11/10/2008, Elliot, Florida (United States)
Total Distance: 35 Miles Under Sail: 17
Average Speed: 4.12 kts
Conditions: Light Rain, 80-85 F, Wind Northeast at 15-20 kts, Seas 2-4 ft
A Dragging We Will Go!!!!
The Mission " To Cruise the Florida Keys to Key West and Back!
I arrived to the boat a day late, no crew, no asymmetrical sail, no food and rush, rush, rush to launch by 1pm. When I arrived at Rhapsody I expect the boat to be all clean, polished and wax. I hired a crew to do this chore while I was away in NJ. Well, they only did the hull and not the topside. It was a major miscommunication on our parts. So this is how it started and went downhill from here. After running around with my head cut off to do all the chores that need to be done for a one week cruise in 4 hours, I did launch at 1 pm in a blow: 20 kts of wind. Forecast 15-20ts wind diminishing to 10-15 at night. NOT!
Key Biscayne Bay was roaring! 20-25 knots of wind all the way down to Elliot Key. The wind was a broad reach all the way!!!!! Rhapsody was doing 7.7 knots and very happy. I was happy. When I got to Elliot Key I was very concerned about trying to find shelter with this direction of wind and strength. I decided to hide near Sands Key cut on the north side of Elliot Key. I eased my way into the bay with very skinny water. 5-7 feet. I tried to get as close to shore as I could to find protection from the wind. There were two other boats at anchor there so I assume all was well. Dropping my new anchor in 18 knots of wind and current was interesting to say the least. It was impossible to hold the bow into the wind. Rhapsody is a wing keel and doesn't track well into the wind. As I was dropping the hook the bow turned away from the wind big time. The anchor wouldn't set at all. I tried 4 times to set the hook. The second time I tried, disaster struck. First, I was towing a borrowed dingy. I had the boat in idle reverse as I was upfront letting out scope when suddenly I heard the motor stop. Not a good sign! I rushed back and started the motor. When it was put back into reverse it stopped again. It took all of a nano second to realize that I caught the dingy painter in the prop. I was dragging .8nm an hour in 17 knots of wind with no motor! Are we having fun yet? After saying a few choice words, I rushed to get the scuba diving gear donned. In record time I managed to clear the painter line free and retied the cut line underwater. All while dragging and watching the sea bottom close to the keel sliding by. Oh my poor heart!! When I got back onboard I had dragged 1 nm. Thank god it was into good water. I restarted the engine and brought the anchor back up. I tried 2 other times in different spots to set the anchor. She wouldn't set at all. Dang it all! So I made the decision to head back to port at night. I had enough fun and didn't want to head south due the navigation difficulties of going through Cutter Bank channel alone, in waters I have never sailed at night.
The beat back to port was straight into the wind, seas 3-4 feet of moderate chop and a 4 hour motor. I do not have a dodger on Rhapsody. The bow was pounding into the waves, with water rushing over the boat and sea spray everywhere. I got soaked!! I was miserable! My foul weather gear was still in New Jersey! The only good news was it was 75 degrees outside. I did change into long pants and long sleeve shirt to try and stay warm. I was hungry, wet and miserable.
Docking " Oh boy oh girl oh boy!" When I got back to the marina the wind was still blowing 17 knots. I was totally scared to death of what was coming up. I have never docked a boat towing a dingy. The whole way home I was thinking about how I was going to do plan for this. Three plans came to mind; try anchoring in Stadium Bay for the night (I knew my anchor would hold here), bow into the dock (my dockline set-up isn't set for this, or back-in my tight spot. At 930pm, the boat eased into the fairway. I decided to try the hardest plan, back into the dock. I took the dinghy's bow right unto the swim platform and tied it down. When I went past my slip the wind died down to 8 knots because of the Rusty Pelican restaurant blocking the wind for me. Thank god a break at last. I back into the slip a perfect 10! Tied her down and collapsed.
Tuesday " Recovering"
My dock neighbors were surprised to see me back. We talked about my anchor dragging problem. They weren't surprised the least bit about dragging and had a good laugh at my expense. Elliot key is known for hard limestone bottom and anchors not holding especially in 17-20 knots of wind. NOW THEY TELL ME! They told me I need a Danforth or Fortress anchor set up in front of my Ronca anchor to make it work in the keys. So off to West Marine I go to get this set-up. I bought a fortress and a few other things I needed. Later that night George came by to see how I am doing with a fortress anchor he was selling because it was too small for his boat. It was the same size I just bought. We made a quick deal and he set it all up including 8 feet of anchor chain. Don't I have great neighbors!
The boat was filthy. Rhapsody got a bath. During the day I planned the rest of my trip and set the boat up right for the coming days. The way it should have been to begin with.
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11/07/2008, Key Biscayne, Florida (United States)
Total Distance: 18 Miles Under Sail: 17
Average Speed: 5.14 kts
Conditions: Partly Cloudy, 75-80 F, Wind Northeast at 10-15 kts, Seas 1-2 ft
I haven't updated in awhile because my laptop on the boat doesn't have this program. Need to fix that one of these days.
I have taken Rhapsody out a few times since I last blog.
Last month I went out in heavy winds. It was blowing 17-25 knots. The boat handled the winds very nicely especially on a beam reach. Rhapsody was doing over 7 knots. Yes, I pushed her a little but I want to see what the limits where on the sail plan. All was going OK until it was time to head back to the dock. When I was furling the jib, top of the head tack ripped off completely. So now it was a huge challenge to get the sail onboard in 20+ winds. Good thing I used to race because I got the sail down and in the v-berth in no time. When I took the jib to Doyle sailmakers in Miami, I asked how this happened. They said it was UV damage and not my fault in sailing. They also didn't have any kind words about the sail because it was made in China. So, I asked them to make the sail right by stitching where they thought was necessary. When they brought me my jib back to the boat they looked at the mainsail and said it needed to be stitched as well. So that will go in next month.
I have been a busy sailor over the last two months. I went to the Annapolis boat show to buy my girl a few presents. While there meet up with my Yahoo chat friends. Doug made me a knock off of a Ronca anchor out of stainless steel. He did a great job. I tested when I got it to the boat. Holds too well if there is such a thing. My windlass strained to unset it. When it came out of the water, I had 1/2 the bay's mud covering the anchor. Now I have to install a wash down system. Uggg.
I ordered a new Asymmetrical Spinnaker for the boat. The boat doesn't go well downwind and I needed a sail to help me out. I got all the running rigging in place. That required a trip up the mast for the new spinnaker halyard. Gill, my neighbor went up for me. While he was up there he also had to retrieve the jib halyard when the jib broke free. I went up 1/2 way to finally put the flag halyard on the boat. That was the first time I have ever been up the mast! I tried to go all the way up but I don't the strength to haul myself up. Uggg. I need to go up once more to put the new LED mast lights on. I wonder if I make Gill a nice cake he will go up for me. Ummm!
Well, you remember the squeal I had from the back of the engine. Finally, after 7 months, the broker sent a mechanic that knows a few things about boats and diagnosis it as the transmission front bearing. So, now I have to take out the tranny and get if fix. Uggg.
Next Monday I plan on going to the Florida Keys for a week. It will be my first time cruising in this boat. I cannot wait.
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08/25/2008, Key Biscayne, Florida (United States)
Total Distance: 18 Miles Under Sail: 18
Average Speed: 4.5 kts
Conditions: Partly Cloudy, 75-80 F, Wind Southeast at 5-10 kts, Seas 1-2 ft
Evening cruise - I have been flying a lot lately and I was exhausted. After landing I took Rhapsody out for a nice eveing sail. Winds were light but the boat moves nicely along. I just want to unwind and relax. If the boat moved at all I really didn't care. Just being on the water was the therapy I needed. Nice run beating into the wind and a lazy run back to port.
Docking. - My worst experience ever to date. My first attempt at backing into the slip wasn't going right so I aborted. The winds were blowing mostly out of the south at 9 knots ( my boat's dock alignment is N/S). When I started my run to back up I didn't give myself enough room to get her going fast enough to make the 90 degree turn. So needless to say, I had to abort the run. During this abort the wind took the freeboard of the boat and pushed me into the other side of the fairway into the other boats. I had to fend off myself on two boats before I got control of the situation. Nothing was damaged except my pride. When I got back into the slip my dockmates asked if I was a powerboat driver. Not good. I am starting to not like this docking situation.
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