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Published: January 31st 2010
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Sunday 31st January 2010.
On the move, at last.
I haven't had much to say because there hasn't been much to report, just boring stuff about preparing Harbinger. However I am now happy to report that I've left Fort Myers and I'm now in Marathon, which is the middle Keys, Florida.
It was a long haul for a first sail aboard Harbinger and as one might expect not everything went according to plan. Left fort Myers at 13.15Thursday 28th Jan, with a view to making Marathoin by 16.00 Saturday. It's about 130 miles and so this seemed a reasonable ambition.
Motored down the Caloosahatchee river, its about a mile wide but shallow and so you need to stay within the channel. It was 18.00 and dusk before I reached the open sea. Motor sailed until the wind picked up to about 8 knots. I sailed across Florida Bay following the coast past Naples, Marco Island and towards Cape Sable.
Things seemed to be going alright except that the auto pilot wasn't working and there were hundreds of lobster pot markers. It was a clear night with about 10 knots of wind from the east and a full moon and it was
good to be on my way. I was sailing at about 50 degrees to the wind and had 7 + knots on the GPS, with a little current in my favour I estimate I was sailing at 6.8 knots, better than expected and faster than motoring (6 knots).
Dawn broke at 07.00 which was just afer the moon had set and so all was well with the world. I ran over several pot markers in the night but nothing snagged up until later that day when I was between Cape Sable and Marathon, a marker brushed down the port side and wam I'm hooked! Immediately put helm over and turned to port, which was the side it pasted down. I did a 360 turn and hey presto I was free, just like that. Sounds easy but it could have been a lot worse. Later on in the Moser channel, on my approach to Seven mile bridge (of True lies fame) I ran over another marker whilst motoring and this time it chopped it into pieces, without snagging the prop, a close call in a difficult location with 20 knots of wind on the nose. I'll have to pay more attention, but there are literally hundreds of them and they are only about 8 inches in diameter and get lost in the waves.
Arrived Boot Harbor, Marathon at 19.30, all I needed now was a place to anchor. It's tight in Boot harbor and I'd so I had already tried calling the City Marina (v helpful) on my approach but there was a waiting list of 15 for a mooring and so anchor I must. Found a spot but it was almost dark before I dropped the hook in 8 feet of water close to the channel (I draw 5' 9"). there is little tide here and so 40' of rode would suffice.
Had something to eat, a can of Yuengling beer (not bad for American drew) and turned in at 20.00 slept for 12 hours with just two short breaks to check the anchor. The morning brought an awareness that I was in a great place to be. There are yachts from all over and the staff at the City Marina are great. It also turns out that mooring is FREE! I think i might just stay here a while.
The plan is to wait for a settled spell of moderate southerly winds that offer a safe passage to Bimini in the Bahamas. It's about 120 miles but with a strong Gulf stream current to assist you 20 hours should be amplde time to allow.However I want to make the passage during the normal working week so that I can clear customs here and in the Bahamas. That's the plan but as we all know plans can change.
Today dawned dark and mean with a very low cloud base. The wind was in the south but forecast to veer to the north anytime now. It did veer, right after dawn and we all watched each other as the wind increased and went aroundto the North and the boats rotated about their anchors. Always a worrying time but it passed without mishap and we are sitting here relaxing and thinking about home, wherever that is.
Bye for now.
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alan harbinson
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Bob Great to hear you are on your way. I used to get mail addressed to me at the buro fao Mr Harbinger! Sounds like fun except for the pots. More fun than sitting in a hotel in Riyadh. Take care Alan