Captains Log

Well we finally made it, we left on the 1st of April and arrived here 2:30am on the 5th. There goes my excellent planning again, I said the trip would take 30 hours, more like 120. I have copied the captains log below in order to describe the trip better.  By the way I absolutely love the marina. We have a HUGE front porch with lots of rocking chairs and all the locals come down and start drinking Natty Light around 9am, about the time I finish drinking my coffee (Perfect).  Don’t think iI’m going to get anything done here!

*Sunday April 4th 2010 -

7am took Sis to shore in dinghy then Jen and I loaded Chase and prepared to leave.

9:30am Left anchorage at St Joe Peninsula motored out with no wind. Once in the channel we raised main and large hank on jib sail.

10:00am motored out with very little wind. seas extremely calm very peaceful. Saw a sea turtle.

12:00pm Motor sailed the whole length of St Joe Peninsula with port engine average 5 knots winds out of SE

2:00pm Rounded Cape San Blas, killed engine, sailed for 2 hours. Marilyn saw the biggest dolphin in her whole life, but no one believes her. :)

5:oopm Winds shifted more to the East and fog rolled in. Lowered all sails, motoring with both engines at 1200 rpms traveling at 5.2 knots

6:00 pm Near West Pass of Apalachicola bay thick fog visibility 1/4 mile winds E at 10 kts using radar and AIS, 29’36'.525 N 085’11.313 W

7pm Still foggy. Marilyn cooked sloppy joes and macaroni and cheese we are having some small swells broadside the boat that rock us about 5 degrees each way. I wasn’t paying attention when I made my sloppy joe and put macaroni on the bun instead of the meat. Had myself a macaroni and cheese sandwich.  (Not bad.)

8pm Still very foggy. Two targets on radar will not answer radio or horn, defiantly boats, probably fishing boats.  Still have glowing water and fog, Sandy slowed to 4.2 knots currents I guess. Rounding Cape St George as I type, 29’31.700N 085’03,833W

8:30 pm Jen takes the helm while I get a little shut eye, speed 4.6 knots heading 58 T, 29’31,380N 085’00,025W wind S @2.8 depth 30 ft. Still foggy water still glowing.

10":00pm Not so foggy, stars out, water really glowing.

11:30 pm I wake up only 6 miles to the outer marker to Carrabelle fog moved in again trying to decide where to anchor for the night

12:15 No FOG we can see lights on land and all the stars, back up to 5.1 speed, 29’39,740N 085’42,840W heading 038T

1:15 found first marker

2:30 am Threw both anchors took a shower and went to bed.

9:30 am woke up weighed both anchors motored the 4 miles to marina and docked. One of the locals was impressed on how easily we docked the boat.  I didn’t tell him that Jen was giving me orders through the radio and that the boat had 2 engines. I just let him believe that I was a good boat driver.