Handbasket ... Dry Tortugas to Isla ... Part III
Jan, David's lively partner, kept the boys on Hand Basket entertained at times. Despite the three day voyage with plenty of wind, she never once sounded tired. What was her problem. Always chipper. The afternoon we were in the Yucatan Channel, Jan called on the radio. The seas were large, maybe 8 feet at times, and the current foul for a time. This being their first open ocean passage, Jan was invigorated. At one point the radio crackled, "Hand Basket! These elephants (the large waves) are kissing us on the ass!"Oh yeah, that helped the boys on Hand Basket pass an hour.
Besiide not having the chart, we stretched the guide lines of ocean sailing another time. One "rule" is to never enter an unfamiliar port at night. We aprroached Isla Mujeres at 10 pm. I had read the cruising guide carefully and studied the chart. (Yes ! I had the harbor chart.) This looked easy. A green light marked the end of a shoal that was just north of a large hotel with 3 read lights. Nothing was to the north of the green light for 3 miles. The guide says to stay at least 100 yrds north of the light. Once abeam of the light, make a slow turn in 16 feet of water to the south. I decided we would go in and anchor out of the wind behind the hotel. Grant steered, Danny called out the depth and I watched for the green light. For 15 minutes I kept hoping it wasnt as bad as the Bahamas. They are still waiting for their light bulb shipment. The light finally showed in the right spot when we were less than a mile out and the rest was easy. Grant held a good course and the depth rose gradually to 20 feet. Anchor down at midnight. Gin and Tonic. Strong.
Winterlude opted to enter the south end of the island. I didnt understand that. That approach had following seas and no definite signal lights. The single green light at the north end looked like an easy path to me. I radioed back that we were in and anchored. Still, they liked the south end.And thats the beauty of it. The next morning we saw them anchored safely out to the south.
Upon reflection, we did some things right, some not right. (Is there really a "right" and "wr, wr, wr, inappropriate way"?)
Questionable calls; 1. Not having the chart for the Yucatan Channel, 2. Entering an unfamiliar harbor at night, 3. Running aground outside Ft Myers Beach! What? I havent mentioned that? Must have slipped my mind. Well, you're not getting it out of me now. Ive told enough runaground stories. Ill tell you when I see you. And it'll cost you a beer.
Good calls. 1. Stopping at the Dry Tortugas to wait for weather. Waiting a day made our crossing of the Gulf Stream pleasant. And Grant started to take his medication. (He said it was for seasickness!)
2.Going the right way. Sounds funny, but I think Im getting the hang of this. The gps and computer nav aides sailors have make some skippers obsessed with hitting virtual mid journey waypoints. We didnt do that. We sailed on a comfortable point of sail, and when the Gulf Stream got grumpy, we altered course to get across as quickly as possible, even though it took us further from our goal. When we exited the Stream, the sky cleared, the stars came out and the wind shifted so that our new course was a beam reach! We took what we had when it was available and the situation changed in our favor.
Things also went well for the next Stream crossing. We dug south comfortably as we approached the Yucatan Stream, well south of the rumb line. When the current got foul and our speed dropped to two knots,, we changed course and put it on the beam. Back to five knots. In all, we sailed more than 500 miles and we motored only to enter or leave a harbor, 5 hours. Thats impressive.
3. The boat to boat exchange with Winterlude was, although I'm not a big "buddy boat" guy, very good. It's nice to know someone is there, and neither of us abused the communication.All in all, a fine passage. After a nice dinner in town, Danny took us to the islands topless bar, which, go figure, is right next to the marina. The next day I paid for a months rent at the marina.
I also learned about those quiet Canadians. Ah, they are a lusty bunch.
Feliz Navidad y Prospero AnoJaime
Epilogue (Thats the part after the last commercial) Danny stayed aboard for a day of snorkeling at the reef and another trip to Casa Blanca(the strip joint).He flew home the next day. He offered his services for the trip to the Med.Uncle Grant vacationed with his wife, who flew in the same day we arrived.
After a 10 day "honeymoon", he returned to the boat for a day or two and quickly headed out to Fort Myers and his boat. He was then sailing to the Bahamas. He, too, was willing to crew across the Atlantic.
Jan and David have become fine friends. Berthed in the slip next to Hand Basket, we have shared some sundowners, dinners in town and a bull rumble.(You couldnt call these things "fights".) They are a fun couple.Just after sunset one night, Jan insisted I see her brocolli, and she used a flash light so I could get a good look. On another occasion, while we were in the galley, she exclaimed "yours is bigger and harder than Davids".Although I was pleased as punch, I think she was referring to the block of ice in my frig. Pity.As they say, you can't make this stuff up. And considering the state of the American press, we need (almost) full disclosure.You meet some great people cruising.
Besiide not having the chart, we stretched the guide lines of ocean sailing another time. One "rule" is to never enter an unfamiliar port at night. We aprroached Isla Mujeres at 10 pm. I had read the cruising guide carefully and studied the chart. (Yes ! I had the harbor chart.) This looked easy. A green light marked the end of a shoal that was just north of a large hotel with 3 read lights. Nothing was to the north of the green light for 3 miles. The guide says to stay at least 100 yrds north of the light. Once abeam of the light, make a slow turn in 16 feet of water to the south. I decided we would go in and anchor out of the wind behind the hotel. Grant steered, Danny called out the depth and I watched for the green light. For 15 minutes I kept hoping it wasnt as bad as the Bahamas. They are still waiting for their light bulb shipment. The light finally showed in the right spot when we were less than a mile out and the rest was easy. Grant held a good course and the depth rose gradually to 20 feet. Anchor down at midnight. Gin and Tonic. Strong.
Winterlude opted to enter the south end of the island. I didnt understand that. That approach had following seas and no definite signal lights. The single green light at the north end looked like an easy path to me. I radioed back that we were in and anchored. Still, they liked the south end.And thats the beauty of it. The next morning we saw them anchored safely out to the south.
Upon reflection, we did some things right, some not right. (Is there really a "right" and "wr, wr, wr, inappropriate way"?)
Questionable calls; 1. Not having the chart for the Yucatan Channel, 2. Entering an unfamiliar harbor at night, 3. Running aground outside Ft Myers Beach! What? I havent mentioned that? Must have slipped my mind. Well, you're not getting it out of me now. Ive told enough runaground stories. Ill tell you when I see you. And it'll cost you a beer.
Good calls. 1. Stopping at the Dry Tortugas to wait for weather. Waiting a day made our crossing of the Gulf Stream pleasant. And Grant started to take his medication. (He said it was for seasickness!)
2.Going the right way. Sounds funny, but I think Im getting the hang of this. The gps and computer nav aides sailors have make some skippers obsessed with hitting virtual mid journey waypoints. We didnt do that. We sailed on a comfortable point of sail, and when the Gulf Stream got grumpy, we altered course to get across as quickly as possible, even though it took us further from our goal. When we exited the Stream, the sky cleared, the stars came out and the wind shifted so that our new course was a beam reach! We took what we had when it was available and the situation changed in our favor.
Things also went well for the next Stream crossing. We dug south comfortably as we approached the Yucatan Stream, well south of the rumb line. When the current got foul and our speed dropped to two knots,, we changed course and put it on the beam. Back to five knots. In all, we sailed more than 500 miles and we motored only to enter or leave a harbor, 5 hours. Thats impressive.
3. The boat to boat exchange with Winterlude was, although I'm not a big "buddy boat" guy, very good. It's nice to know someone is there, and neither of us abused the communication.All in all, a fine passage. After a nice dinner in town, Danny took us to the islands topless bar, which, go figure, is right next to the marina. The next day I paid for a months rent at the marina.
I also learned about those quiet Canadians. Ah, they are a lusty bunch.
Feliz Navidad y Prospero AnoJaime
Epilogue (Thats the part after the last commercial) Danny stayed aboard for a day of snorkeling at the reef and another trip to Casa Blanca(the strip joint).He flew home the next day. He offered his services for the trip to the Med.Uncle Grant vacationed with his wife, who flew in the same day we arrived.
After a 10 day "honeymoon", he returned to the boat for a day or two and quickly headed out to Fort Myers and his boat. He was then sailing to the Bahamas. He, too, was willing to crew across the Atlantic.
Jan and David have become fine friends. Berthed in the slip next to Hand Basket, we have shared some sundowners, dinners in town and a bull rumble.(You couldnt call these things "fights".) They are a fun couple.Just after sunset one night, Jan insisted I see her brocolli, and she used a flash light so I could get a good look. On another occasion, while we were in the galley, she exclaimed "yours is bigger and harder than Davids".Although I was pleased as punch, I think she was referring to the block of ice in my frig. Pity.As they say, you can't make this stuff up. And considering the state of the American press, we need (almost) full disclosure.You meet some great people cruising.
