to get out of the channel.  He was trying to get a big ship through the channel.  If that was not bad enough the pilot told us we should not go in because there was zero visibility because of fog.  I had not really been overly concerned about our situation however at this particular moment I was concerned!  We were in the way of a big ship, had engine problem, trying to find the channel markers, and was faced with zero visibility.  At this point I told Greg, who is in charge of the picture diary of all our adventures, “ Greg there is one more picture you have to take when we get to the dock…….it will be of me KISSING the dock!  It was another comic relief moment.  When George called the pilot boat he asked “ Is this Drew?’   ”No sir” was the reply.  Our slip mate at the Marina is Drew who is also a captain on a pilot boat.  We explained to the pilot boat that we had some fuel issues and we would immediately get out of the channel.  He said if we had a good radar we could go in but he would not advise it.  We asked if we could follow the boat in, he thought that would be a good idea.  The big ship was very slow but he was stopping to pick up the harbor pilot, after the harbor pilot was on the ship it took off at about 12 knots.  It left us behind.  The pilot boat radioed back and said he would be anchored in the Sound if we needed any help to let him know.  As we went through the channel the pilot boat reported back to us that the fog was still bad but was lifting a bit.  We proceeded on.  By the time we went under the bridge it was day light but we could not see the top of the bridge.

Just awesome 

Look close the Sidney Lanier Bridge you can barely be seen

This is how much of the bridge we could see as
we go under it.

  We called Sherry, the dock master at Brunswick Landing Marina and asked which slip we needed to go.  We had planned to stop at the fuel docks if it had been dark.  She told us to go to your old slip.  No one was up to catch our lines.  I told George to call John and Carolyn on Indulgence, “I know they are up at 7:00a.m,” He did not want to bother them.  So we dock the boat ourselves.  Very smooth docking!!  And Yes Greg took my picture of me KISSING the dock.  But with that being said …..I am ready to go back next year!  We had a great time, made a lot of new friends, enjoyed the time with family and friends, and made a lot of memories. We are so blessed!

Until Next Year

Freida and George 

Exumas

Sunday May 6 th we left Marsh Harbour, our home for a little over a month.  We had watched Martini  and Indulgence leave the docks on Saturday.  We had also watched Linda, Scott and Courtney leave in a cab. I felt a little lonesome and just a tad bit home sick as I watched them leave.

If you look close you will see Celebration at the dock

 Charlotte and Greg got on Celebration with us to go south.  On Sunday we even watched Mike and Barbara, the English couple from Boston leave the docks.  We left the dock early to catch the tide right.  As I looked back on the slip we had called home for the past month I was sad to be leaving.  I was leaving with great memories.  However, this morning my excitement had overcome all other emotions.  We were headed for the Exumas.  This is part of the Bahamas that Scott and George claim is their favorite.  We were planning on an over night trip to Nassau. 

Super moon on the way to Nassau 

We would be getting in about day break.  We were to take 3 hour shifts.  I was on at 9:00.  However, after I had finished my shift, we decided I was to take the 3 to 6 shift.  This was Charlotte’s first over night trip and Greg would go before her and George would follow her.  The winds were on our beam and we pulled out the sails.  We were making great time.  We did not get below 6.3 knots and even hit 7 knots a few times.  Our ETA was 1:00 a.m. We were going to have to anchor in the dark.  This did not worry George because the anchorage is so well marked and he had anchored there before in the dark. When not at the helm George always says it is his job to sleep.  In fact we give him a hard time about sleeping a lot on the boat.  As it turned out I was glad he had a lot of sleep that day.  As we approached Nassau, we could see the light house.  We anchored on the very spot where they had anchored two previous times. Right behind the cruise ships! It was about 1:30 and we were all were tired.  We had to run the generator to keep our freezer cold.  Yes we are still dealing with that issue.  George said he would stay up with the generator.  So we all went to bed.  George got to go to bed about an hour later.  Everyone was sleeping very sound that night.  I am not sure which woke me up first, someone yelling Celebration or the blue light flashing through the hatch.  It woke George up at the same time.  George jumped up shirtless, I was right behind him and as he ran up the companion way yelled, “Greg we are a drift”. 

The Bahamas security was asking us to move because they had some cruise ships coming in and we were in the way.  Yes sir!  We were all scrambling around like a bunch of mice trying to weigh the anchor and at the same time having to decide what to do and where to go. The Bahamas security pulled along beside us and asked, “what were our intentions”.  We told them we wanted to move and anchor some where.  They told us the appropriate anchorage, which was only a few hundred feet away.  We dropped the anchor and realized we had not drug the anchor but they had moved the anchorage.  By this time it was 4:30 a.m. not enough time to go back to sleep but to early to stay up.  We went back to sleep for a couple of hours.

one of the four boats that came in after we moved.  

Monday 7^th 2012

Still a little dazed from the events of the night before and the lack of sleep, we cooked breakfast and continued on our way south.  As we left Nassau we had to make our way past the big cruise ships.  As we passed it reminded me of the line from the movie Captain Ron, “They will get out of our way…I learned that on the Saratoga”…or should we say Celebration.  We had to go through the Yellow Banks to get to the Exumas.  The Yellow Banks is a shallow passage with sharp rocks peeking up out of the water.  I was at the helm as we entered the Yellow Banks.  I stayed within 5 feet of the rumb line. My heart was beating fast as I was afraid I had taken on more than I should have, but I could just hear Scott saying, “I sailed through the Yellow Banks last year’!  It was a matter of pride!!!  Greg and George were on the bow watching for rocks and I had my eye on the GPS continuously monitoring the number of feet off course.  I would occasionally glance up at George or Greg to reassure me they were attending to the task.  Then George said, “there’s one on your port turn to starboard.  I did but it took me off my track so that meant even if you stay on the line there are still dangerous rocks out there.  It only took 30 to 40 minutes but it seemed much longer.  We finally arrived at Allan’s Cay.  This is where you can see and feed Rock Iguanas on the beach.  They came out to greet us on the beach.  The Iguanas are herbivorous, so we decided to feed them lettuce instead of hot dogs as some one had told us.  That evening we noticed the boat in the anchor next to us was really noisy.

One of the bigger Iguanas

We feed them lettuce, we learned later we should have feed them grapes.

Isn't he cute!!???

"Please don't let me grow up the look like that!"

Tuesday May 7^th.  

The next morning as we were having coffee in the cockpit, we started counting heads.  Yes, we had out the binoculars.  Greg said he thought there were 10 people on the boat.  Then three went to one island and five went to another and still four on the boat.  I suggested it was one of those college field trips.  Curiosity got the best of Greg and as one of the smaller boats passed he waved them over to our boat.  They explained that they were from Earlham College, Richmond Indiana and worked with Dr. John B Iverson who has been studying the Allen Cay Iguanas for 35 years.  They told us about their research and that they were in the process of tagging and identifying them with names. One of the men in the boat had one in a sack and pulled him out for us to feel of it’s skin.  As the boat started to leave we asked if they would name one Celebration and he held up the sack and said. “It will be this one.”  How cool is that to have an iguana named for your boat! 

Two of the researches

Our name sake, Celebration!

We left Allen’s Cay to head to Norman Cay which was made famous by the Columbian drug cartel and Carlos Lehder.  We passed by the a small island with a single palm tree on it.  It has to be the island used in the beer commercial with the lone guy sitting under the tree.  There was a plane crash near the island back in Carlos Lehder’s day and the plane is still in the water. The locals says it was carrying kitchen cabinets but most people believe it was carrying drugs. We anchored just in front of the airplane.  It was so far the prettiest anchorage.  We took the dingy and went to shore.  George and Greg said there is a restaurant there but I had my doubts.  The restaurant was called Mcduffs’s.  We walked for about a mile up a half dirt half paved road to the restaurant. Just before we got to the restaurant we crossed a landing field where Charlos had smuggled cocaine. The atmosphere in the restaurant was extremely laid back. We even had to ask for a menu.  We ordered and while we were waiting George insisted that I go to the bathroom.  But to his disappointment the bathroom was not the same as in the past. In fact they now have in door toilets.  The year that Scott and George came it was indoor pluming but out doors.  It had a toilet with lattuce and rose bushes around it.  You had a cardboard sign with the words occupied on one side and vacant on the other side.  Thank goodness the Bahaman government got on to Mc Duff and made him change it last year. After we had a really good meal of fish fingers, salad, and French fries, we started talking to some other people in the restaurant/bar. We found out that the couple we were talking to were from Augusta, Ga. The wife was from Sandersville where Greg and Charlotte is from and knew not only some people they knew but also knew George’s cousin’s first husband.  She also went to school with his sister.  Small world!!

We had read a book about Carlos and the drugs days.  So we visited places or ruins that we recognized from the book.

The little island at Norman's Cay

The air Stripe at Norman's Cay

On the way to McDuff's

Charlotte is waiting and waiting at McDuff's
The old restroom was just off the porch to the right.

Just another sunset!

Wednesday May the 8^th  We got up and had breakfast.  As we drank our coffee looking out over the small picture perfect island Greg said, “ this ain’t bad”.  Greg and George both like Norman’s Cay but their favorite place was Warderick Wells.  So this morning after a leisurely breakfast and coffee, we left for Warderick Wells.  We wanted a mooring ball because some weather was coming and we wanted to wait it out on the moorings at Watderick’s on the inside.  This is part of the Exums Cays Land and Sea Park so you had to call and get on the waiting list for a mooring ball.  I had heard so much about Warderick Wells I was afraid I would be disappointed.  Many people refer to Warderick as the prettiest place in the Bahama’s.  So I didn’t want to be disappointed. I had seen pictures and knew what to expect or so I thought.  Pictures do not give this Cay justice. 

Warderick Cay from Boo Boo Hill

Another view from Boo Boo Hill 

On Warderick you walk on trails marked by painted yellow spots on the stone. We took the long way to Boo Boo Hill. You walk up hills, over sharp pointed rocks, through marshes which will be water when it is high tide, over shaky bridges, but it is all worth it when you get to where you are going.  Boo Boo Hill is the highest point on the island you can see beautiful aqua colored water 360 degrees. There is a story of a ship wreck near this island and they said on a full moon night you can stand on Boo Boo Hill and hear the moans of the ghosts of the sailors who lost the lives in the wreck, but we found where the sounds were really coming from.  The blow holes!  We could stand over these holes and if we didn’t hold on to our hat it would blow off.  I have a movie of a palm frond being blow out to sea that we laid over the blow hole.  These blow holes entertained us for two days.  It doesn’t take much!!  That night we spent on the mooring ball and saw a beautiful sunset!

Over the river

through the woods

around the hills

The view was worth the walk!!

Just another sunset


Thursday May the 9^th We walked the shorter route to Boo Boo Hill. We also walked to a beach that was perfect for swimming. On Boo Boo Hill is where you can put the name of you boat on driftwood and place it in the stack of others and it is suppose to be good luck. Scott, George, Jack and Greg had placed a Celebration board on Boo Boo hill in 2010 but we could not find it. The Park staff might have removed it as it may not have been a true piece of drift wood. If it is not drift wood the park staff will remove it.  We were staying two nights at Warderick.  That night we printed Celebration 2010 and 2012 on a piece of drift wood we had brought from Cumberland Island.  

Celebration at Warderick Wells

Friday May the 10^th

A long hot walk but we got our sign on Boo Boo Hill

The sign is secured

Resting on Boo Boo Hill

A great swimming hole

Celebration on the mooring ball at Hawksbill Cay

 We took another long walk up to Boo Boo Hill to place our drift wood sign in just the right place.  George even brought a screw to secure the sign.  Afterwards we returned to Celebration and left the mooring ball.  We were on our way to Hawksbill Cay.  Someone had told us Hawksbill was the prettiest beach in the Bahamas.  Treasure Cay is well known for its beauty but this island was supposed to rival Treasure Cay. This would be our last stop in the Exumas before heading to Nassua and then home. When we got to the moorings at Hawksbill it was time to run the generator again to cool off the freezer as our engine driven compressor is still not working. The gentle breeze we had been accustomed to was gone. The winds were dead still. We were so hot we went swimming off the side of the boat.  George convinced us to go ahead and take the dingy to the island and he would stay with the generator.  We did.  We had to go a long way in the dingy and we also had to walk a very long way to get to the ocean side of the island, where the knock down gorgeous beach was to be.  Well, I am not so sure it was the beach or that we were so hot and tried but we all agreed that George had made the right decision. We were a little disappointed. The color of the water was very pretty and the beach had beautiful white sand but the beauty of Warderick Wells is a hard act to follow.  After the sunset the winds picked up and we had a nice night. 

The long HOT walk to Hawksbill Beach

On a hill top on Hawksbill

A rock near the mooring field 

Good Bye Exumas

Saturday May 11^th

We got up and had a good breakfast and headed to Nassau.  We were going through Nassau to fill up with water, fuel and a few groceries.  We planned to stay in Nassau until a good long weather window opened up.  There was some weather coming in but it was to settle down on Tuesday.  As we headed out to the open water we got into some seas that were worse than the Sirrus XM weather had predicted.  The seas were supposed to be two to three feet.  However we were in 4 to 6 feet seas and on the beam of the boat. The front was coming through early.  Charlotte is prone to seasickness but she had on bracelets that were supposed to help.  She was at the helm through some of the worst part of the rough water.  She handled it like a champ! We were headed to the Yellow Banks.  If you don’t remember the Yellow Banks was the part of the trip where you need sunshine and smooth seas to navigate because there are coral heads sticking up out of the water.  Greg and I went out on the deck to look for coral heads.  Just before we got to the Yellow Banks the sun came out, but the sea was still rough. The boat was dipping and bouncing around, so George made me put the tether on.  We made it through without hitting a rock or losing a passenger.  We were five miles out of Nassau and I had to face my biggest fear.  The engine changed tunes just a little.  I asked George if there was some thing wrong he said no.  He had not heard what I had heard.  I looked at Greg and he had heard the engine change pitch too.

At that point the engine stopped. You react differently when something happens like that.  No one panics; you all just start problem solving. We did what we needed to do. We put out the sails. It is a sailboat! Greg takes the helm. George proceeds to change the primary fuel filter. I go down with him to be his assistant. We get the engine started again only to have it go out again.  George changed the secondary fuel filter this time.  The engine started again but went out soon after.  George thought that he might have lost the prime so he pumped the fuel line about 100 times.  The engine started again.  By this time we were about a mile from Nassau.  The engine ran for a while but stopped again.  George got on the VHF radio and was calling for a tow from Nassau but no one responded. We had to call the Nassau Harbor Control to tell them we were sailing into the anchorage and we needed permission to do so.  Some one called back and told us to get anchored and they would have someone come on Monday to work on the engine.  So all we could do was sail into the anchorage.  George and Greg pumped the priming pump about a thousand strokes in hopes that the engine would start and help us anchor.  We were decreasing the sail as we came in. The plan was for George to be at the anchor ready to drop, Charlotte would let out the sheet for the jib, Greg was at the helm and would head into the wind in order to stop the boat and I would bring in the sail and hopefully start the engine at the very last minute in case we needed it.  We were hoping the wind would die down and the boat would slow down but as we entered the anchorage, we were going 4 knots, much to fast to anchor.  Just when the time was right Greg said start the engine and it started!  Then we had to quickly get in the sail as George threw out the anchor.  We did it!  We all took a deep breath and relaxed a little.  However as we looked around we realized that we were too close to the catamaran next to us.  We called on the VHF and he said it was fine, we were not too close.  We needed a good night sleep after all the excitement so we decided to move.  Again our silent prayers were going up for the engine to start. I was at the helm because George needed Greg with him at the anchor.  We started the engine and it did great even when George told me to “goose” it to the right or left.  We hoped to move the boat to the docks tomorrow but that would be another day.  That night we rested because we were safe.

Sunday the 12^th Mothers Day.  We woke up early and George and Greg fixed Charlotte and me breakfast. I opened a card the kids had left and it made me really miss my children.

George and Greg making Breakfast on Mothers Day.

Then we took a dingy into the docks to look at where we wanted to dock the boat.  We decided on Nassau Yacht Haven.  The slip was on the out side and should be easy to get to.  We started the engine and hoped it would work until we were docked. George was ready to let the anchor out if needed.  It worked but lost rpm as we were docking.  Just after we docked we heard a familiar voice.  It was John B from our buddy Boat Graduate.  He saw us come in and jumped on his bike and rode to our dock to greet us. They had been to the Elutheria and the Exumas .  They were leaving the next day for Lukaya, then to West End. From West End, they would go back to the States.  Greg. Charlotte, George and I went to the Poop Deck restaurant ( yes that is the real name!) for our Mothers day lunch. After lunch we walked down the street to a STARBUCKS!!! Yeah! Then we took a Taxi to the Pirate Museum.  It was closed but we got a very expensive tour of the down town area.  That night we returned to the restaurant and had dinner with Jan and John Brandon before they left on Graduate the next morning.

Reunion with John B and Jan of Graduate 

Monday the 13^th

We were anxiously waiting the arrival of the mechanic.  Greg, Charlotte and I went to Starbucks for breakfast.  When we returned the mechanic had loosened the injectors to bleed the air out of the fuel system.  After the mechanic left the boat George put the boat under a stress test. The boat ran for a minute and stopped again. The mechanic had to come back and blow out the fuel lines as they were clogged. Greg and Charlotte went to the grocery store for some things we needed for the trip home.  We planned to leave on Tuesday morning for the long trip home.  Nassau to Burnswick is about a 72 hour trip.