Kind of got away from SBO there for awhile. This darn air card only works in the cockpit and it has been cold. Here in Vero Beach tonight it is probably in the fiftys and I am hiding behind the dodger out of the wind. After a long and rolling offshore run from Georgetown to St. Augustine and on to Palm Coast here is Ladylove’s story.
Sunday was a long day with wildfire smoke covering the channel, bad storm while we were in very open water with sideways rain and 35+ winds, not gusts but steady! Then visibility went to zero right before an open railroad bridge. So we anchored, great fun with the boat heeling 30 degrees without sails. It ripped a very big hole in the bimini which is now wrapped up.
Earlier we had been motor-sailing with the yankee(jib) when the winds went to 25 and we had a heck of a time getting her in. The lazy sheet got loose and tied a knot into the working sheet which would not let us roll it up. Just glad we got it down before the real winds hit. The Indian River is like a very large lake so it was like crossing Lake Erie. Just glad we were not out on the Atlantic.
Before the bad weather hit we were in a nice narrow area with dolphin playing right against the boat. We got some great pictures. The width of the ICW varies between a hundred feet and over two miles. But the “ditch”, the route between the marks, is seldom more than a hundred feet, usually much less. And if you get outside the marks you are on the bottom, it is that shallow. It does get stressful after a couple of hours at the wheel. Offshore we just set the autohelm, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
We got into Cocoa Beach and anchored with the wind still blowing over 25. Up at 0000 to check, still whistling through the rigging but holding fast. We have been sharing the cooking, kind of making up the menu as we go. Tonight it was talapia, rice, veggies, and a salad. And wine of course.
Don did a great job with the tilapia, excellent!
We were off the anchor this morning by 08:30 on a sunny but cool morning. We had an excellent run down the very wide Indian River in very narrow channels and skinny water. We averaged over 6.5 knots, love my new 3YM30.
We called ahead and a canvas guy met us at the dock around 16:30. He had the bimini sewn and reinforced before we walked to dinner at 18:00!
Had a great dinner at the Riverside Café under the Vero Beach bridge. You gotta’ check it out. The forecast looks good for going out the Fort Pierce inlet tomorrow morning. If the weather holds we should not go ashore again until Key West. We just hope there is more sailing and less motoring on this next run. We do know that the weather will be warmer. Hope you are sailing or will soon. Crew of Ladylove: Don, Gary, Ed
P.S. Never wanted an enclosed cockpit until the night offshore from Beaufort, first picture!
Sunday was a long day with wildfire smoke covering the channel, bad storm while we were in very open water with sideways rain and 35+ winds, not gusts but steady! Then visibility went to zero right before an open railroad bridge. So we anchored, great fun with the boat heeling 30 degrees without sails. It ripped a very big hole in the bimini which is now wrapped up.
Earlier we had been motor-sailing with the yankee(jib) when the winds went to 25 and we had a heck of a time getting her in. The lazy sheet got loose and tied a knot into the working sheet which would not let us roll it up. Just glad we got it down before the real winds hit. The Indian River is like a very large lake so it was like crossing Lake Erie. Just glad we were not out on the Atlantic.
Before the bad weather hit we were in a nice narrow area with dolphin playing right against the boat. We got some great pictures. The width of the ICW varies between a hundred feet and over two miles. But the “ditch”, the route between the marks, is seldom more than a hundred feet, usually much less. And if you get outside the marks you are on the bottom, it is that shallow. It does get stressful after a couple of hours at the wheel. Offshore we just set the autohelm, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
We got into Cocoa Beach and anchored with the wind still blowing over 25. Up at 0000 to check, still whistling through the rigging but holding fast. We have been sharing the cooking, kind of making up the menu as we go. Tonight it was talapia, rice, veggies, and a salad. And wine of course.
Don did a great job with the tilapia, excellent! We were off the anchor this morning by 08:30 on a sunny but cool morning. We had an excellent run down the very wide Indian River in very narrow channels and skinny water. We averaged over 6.5 knots, love my new 3YM30.
We called ahead and a canvas guy met us at the dock around 16:30. He had the bimini sewn and reinforced before we walked to dinner at 18:00!
Had a great dinner at the Riverside Café under the Vero Beach bridge. You gotta’ check it out. The forecast looks good for going out the Fort Pierce inlet tomorrow morning. If the weather holds we should not go ashore again until Key West. We just hope there is more sailing and less motoring on this next run. We do know that the weather will be warmer. Hope you are sailing or will soon. Crew of Ladylove: Don, Gary, Ed
P.S. Never wanted an enclosed cockpit until the night offshore from Beaufort, first picture!
