03/14/2010, Key Biscayne, Florida (United States)
Total Distance: 19 Miles Under Sail: 19
Average Speed: 6.33 kts
Conditions: Partly Cloudy, 70-75 F, Wind West at 15-20 kts, Seas 2-4 ft
Sunday Anne's Day - The wind has been blowing for the past 3 days over 20 knots and today it was suppose to die down to around 15 knots. Since it was Anne's last full day here, we decided to take out the boat one last time before she had to leave back home tomorrow morning. Anne is a new sailorette. She really shined this past week learning each day the ins and outs of sailing. We got off the dock with no problems considering the still nasty crosswind. We only set the mainsail with a reef in, for a causal sail in Biscayne Bay. I let her helm the boat most of the day. With the gusting winds, Rhapsody can be a handful. But Anne did great controlling the helm. A quick learner. I have had other new people on my boats and when the boats get difficult to handle most have given up the helm, back to me (one let go and walked away). Anne was a trouper in controlling Rhapsody sometime wayward ways. It was a great sail with a great crew member. I think I convert Anne to the sailing drug.
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03/11/2010, Key Biscayne, Florida (United States)
Total Distance: 18 Miles Under Sail: 18
Average Speed: 6 kts
Conditions: Cloudy, 65-70 F, Wind West at 15-20 kts, Seas 1-2 ft
Thursday Heading Home - When the sun came up the winds were still howling with overcast skies. Rhapsody was swinging wildly on her anchor as she normally does. After coffee was made, the boat was readied for the sail home. Upping the anchor was going to be tricky, with two boats close by; one behind and one to the port and a seawall on the starboard side. I set up a the women on the deck so commands can be relayed from me at the helm to Jennifer raising the anchor. We raised anchor with no problems, making it look easy like we are veteran cruisers. Got to love this crew!. After motoring out of the harbor, we set the mainsail and jib with a reef in it. Rhapsody was doing 6.5 knots in 18-22 knots of wind at 40 degrees off the bow on the ride home. The bay had moderate chop in it. Rhapsody's nose got wet a few times. We sailed around the bay for a bit before we called it quits for the day. After docking the boat in a nasty crosswind we put the boat to bed. I took the most wonderful 3 hour nap that afternoon.
After everyone had showers, we went to check out South Miami Beach for shopping, dinner and some tourist stuff for the girls. Spring break was in full force here. Not my cup of tea at all but we made the best of it. After an expensive dinner on Collins Blvd we retired back to the boat.
The next day it was a lousy weather day with rain, high winds and cooler temperatures. The boat got a bath by all and I treated the crew to a movie Alice in Wonderland in 3D. It was a sad night as two of the girls packed for their flight back home. Anne decided to stay with me on the boat until Monday.
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03/10/2010, Key Biscayne, Florida (United States)
Total Distance: 48 Miles Under Sail: 33
Average Speed: 6 kts
Conditions: Partly Cloudy, 70-75 F, Wind Northwest at 15-20 kts, Seas 1-2 ft
Wednesday Bump and Aground! The crew got up early and we got an early start for the trip back north. A major cold front was forecast to come through tonight and the next 2 days. Winds were forecast to be in the 20 knot range with gust over 25 knots. With the winds out of the west, the bay side of the keys, the low tide gets extreme as the wind pushes the water out into the ocean. It was going to be an interesting ride back home. The original plan was to head to Boca Chita (Ragged Key) to anchor out for the night. Since this anchorage is exposed to a west wind that was out of the question. So my choices were to head back to home or No Name Harbor. Time will tell and the 3 pm weather forecast.
We started out motor-sailing again to charge the batteries and low water through the channel. As I cleared the Barnes Sound channel with the Red Buoy on the starboard side, for the first time, Rhapsody in Blue ran aground hard. Confused is an understatement. I was in the middle of the channel, on the track from the previous day and here I was aground. The charts show 7 feet of water here. The current was running hard and the boat was 50 yards from the buoy. I was scared, very scary the current was going to crash me into the Red buoy. Jennifer launched the dinghy off the forepeak, while I got the motor lift ready. Quick as a bunny, the crew had the dinghy ready to go. I lowered the anchor into the dinghy with all the chain and rode; 200 feet. Having never did this before, nor ever seen it done before, I was going off what I have read about skedging off the shoal with an anchor. It took us a few tries to figure out how to dump the anchor chain out of the dinghy while moving backwards. Jenn figured it out and soon we had the anchor 150 feet behind us. Going forward, left or right was out of the question. With Anne at the helm and me on the windlass, we pulled the boat off the shoal in quick fashion. With the boat free of the shoal, the current started to take us closer to the Red buoy. I ran back to the helm to straighten out the boat, gave instruction to the crew to retrieve the anchor. Like a well oiled team, we got safely on the other side of the channel and into deep water. I need a drink, a big one! Grog for all hands the Captain declared!
As a side note; as I was skedging off the shoal, a couple from an anchor sailboat nearby, launched their dinghy to assist us. While we didn't need their help this time, it was comfortable to know that sailboat cruisers look after each other. We never got their names but thank you and fair winds.
After clearing the red buoy this bay is known for very shallow water with a extremely narrow channel. I didn't want to stop to pick up Jenn at this time so she followed us through the bay in the dinghy. Once cleared the bay, we entered Sexton bay where deeper water (7 feet) was found. We stopped off to pick up Jennifer and the dinghy. It was here that I need to check the rudder and keel to see if any damage was done. I wasn't looking forward to this at all. With the water temp at 68 degrees and the air temp the same, it was going to be a cold swim. So, with snorkel gear on, in I went. Oh that water was cold! Reminds me of the time when the spinnaker halyard broke to wrap itself around the prop. A quick inspection of rudder and keel found all to be in good order. Thank god!. After a quick hot shower ( the first in 2 days) to warm up, the sails were raised. The winds were averaging 15 knots. With reefed sails on a 110 degree wind we were flying up north. It was here, the crew threaten mutiny again if we didn't stop for beer and ice. We stopped at a fuel stop at the Key Largo Bridge for fuel, water, beer and ice. The boat and crew were now happy! The owner of the fuel stop was a savor character from the 60's. Not sure what he was thinking with a boat full of women but one can guess. After launching out again, sails set, we were flying back up north at 7+ knots. I have never seen the boat perform so well for so long. Impressed I was. The winds were starting to gust up to 24 knots as the afternoon progressed. I listen to the 3pm forecast. Rain and wind were forecast tomorrow. The night forecast was 10-15 knots of wind out of the west. We took a vote on where to go tonight and No Name Harbor was voted on.
We arrived there about 5pm an 1.5 hours before sunset. Upon arrival, we found the harbor a bit crowded with cruisers waiting out the wx for a crossing to the Bahamas. We set the anchor the first time, but I wasn't happy with the location; to close to the rocky mangrove shore. We reset the anchor to only to be closer to two boats. I wasn't happy with again. So being a conscience sailor, we re-upped the anchor one more time and found another place set the hook for the night. While a little embarrassment on my part as all the boaters watched the show, I tried to show some seamanship and courtesy. The anchor set the third time, still a little to close to one boat for me but doable. I can see another night on anchor watch. Another great night of sundowners and dinner. As promised, the winds came up at 2am. I sat in the cockpit all night on anchor watch. Max wind gust recorded at 25 knots. We never moved.
The crew. I would be amiss if I didn't say a few words about the crew. At times we sailors have the pleasure of being a crew on other peoples boats or having crew on our respective boat. With 4 women on this boat, the dynamics of having an all women crew or just any crew can be a challenge for any captain to make sure everyone is having a good time, being safe, and getting along. Human nature as it is can make situations uncomfortable at times for one or all. In any group setting we have all seen this. However, with this crew, we got along every second, everyone pitched in without being asked, jobs were done automatically without fuss or orders and everyone had a great time. There was no yelling or harsh words spoken ever! To Jennifer, Leigh and Anne you are all the best friends a person can ask for and one hell of a group of sailors. Please come sail with me anytime.
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