SV Java to the Bahamas 2012: November 2012

Nov 25, 2012

Vero Beach to Lake Worth

Going as fast as a turtle.....

One think about sailboats - they only can go so fast.

We got up at 6 in the morning just as there was some light in the sky, kicked over the motor and left the mooring field.. As we went south we consider where we were going to fuel up - we were getting to the point of needing fuel.. Since we had 8 bridges with 4 of them being restricted to opening at certain times we didn't think we could make Lake Worth to re-fuel. Alternative was to stop at Ft Pierce and get fueled up. It was only 10 miles south of Vero Beach and on the way I realized we could go out into the ocean and sail down the coast and back into Lake Worth inlet AND MISS ALL THE BRIDGES! Sounds like a plan...

NEED TO TAKE MORE PICTURES...

We got into Lake Worth about 5pm and rafted up with Pegasus. Being the gracious hosts, they had drinks and dinner ready for us. We got about 6hrs sleep before the up anchor signal was given and we were under way AGAIN at 1:30am.. There was an outgoing current and tide which pushed us out the inlet about 8kts... Four boats were making the crossing headed from Lake Worth to the Bahama Bank.

We had a NE swell of about 3-5 ft with wind driven wave from the east causing plenty of chop on the water. This kept our speed down to 4.5 kts and made for a long trip. We made it onto the bank about 10:30am, this was about 3hrs later than we expected. Now we had to get to Great Sail and anchor for the night.

We got to Great Sail in the dark about 8:30p, very tired but happy - WE WERE IN THE BAHAMAS.

Tuesday morning we all got up and headed to Spanish Cay where we would get a slip and clear in customs and immigration.

Customs over here is real treat, you never know what it going to cost you or how much time they will give you.. It cost us $150 and got 90 days. As a side note, a boat came in today and had to pay $300 for the same size boat. Go Figure.

Nov 22, 2012

Friends on Pegasus

Giving us a hard time as to why we were not down to Lake Worth Yet? Would you believe slow boat.

We got into Vero Beach on Thanksgiving Day around 2:00 and picked up a mooring expecting to be about three days. This is where we provision the boat for the Bahamas. Last time down we provisioned before leaving Virginia and realized that was a mistake since we could do everything in Vero. Pegasus in the background - Are you here yet? So on Black Friday - the worst day to go shopping GUESS WHAT WE DID? We rented a car, went to Sam's Club, Walmart, liquor store, propane tanks filled - good grief....

Thinking we had until Sunday to move to Lake Worth which is an all day run, we sat back for some friendly gab with other boaters. It took six dingy loads to move everything to the boat from shore.

PEGASUS calls. Get down here we are moving up the crossing due to weather. We will leave Monday morning at 1am to get ahead of weather in the mid-west.

Vero Beach City mooring field, only 1/2 of it.

So Joan GOES nuts having to put everything away and categorized so she can find it again. So much for a relaxing Saturday...

Nov 20, 2012

St Augustine to Daytona Beach

Good to be Moving Again

Ripley's Believe It or Not

We got up with the rising sun, pulled anchor and headed south. We needed to get to Daytona Beach before sundown which is about 45 files. One thing to note, since Hurricane Sandy had move through the winds have not stopped blowing from the north. And I mean blowing, almost 20-25kts EVERY DAY!

Enough of the that. Back in the ICW, just motoring along nothing to do but watch the shore go by. Before we left St. Augustine, we heard another boat with a friend aboard also headed south. They had been off-shore but had been chased inside to the ICW by bad weather. Said they might catch us in Daytona.

We got into Daytona Beach around 5:00, just before sunset and had a wild time.
Was trying to put more pictures in here but the computer hates me.

Nov 19, 2012

Finally Wind Generator

Getting Wind Generator fixed

We got the call Monday morning that the generator was in and they would be over at 2pm to due the install. We had been on a mooring (fancy anchor) for the last week, so we moved over to the St Augustine City docks. They have a special where you can be on the dock for $5/hr, four hour minimum. While we where on the dock, we washed the boat and cockpit down since it was going to be a while before we had good water. Filled up the water tanks also. Guy shows up and we begin de-installing the solar panels and pulling down the old wind generator. Four bolts, and the cutting of the wires it was done. Put new connectors on the new generator and re-install everything. Look at that it works. They will send the old unit back to the factory and have it tested to see what failed. One boater said it was probably a bearing. Who knows.

Back to the mooring and prepare to head south Tuesday morning Nov 20....

Nov 18, 2012

ST Augustine

St Augustine is a wonderful place to visit. The city had put in mooring balls on the north and south side of the 'Bridge of Lions' and only charge $21 a day. We needed to stop here to have our wind generator replaced under warranty and expected to have it done by Friday Nov 16th. Well that didn't happen and are waiting for a Monday fix. We also had our credit card ripped off with fraudulent charge from Hilton Head which required the cancelation and renewed cards. When it drops it drops.

Then came the weather, we got into St Augustine on Tuesday and plan to stay a week to get everything done. Little did we know the weather would become such a big factor. Wednesday the winds started blowing with rain showers going through. To jump ahead, today is Sunday afternoon and the sun finally came out with blue sky. We have been have winds from the north 24 hrs a day at 15-25 kts. It was creating white caps in the mooring field. Want a dingy ride without get wet? Then stay in your boat....

First day we rented bikes and rode out to a few favorite places - in the rain - Shopping is everything.

We have walking and walking all over town. Just so happend we got here to enjoy the Festival Of Lights that we didn't get to see. Winds were blowing 25kts and lots of waves, I said it is to dangerous to be out there in the dark to see the lighting of the Christmass tree.

Hopefully we get the generator fixed on Monday and we can continue on south on Tuesday...

Meeting up with a fellow sailor and sharing a beer

From a store that has great tasty big hot dogs

Joan peddling away...

Joan looking for her present

Found IT

Brian, think we found a covered wagon for you

At Harry's for lunch

Cumberland Island to St Augustine

Motoring yet AGAIN

This was a quick trip down the ICW to St Augustine that took two days. There was on bridge that had to be opened for us just above St John River at Jacksonville, Fl. After that is was a dash over across the St John into fighting head currents for the next few hours.

Heading south flying at 8.8 kts...

Navy ships at Jacksonville shipyards.

Damn close to the green marker - WITH ROCKS

After getting south of the St John river we were back into currents and some wild problems. There is three bridges (all tall enough not to be opened) that must be crossed. Currents were against us that made going through them very dangerous. At one bridge we had the trottle almost wide open and were only doing 1.8kts with the possibility of getting pushed off to one or other side. The current was flowing almost at 5kts against us. Made it...

Then we came upon these homes along the ICW. Talk about RICH.. Lots of these appeared not to be occupied. Maybe winter homes and they haven't arrived yet