Tornado Watch (Cedar Key to Moss Point, Ms)

Monday 4/28/14

After a late and leisurely farewell breakfast with Dan and Steve, Hobbes and I hit the road. I had no distance goal for the day as I gave myself an extra day travel time to get back home relaxed (I hoped).

By late afternoon I had passed Pensacola, the focal point for us meeting 28-days ago. I stopped at a rest stop and took a nap, the car running to both keep the A/C running and to give some “white noise” against the trucks idling next to me.

It was now about nine PM, I had crossed Alabama into Mississippi, and needed to stop somewhere safe for the night. Safe, tonight, meant safe from severe thunderstorms predicted, 80% for my location. Far worse was that in two days prior, 35-people (!) had been killed by tornados, some in upper Mississippi. I turned on my marine VHF radio for a weather report; “a tornado watch is in effect until 8AM for the following counties, Green and George counties of Mississippi” – George County is only 20-miles from me to the north! Just across the state line I pulled into the welcome center / rest stop and parked between a couple big rigs (would they run interference for little Hobbes?). A security guy said that every truck lane would be filled in an hour and directed me to a “better” spot; in the open with nothing taller to take lightning strikes or shelter me from the high winds that were sure to come. Frustrated and now more concerned, I drove westward on I-10 to the next rest stop near Moss Point, Ms and was relieved to find individual diagonal parking cuts just long enough for Hobbes and my car to back into. More importantly each parking cut was under substantial trees that were now swaying violently in the strong southerly wind. With Hobbes pointing northward, I lashed my “sun” tarp (white polly) as securely as I could and climbed below with the VHF radio in hand.

At about three AM I was suddenly awakened by LOUD thunder, a downpour of rain and lightning flashes closely around me – too close for my southern California nerves! I turned on the marine VHF again. Thankfully the tornado watches for George County above me were dropped but now quarter-inch hail, was warned for the Pensacola area of Florida and parts of Alabama. At least I was clear of that! With the tarp across my leaky companionway hatch (even when closed!) and my rebedding fix a few weeks back, of the forward portlight, I was mostly dry, thank goodness, (except for the three or four inches of standing water in my cabin foot well likely from unresolved mast leaks) but I managed to sleep through the receding thunder.

Barge Sailing (Crystal River)

Sunday 4/27/14

In April of 1864, the USS “Restless” captured a 36-foot (on deck) Confederate sailing scow near Crystal River. Gaff-rigged with weighted leeboards, they were perfect “work horses” for the shallow waters of the Gulf and a lot of the East coasts.

After three years of volunteer labor by the Crystal River Boat Builders, the replica “Crystal River” was launched last year. Nearly all of her construction was of “period materials” including nails rather than screws.

With the boat show over the remaining boaters were invited for a sail. With a 12-foot beam and engineless, she’s a challenge to maneuver, especially in the near constant river current. So a small outboard-powered tugboat is used alongside. Working way against the flood was very slow and became dicey when the outboard ran dry of gas. Even with full sail set we quickly drifted toward the grassy shore, until the fisherman anchor was dropped and we got re-fueled. Favoring progress over the ground we came about and ran down wind and when the skipper asked if anyone wanted the helm I was aft in a flash. I sailed boats up to 110-feet so handling the Crystal River wasn’t a surprise, except for calling for the weighted leeboards; dropping the lee board and having the windward board hefted up with block and tackle (the only winch aboard was for the anchor). I love it when I can focus well enough to run wing and wing, without a whisker pole, but the block and tackle barn-door rudder got me a couple of times for an unintentional jibe (oops). When we reached the turning basin much later we got her broad reaching to 6-knots, a record so far, this only being her fifth time out since her build! I been feeling bummed that this was my last day before having to head home but the day’s sail was a perfect finale and I give a big thanks to skipper Steve Kingery, we even saw a group of about eight manatees.



pit crew, Steve, Nick, Dan



Skipper Steve

5th Annual Crystal River Boat Bash

Saturday 4/26/14

 

Several more boats arrived before the public opening at 10AM and I enjoyed the wide variety and skilled craftsmanship displayed. There was also a civil war encampment, a pottery making display, and lots of live music.

Hand built Freddie the Cat

Tom Mackey's Tom Hill "Charlotte" sailing canoe

An 8-foot Puddle Duck Racer

A quacker of a Puddle Duck leeboard

Crystal River Barge model

Crystal River Barge model with full size behind



1800’s Crystal River Barge sailing replica



One-man “woven” Oracle



Pottery making



What a setting for live music

After the show, about 35 of us piled aboard the park tour pontoon boat for a river cruise to Crackers for dinner. On the way we passed many beautiful waterfront estates, even a private island.

 

 

Cedar key to Crystal River







Friday 4/25/14

I hated to leave Cedar Keys but after a simple breakfast in paradise I sailed back to the launch ramp near the “downtown” waterfront.



 

 

It was only about an hours drive to Crystal River and once at the site of the Fifth Annual Crystal River Boat Bash there was already activity. Dan had managed to get a crew spot aboard a cool little 14-foot Peep Hen with the assignment of towing out a fleet of Puddle Duck Racers.



Michael's Peep hen



an inovative way to keep your anchor dry - use a crane!



Peep towing the Ducks



Hobbes and Coot ready for the show

Sail to Seahorse Key (Cedar Keys)



Thursday 4/24/14

It was 1981 and my wife and I were slowly working our way from Houston to the Florida Keys for the winter in our 23-foot twin-keel Westerly. As we were anchored off the city dock I heard someone calling my name. It was my mom, from Wisconsin, who had been looking for us at about every port along the Gulf Coast. You never know when mom will show up!



 

 

High on my bucket list for this trip was to explore some of the keys here. After buying a launch/parking permit (expiring in 24-hours) I set sail toward Seahorse Key for an overnight anchorage. Less than three miles from the launch ramp it still took me many tacks against a flood tide. Taking advantage of the Potter drawing even less than my Westerly I learned to tack just as the centerboard touched sand.

 

That didn’t work so well for a full-keel ketch, hard aground, that I came across. Next high tide was just after 11PM and this morning they are anchored safely nearby Hobbes.

Stop Bugging Me (Carrabelle to Cedar Key)

Stop Bugging Me (Carrabelle to Cedar Key)

Wednesday 4/23/14

Out of yesterday’s wind but into no-see-um hell. The protected basin is no protection from the swarming buggers and I’m ready to take a room at the adjacent motel. 

 

 

 

They’ve been plaguing me since Pensacola, sometimes itching so badly I would have screamed if not to wake the other guys. West Coast sailors may laugh but here’s my accumulated arsenal; SPF 40 and 50 Sunscreen, a no-brainer, Repel Mosquito Wipes and Repel 100 Mosquito Spray, which I sprayed around my companionway hatch but next morning found paint dissolved! CVS Soft Skin Bath Oil Spray (same as Avon Skin-So-Soft long-time cure for no-see-ums), Listerine Antiseptic (was recommended by a sports outfitter for no-see-ums), Cortizone-10 Cooling Gel (to relieve itching), and Burt’s Bees Ultimate Care Body Lotion (a moisturizer). But here I sit, looking like I have the measles. Steve told the story of his presentation on Florida insects; visible and invisible!



 

 

But Steve, this morning, is slow moving and feeling ill again (as loosing a custom centerboard would make any small-boat sailor ill). So, he packs up B. Frank and heads home to Panama City. Dan and I are leaning east and trailer the boats to beautiful Cedar Key. Too late to launch the boats, we get spaces at Sunset Isle RV Park and Motel as “nautical” RVs. $33 for me to sleep on Hobbes and Dan sets up sleeping quarters in the bed of his truck. I wonder what this trailer went for.

Lost Centerboard Blues (East Cove to Carrabelle)



Tuesday 4/22/14

For those who know me, it’s rare that I’m awake to take a sunrise photo – but it does happen.



 

 

When everybody is awake we noticed in the distance several men and women out on the flats oystering. As it’s a park they must have been permitted but they seemed invasive, especially with rock music blaring over a mile.

 

But all that fell astern while we enjoyed a beautiful off wind sail towards Carrabelle; clear skies, west wind five to ten knots. I jibed over from sailing wing and wing to pass an old oyster boat, anchored, rigs set, but nobody to be seen, an unknown calamity.




that's Coot in the rigging

 But our own calamity lay ahead. The wind picked up, way up, and the waves too. I had my full main and biggest jib set wing and wing but it was getting hard to steer, my GPS pegged at 7.2-knots, and Hobbes’s centerboard was humming (at least I HAD a centerboard). It was fun while still under control, but barely, so it was time to reduce sail and simplest was to pull down the jib (with a line from the cockpit). I was still flying along but as the Carrabelle channel entrance was only a couple of miles off it didn’t seem necessary to take a reef in the main. Dan, a short distance off my port side, had all sail down. I radioed to check and he’d hit nine knots off a wave and got pooped by another!

While a large shrimp boat was heading out, the channel took a port which gave me a fast beam reach but Coot rolled in the chop. Steve, who we had lost sight of, radioed in that he was not far out and motoring as well.

 

After we got settled at the marina we got the story from Steve. It seems his centerboard pivot bolt had worked loose (he’ll have to tell you why), allowing the lead-encased board to drop to the bottom of the bay!

Apalach River to East Cove





 

Monday 4/22/14

I awoke sometime during the night and was very happy to see a star through my port light – clear weather! And the morning revealed the river in; literally, a better light and I reveled in the warm sunshine while enjoying a breakfast of coffee and oatmeal with raisins. The trip back was very swift with the river flow and we made five knots with the engines just at idle.

 

Back at Apalachicola, we tied up at the city pier and there was Steve and B. Frank, almost recovered but, as it was already mid-afternoon, he decided to try and meet us further on, maybe Carrabelle tomorrow.

 

Dan and I set off down the long and narrow channel into Apalachicola Bay expecting headwinds as they were blowing easterly earlier. But luck came with the warm sunshine as the winds had clocked to southerly and later in the afternoon to westerly which gave us a delightful off-wind sail in flat water and warm sunshine; Florida sailing at last!

We had talked about Goose Island as a favorable anchorage but it seemed surrounded by oyster shoals. We skirted it and Rattlesnake Cove in favor of a sandy beach at East Cove, part of St George Island state park with a launch ramp and who should be there waiting for us but Steve and B. Frank – again!

 I cooked up some Spanish rice for dinner which I hope helped with Steve’s recovery and he and Dan managed to get B. Frank launched at the shallow landing.

 We all enjoyed a peaceful sunset.