May 28-June 12, 2019 hurricane prep and FL dinghy registration

We spent 2 weeks preparing our boat for hurricane season.  Here are most of the things we did.

Sails: laid out our spinnaker sail to dry then stored in it’s bag.
Ran halyards to the top of the mast so they wouldn’t be affected by wind.
Took down the jib sail to store in the unit along with the spinnaker sail.
Lashed the sacrificial portion of the main sail to the mast.  This is the part that is exposed to the sun when the sail is stored in the mast.  He put a line through the cringle for the outhaul and tied it back to the mast.  

I washed the salt off of the deck, cleaned the enclosure curtains to store them in the storage unit.  I cleaned the conch shells we brought back with us, one for Dave’s sister and one for us.

cleaning the side curtains for the cockpit

Pickled the water maker since we won’t be using it for several months.  Shocked our aft tank to clean it.  It had to set a few days with bleach in the tank.  Next we drain it and rinse and drain it again. Then we let it dry out before using to let the chlorine evaporate. 

Moved our outboard off of the dinghy and onto the stern.  Flushed the outboard.  Then covered it with plastic to keep it dry in heavy rain.  Ran the fuel out of the Honda generator.
Dave emptied our jerry cans of diesel into the fuel tank.  It’s best to have the tank full to keep moisture from building up in the tank.
We emptied the gas from our jerry cans into the rental car and stored the cans in the unit with the diesel cans.

We laid the Portland Pudgy, Skadoosh, upside down on the bow.  Then we laid the Zodiac dinghy over Skadoosh, which fit inside the Zodiac.  The cover for the Zodiac fit over both of them.  Then Dave lashed them down to the deck.

2 dinghies snuggled together

Tuned up air conditioner.  Put bromine tablets in the raw water screen and ran it through the unit.  He cleaned the screen of the condensation try drain and the outside screens. 

We picked up a rental car May 31.  Picked up a Home Depot rack for our storage unit.  It made such a difference that we picked up a second one.  It made it much easier to access totes.  Plus several lids for the totes were cracking. 

storage unit rack

We emptied everything out of the bilge that was stored there.  Best to have it clear if there was an emergency to deal with while we’re gone. 

Taped windows on the outside to prevent rain from being driven in.
We closed the dorades, air vents from the deck.
Closed the vents on the stern so water can’t enter in a storm.

Dave added a bilge pump for the aft section of the boat under the engine.  He spent time researching what he needed.  He ran a bilge hose form the engine to a through hull in the aft port quarter of the boat.  He installed the bilge pump and had to trouble shoot it.  Nothing works the first time on installations.  The switch was from a different bilge company than the bilge pump he bought.  Ordered and waited for new switch.  Second time was a charm.  Always another step.

adding a switch for the additional bilge pump

someone might think this is interesting

accessing the engine compartment from under the stairs

Dave dove the hull of the boat to put lanocoat on the prop and shaft.  That keeps barnacles from growing while we’re sitting in the marina.  The new paint job will keep them off of the hull.  The zincs were ok.  He noticed coffee grounds on the hull above the through hull for the galley sink and cleaned that off.  It had damaged the paint in the past. 

Put out extra dock lines, fenders and chafe gear (protects lines where they rub against the boat).  He retied our neighbor’s boat.  It has been sitting here unattended since we got here.  Dave had permission from the marina to do what he thought needed to be done. 
Covered the grill with plastic.  Covered the binnacle and table in the cockpit with a canvas cover made for them.  Then lashed the canvas down.

tucked up before trip to SD, MN, WI

Checked the Yanmar transmission fluid and oil.  Flushed the air conditioner lines.  We will shut if off while we are gone and run a dehumidifier.
Took off the solar panels and stored them in the storage unit.  Also took off the Bimini over the cockpit and stored it in the unit.
Cleaned the raw water screens once more.

dinghy registration
6-5
We drove to Green Cove Springs to register the new dinghy that we bought in the Bahamas this winter.  The DMV wanted the MSO-manufacturers statement of origin.  We weren’t given one and would have to get one from the Bahamas.  Then they said they could give us a title using the invoice, BUT we had another road block.  The state of Fl just changed a law that will no longer let us use our mail service on our driver’s license.  We were told that we would have to have an address in Florida that we use for 6 months and one day each year.  Well, we left there to talk to our mailing service.  This we new to them, too.  So they were going to research it and get back to us. 
Dave was able to go online and register our Beneteau using our current address. 
6-7
We were told by St Brendan’s Isle, our mailing service, that we should try another DMV in Florida besides Green Cove Springs.  So we drove to Nassau County in Fernanadina Beach, FL about an hour south of us.  We took in the title hoping they didn’t care about our driver’s license.  This office insisted that we have the original MSO, not a digital copy.   She said it was the “birth certificate” of the dinghy.  Well, that wasn’t going to happen.  PLUS we’re supposed to have this registered within 30 days of returning to the USA. 
Added this now to finalize the story.  7-3 continuation of dinghy saga:  We found out we could change out driver’s licenses to FL and our coast guard documentation number.  We changed that online and had them sent to us at GCS.  We picked them up on 7-3 and went back to the DMV.  We were able to register the dinghy with our new driver’s license and the invoice.  FINALLY!  

 We also helped neighbors as needed and relaxed as needed.

Pretty Nan with her pretty flowers

helping Kent remove sails

the ladies at the liquor store had a sense of humor

relaxing with dock mate Kent

May 27, 2019 Memorial Day at Brunswick Landing Marina

We enjoyed a lazy morning on dock one having coffee with the dock office staff and friends, Fred, Pati and Gene.  About noon, we moved the boat to dock 9.  We took some time to set up power and water and air conditioning. 

There was a marina party that evening for Memorial Day.  The marina provided BBQ pork and buns.  Everything else was potluck from the boaters.  Always a great feast.  I was able to make Texas Caviar, a bean dip, with ingredients that I had on board.  Later, I played cards with several boaters in the yacht club.  Good to be back. 

This flag took a beating over 3 months

Gene, Fred, Pati, Mary, Dave

May 25-26, 2019 Day 2 & 3 of crossing from Bahamas to Georgia

Saturday 5-25
I was up to take my watch about 1:30am.  I hadn’t slept well because the boat was heeling to port, which caused me to slide off the bed in the salon area or occasionally grab the shelf on the starboard side.  I wished Dave good luck as he went below to sleep. 

We had other ships paralleling us, but no issues with crossing paths.  It was an uneventful night.  Dave figured out a good way to sleep.  When we make the table into a bed in the salon, we lower the table top and insert two cushions.  He took out those two cushions which made a well to sleep in.   There were cushions surrounding you to keep you in place.  And we use a cushion off our our bed, so you aren’t directly on the table top. 

2:00am rush hour

flying fish landed on the boat

sunrise

Dave was up about 6:30am to take over watch.  He vacuumed water from under the engine every time he changed watch.  We put up sails by 7:00am and turned off the engine.  We had breakfast, then I took a nap, but was up by 10:30am.  At 1:00pm we estimated about 250 nm to go.

Once we were in the Gulf Stream, we went from 6-7k to 8-11k with an average north east wind about 15k.  Perfect day for sailing and making time.  About 4:00pm we shortened sails since we were heeling about 15-30 degrees with wind gusts.  So about 5:00, we took down the sails and started motoring.  That helped level out the boat so I could make dinner and get some sleep.   Dave started his watch and I went below about 7:30pm.  He was nice enough to take a few sunset photos for me. 

off of Cape Canaveral 6:40pm

finally heading north

sunset

5-26 Sunday
I was up at 2:00am to start my watch with 130 nautical miles to go.  We were traveling about 40 miles offshore, so no wifi yet.  The winds were light and variable, so it was comfortable for sleeping.   We had charted where to turn NW towards Brunswick, GA and reached that waypoint at 2:30am.  We had predicted 3:00am.  Even though we were turning NW, we were still in the Gulf Stream until about 5:30am when we went from 10k to 8.5k.  Hated to lose that boost in our speed. 

12:15am

sunrise

Dave was up by 7:30am.  It seemed to take forever to get to Brunswick.  We entered the inlet about 6:00pm.  We caught the sunset at the Sidney Linear bridge.  We continued on to Brunswick Landing Marina and tied up at dock 1 by 8:00pm right after sunset with plenty of light.  It ended up being 470nm in 60 hours.  WHEW!  Good to be “home”.

Sidney Linear Bridge heading back to Brunswick landing Marina

 

May 24, 2019 Day one crossing from Bahamas to Georgia

We left Spanish Wells at 8:00 am.  We knew we would be traveling overnight for a few days, so we like to start well rested.  We are predicting it will be less than 500 miles and about 65 hours.  I made breakfast while underway.  We made it to the cut between Egg Island and Little Egg Island by 9:00 and turned north west.  We put up our main and Jenny sails and sailed all day on the same tack.  People are always amazed that we are from South Dakota.  I explain that you really learn to sail on little lakes in South Dakota because you have to turn often when you reach the far side of the lake.  On the ocean, you go one direction all day. 

I like to make something bland to eat for the crossing.  I hate to use that word, but you don’t want anything spicy that might upset your stomach.  On the way over, I made tuna noodle casserole.  We still had mahi to eat before we return to the United States.  So I made a mahi noodle casserole.  It was awesome.  I had cooked the mahi and the noodles yesterday.  I am always leery about having a pan of boiling water when the boat is heeling.  Our stove is gimbaled to swing with the boat, but a sudden movement could be big trouble.  That may be why so many boaters like pressure cookers.  At least the lid is locked in place.

By evening, we were north of the island group called the Berries and south of Freeport in the Northwest Providence Channel.  This is a main shipping channel into or through the Bahamas.  We brought in the sails and started motoring to help maneuver though traffic.  There were 2 cruise ships to the east of us heading to Miami.  That meant they had to turn west in front of us.  We turned 15-20 degrees west to not intersect paths.  It took us a few miles off our course, but nothing in the big picture.  Dave assured me everything would be fine.  So I went below to catch some sleep about 8:30pm.

chart plotter view of cruise ships that had to cross in front of us to go to Miami

looks much closer in person

estimated route on my phone app

May 23, 2019 Good bye Devyn and prep to cross back to USA

Devyn had to be at the dock at 7:50am to catch her ferry and taxi to the airport.  We really enjoyed her visit.  And she’s welcome to join us anytime.

all set on Pinder's ferry

We had the cart until 11:30am, so we went out for breakfast after feeding Devyn hard boiled eggs and a banana.  Then we drove around Russel Island exploring the side roads and a marina.  We even saw our boat anchored outside of Spanish Wells. 

dental office in Spanish Wells

I love the flowering bushes here

Dave took me back to the boat then picked up our garbage and fuel jerry cans.  He ran back to town to get fuel.  I stayed at the boat to start food prep for our crossing back to the states, and of course to clean.  We made home made pizza for dinner.  We had planned to do that for 3 months.  We’ll enjoy the leftover pizza on the crossing. 

last sunset in the Bahamas

Devyn was supposed to spend the night in Denver and go to Rapid City in the morning.  But she was able to get on a flight that night into Rapid.  We also found out that she wasn’t able to take her conch shells in her carry on luggage, only checked bags.  She gave them up rather than check the bag. 

May 22, 2019 Exploring Spanish Wells, Eleuthera

 We explored Spanish Wells by golf cart today.  Dave stayed at the boat to make water and start getting some things ready for crossing back to the states.  Devyn and I checked out a few stores.  She found a Bahamian cook book and a coconut curry spice. 

We stopped at an outdoor food stand and bought “scorched conch”, which was conch salad.  We sat at the beach and enjoyed the salad, Devyn’s first.  It’s made with pieces of conch, chopped onion and tomatoes, citrus juice and spice.  Usually the sauce is lime and orange juice. 

food stand

bone fishing-fly fishing catch and release

 After touring the island and picking up a few groceries, we went to the Sandbar for a late lunch.  The Sandbar is on Russel Island connected to Spanish Wells with a bridge.  Since it’s mostly residential, Devyn felt she could try driving the cart on the left side.  She did great.

We enjoyed a grilled wahoo dinner at this outdoors restaurant on the beach.  Then we enjoyed their hammocks for awhile.  Back in Spanish Wells, we walked the beach and sandbars at low tide.  Dave met us with the dingy, and we returned to the boat for mahi dinner and packing.