SailNet Community banner
  • SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!

The ICW - Single Handed - Well, Almost!

24K views 182 replies 37 participants last post by  Minnewaska 
#1 ·
After leaving the Chesapeake's upper reaches on October 2, just two days after my 50th Anniversary, I've finally arrived in sunny Florida. Yep, it took that long. 12 days lost to weather, days when I've been tied to a dock freezing my butt off, days when the winds howled at 50 or more, 12-hour days of battling waves to 7 feet, 4 knot tides, 5-foot wakes from idiot power boaters, and naturally, two groundings.

Fortunately, I've also been blessed. I beautiful, young lady, who is an avid sailor, has been with me for the past 5 days and nights. She can sail a boat better than 99 percent of the sailors I've come across during the past 7 years, she can cook, but I would rather cook for her instad, she loves my Green Coconut Margarettas, and best of all she has helped restore my sanity. This wonderful lady I'm talking about is our own Mel (Melissa), who graciously accepted my plea for help in traveling to south Florida in my trusty, old 33 Morgan Out Island. Yep, she likes the boat too.

I'm not really sure if I could have made it this far without Mel's help. Her knowledge of boating, and lots of other subjects if unsurpassed. She and I seem to have a lot in common, and in many respects we've almost led paralell lives, but under totally different circumstances. Yes, I'm in love with Mel. ;)

During these many weeks on the water I've also met a lot of other wonderful folks, Mario and I keep in touch almost daily and I hole to meet up with him sometime tomorrow. Roger and Sandy, a wonderful couple I met 500 miles to the north, traveled here from Detroit and have been on the water for three months. We get together for dinner once in a while, toss a couple margarettas, and they got to hear me perform at Myrtle Beach Yacht Club. The lady at the YC wanted me to stay a few weeks, but I declined.

The trip thus far has been mostly alone. The ICW has been nearly deserted, some days I saw up to a dozen boats, but most days I traveled 10 to 12 hours in the wilderness, completely alone.

More to come,

Gary :cool:
 
See less See more
#172 ·
A strong cold front ripped through the Florida Keys two days ago, bringing with it a 30-degree drop in temperature. Believe me when I tell you that 52-degrees is brutally cold for us old codgers who seem to have rapidly become accustomed to temperatures in the upper 70s. The accompanying winds with the frontal passage compounded the cold weather problem, causing the waves in Boot Key to rise to nearly two feet at one point. This makes it difficult to make dinghy passages from boats to the marina, but there were some brave souls that pounded through the waves wearing parkas and rainsuits to hear the music I played at the Tiki Hut last night. We had a ball, but I only lasted two hours until I became so cold I could no longer sing and play. This morning, the temperature is back to about 64 degrees and 70 is predicted.

Christmas at the marina will feature a pot-luck brunch at the Tiki Hut, which will feature a host of wonderful dishes and deserts. I hope to do a New Year's Eve party at the marina as well, which should be lots of fun if the weather cooperates.

Another fun day in Paradise,

Gary :cool:
 
#180 ·
The weather was beautiful this morning, winds from the northeast at 10 to 12, perfect day for sailing. At 10 this morning, shortly after washing the breakfast dishes and talking with my family in the frozen north, I headed across Boot Key Harbor, passed through Sisters Creek, and out into Hawk Channel. As soon as I cleared the creek markers, the sails went up and the engine was shut down. Had a beam reach most of the way, passed over the reef just east of Sombrero Light, then headed due south till the depths exceeded 200 feet. The water out there is a deep, azure blue, and it actually sparkles as your boat wake pushes the water outward from the hull.

After about 4 hours, the winds increased to just over 20 MPH, so I turned around and had a beam reach all the way to the mouth of Sisters Creek, where I lowered the sails and fired up the engine. What a fantastic way to spend Christmas Day. 75-degrees, low humidity, a wonderful sail, good food and a green coconut Margaretta. It doesn't get any better than this.

The photos are not that great, taken with my cellular telephone. Top is the view of Sombrero Light from 2 miles out in the ocean. And yes, the water is really that blue.


This photo was taken as I passed over the reef northeast of Sombrero Light.


Another fun day in Paradise,

Gary :cool:
 
#183 ·
What a memory. I sat at the bar you either took that pic from or was right behind you to the side of the dinning area. Not the big full bar. I got there around lunch time, ordered a margarita. Ate something and ordered another. Long story short, we sat in those stools until 7pm and about 3 band changes. Even the first bar tender got off work, went home and came back and joined us for a drink. Had a great time. Even bought all the CDs from one of the bands. They were a parody act and I thought they were hilarious. When I listened to the CDs many weeks later, they were terrible.

After 7 hours of margaritas (and they make real killers), I had gone way over the limit. Sick as a dog the next day. Couldn't even stand the smell of the lime scented soap in my room without throwing up...... once more.

Bad, bad, bad........... Everyone that was there, reminds me of it to this day. Claim I set a record. I'll take their word for it.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top