Stars, Sails - the Parallax View

A family of astronomers at sea... coming soon to a galaxy near you...

28 May 2020 | Fort Myers, FL
13 February 2019 | SW Florida
25 May 2018 | Fort Myers, SW FL
02 September 2016 | Fort Myers, FL
11 July 2014 | Fort Myers, FL
04 July 2014 | Fort Myers, FL
01 July 2014 | South Jersey Shore
23 April 2014
11 November 2013 | Fort Myers, FL
05 July 2013 | Fort Myers, FL
25 March 2013 | Fort Myers, FL
11 March 2013 | Fort Myers, FL
25 February 2013 | Fort Myers, FL
24 January 2013 | Fort Myers, FL
25 December 2012 | Fort Myers, FL
15 December 2012 | Fort Myers, FL
28 November 2012 | Fort Myers, FL
25 November 2012 | Fort Myers, FL
07 November 2012 | Fort Myers, FL

Allen's Cay

29 March 2012 | Allen's Cay, Bahamas
Heather / sunny and 80F / ESE 10
Thurs: using kindle. we are in Allen's Cay to see the lizards
more details tomorrow :-)
The Lizard

Derek and Grant and I fed them fruit scraps:
lizards

More details: As we left the Coral Harbour entrance past the Bahamian Defense Force base, the BDF guys were doing target practice off to our right, and even before we got to the waypoint to turn toward the Exumas, we were joined by two small dolphins playing ahead of our bows. It felt like a good sign:
dolphins

Fri 30 Mar: OK I'll admit I was influenced by Jimmy Buffet's song,"Off to See the Lizard" on that first post! We came in with a couple of hours of daylight left but a fairly full anchorage, especially the more sheltered bits. We had thought that, being a catamaran and all, we could tuck into some nice shallow spot even if it WAS after 4 PM. We had not reckoned on the smaller cruising boats out here. At 37 feet, we are used to being normal-to-smallish among typical cruising boats. BTW 20 years ago our 36' Allied was bog standard size, but as with so many other things, there has been a gradual inflation in boat sizes, so that we are seeing 40-42 as "the new 36."

We found a spot in between two buddy boats... snug but OK in the direction everyone was lying. When the tide swung us all, we were too close to the larger sailboat to our E. Our problem, since we came last, but we could do nothing until the tide turned back and the sun rose. The owner was fussing a bit worried that we would hit... we were only about 20' astern of his towed dinghy. He had a lot of scope out. Many feet more than us... and Derek had laid out 85' of chain! Which is pretty generous in 10' at high tide. Anyway, the owner of the other boat stated that he had never had anyone so close in an anchorage... famous quote now, since we reanchored at the sandbar once it was light out, and by 10 a.m. a cruising powerboat had come into the anchorage and anchored even closer! Pictures when I get a suitable net connection :-)
Comments
Vessel Name: Parallax
Vessel Make/Model: 37' Prout Snowgoose (1982)
Hailing Port: Pensacola
Crew: Derek, Heather and Grant
About:
Two astronomers, looking for variable stars and adventure. After cruising the Caribbean aboard S/V Paradox for 18 months in the early 90s, the crew swallowed the anchor and had a child, always planning their next Great Adventure: cruising under sail with Grant, showing him the world. [...]
Extra:
We knew that if we ever got a catamaran, we'd want a name to celebrate her twin-hulledness. Parallax is seeing the same thing from two slightly different points of view, which with our two eyes is what gives humans our depth perception. It's also a good metaphor for one of the benefits of marriage. [...]

S/V Parallax

Who: Derek, Heather and Grant
Port: Pensacola