CaribbeanSouls Sets Sail Monday, Oct 31, 2011
Freeport, TX to Dry Tortugas ~ Wind & Seas accommodating
Monday:
Left Freeport Harbor and headed out the jetties @ 12:30. Onboard CaribbeanSouls is.Tim, Travis, Lisa, Spike & Otis. Eric & Debbie aboard the Bound for Glory are headed out along with us.
For dinner we had Dad’s brisket, Joyce’s baked potatoes and my pinto beans.
Nothing out of the ordinary other than Otis only got sick once.
We had no trick-or-treaters this Halloween...
During the night we heard a shrimp boat talking on the VHF to the Coast Guard about taking on water. The Captain didn’t know where it was coming from and was asking the Coast Guard to bring them a pump. I feel bad for those guys on that boat. Hope they don’t have to abandon the Shrimp boat.
Tuesday:
Early morning (still very dark) we saw a Coast Guard helicopter flying in circles a little ways ahead of us. Finally found the VHF channel they were on and they were out dropping a pump to the Shrimp boat we had heard last night. We had no idea we were that close to the Shrimp boat. Very glad they got a pump. Choppy seas, nothing real bad, just not able to make any headway in the direction we would like to be going.
Went down to take a nap and the V-berth is soaking wet. :( Now not only is it wet, but this is just day 2 and I know there is no way to dry salt water inside of a boat.Oh well, sleeping in the salon isn’t all that bad.
Spike finally peed on the side of the boat :) Poor guy had held it for 26 hours without doing so. Otis, on the other hand, has no problem peeing/pooping on a rug...
Wednesday:
Breanne’s birthday and this is the first year ever that I did not get her a card & present. I sure hope she will forgive me.
I have not felt well, as I do not like the boat lurching all over the place. The sun is shining, but the wind is still blowing across the rough seas from the wrong direction.
I think I slept off & on for most of the day. The poor guys have been left on their own.
Tim was outside late tonight all by himself when he said something hit him in the ribs. Turned on his light and saw it had been a flying fish. I am sure that woke him up... :)
Spike finally pooped on his rug in the cockpit :) :)
Thursday:
Woke up to a much less rough sea. At least the boat is not lunging all over the place.
The cold front hit around 10:00. Wind out of the North, the seas had already calmed down, so now we are just surfing down some pretty large swells in the direction of the Dry Tortugas. :)
Tim went up on deck to put the 2nd reef in the main and Travis went up to get a couple of the halyards out of the jib sheets and noticed a badly worn spot in the roller furling line. Tim then went back up and exchanged the line so that the worn part was no longer being used. Yeah, for the guys...
Had Travis not been with us, Tim & I would have had to coast hop all the way down, because I am of no good at the helm or really anything else in rough seas.
Friday:
Not as rough, but still cold.
Morning started out not so good, as the 1st and 2nd reef lines had chaffed and were about to break, so up on the deck Tim & Travis go to change them out, While working on this one little problem, we had a much bigger problem. It seemed that our main sail halyard had wrapped around our radar reflector some how. That was the challenge that took all three of us up on deck and after a LOT of work it too was fixed.
Saturday:
Much warmer day, although not much sun. Seas nice.
After a nice quiet day, the words you never want to hear, “The head is clogged!” Ugh...
Tim and Travis work for what seemed like forever to get it working again. :)
Right before dinner, I noticed a ship that was behind us, Travis said it would be passing us on the port side, so no need to worry. Well, after lots of weird maneuvering the ship did end up to our port side, with a smaller boat meeting it. Now you have to remember we are about 150-200 miles offshore. Not many good reasons for a small boat to be out here meeting a huge ship after dark.. So, we decide we would go a little more away from them and pretend to see NOTHING. Soon after that the ship just took off and disappeared.
Sunday, Nov 6, 2011:
Very rough... We are headed right into the wind. Making no progress. Where we should have the current going with us, there are many counter currents against us.
Bad news, roller furling line broke. So, back up on the deck Tim & Travis go. I stayed at the wheel doing my best to keep the boat into the wind. Problem fixed and now holding my breath until the next problem rears it’s ugly head.
Was really hoping to be in the Dry Tortugas by now. :(
Monday, Nov 7, 2011:
Still very rough. 12’ - 14’ seas, with an occasional 18’ + hitting us. Needless to say this is day two of my staying inside the boat. The dogs are doing extremely well. They both have their sea-legs and don’t seem to mind the rough seas. As far me, this is part of the adventure I could have done without. The wind & current is pushing us away from the Dry Tortugas.
Tonight, Tim & Travis decided to start the engine and take down the jib, in order to motor sail more in the direction of the Dry Tortugas. I am hoping so...
Tuesday, Nov 8, 2011:
We are making headway... :) The seas are not as bad as they have been and we should make the Dry Tortugas by early afternoon. Can’t wait to be at anchor in a calm bay...
Fort Jefferson is awesome looking... The water is so pretty... Looks like our boat is floating on air.
Spike & Otis were very glad to get on dry land and run in the grass. I was pretty happy to get to walk on land also.
Wednesday, Nov 9, 2011:
Wonderful night of sleep.
The park ranger tried to help me look up Eric & Debbie’s Spot website, but no luck. We are not sure where they are. I am sure we will run onto them along the way, sometime soon.
Toured the Fort. Very interesting and the views from the different levels are beautiful.
Thursday Nov 10, 2011 :
Great night of sleep last night, as the boat was still calm and we were not getting thrown around.
We had 6 Jew fish hanging out under the boat all day. The largest probably 400lbs+/- a few pounds. Too bad you can’t fish inside of the national park... (we would have had enough fish for 50 people.
Watched the sea plane land & take off all during the day, bringing & picking up people from & to Key West.
Life Flight helicopter landed to pick up one of the tourist from the boat from Key
West. Seems he had been having chest pains on the way out to the Dry Tortugas.
Leaving this afternoon to head to Key West. We should be there by daylight in the morning.
Friday, Nov 11, 2011:
Key West!!!
