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The last week of July a tropical storm approached Florida given the name Isaias (EE-sigh-EE-as) which means 'God Is My Salvation' and is of Latin origin. Isaias could not make her mind about where to go are how hard to blow; confusing officials into closing the port out of extreme caution. Nevertheless, all boats had be out of Port Canaveral by noon on Saturday. The storm was still a disorganized tropical storm as it passed going north before forming up as a hurricane and doing substantial damage to the Carolina's. The following is a blog of our experience as posted on Facebook.
The last week of July a tropical storm approached Florida given the name Isaias (EE-sigh-EE-as) which means 'God Is My Salvation' and is of Latin origin. Isaias could not make her mind about where to go are how hard to blow; confusing officials into closing the port out of extreme caution. Nevertheless, all boats had be out of Port Canaveral by noon on Saturday. The storm was still a disorganized tropical storm as it passed going north before forming up as a hurricane and doing substantial damage to the Carolina's. The following is a blog of our experience as posted on Facebook.
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Saturday, August 1, 2020
SERENDIPITY SPEAKS EMPHATICALLY: LIKE THROUGH A HURRICANE . . . late yesterday afternoon found out serendipity closed the port. That means S/V CoupRider has to leave the port by noon today. 7 months the boat has been sitting in the slip, 7 months of growth on her bottom, 7 months that her skipper can't even get on board without assistance, and now he (me) has to take her out of the port. Fortunately, in Port Canaveral there are two choices; out of the harbor into the open ocean, or inland through the locks to hide in the mangroves.
SERENDIPITY SPEAKS EMPHATICALLY: LIKE THROUGH A HURRICANE . . . late yesterday afternoon found out serendipity closed the port. That means S/V CoupRider has to leave the port by noon today. 7 months the boat has been sitting in the slip, 7 months of growth on her bottom, 7 months that her skipper can't even get on board without assistance, and now he (me) has to take her out of the port. Fortunately, in Port Canaveral there are two choices; out of the harbor into the open ocean, or inland through the locks to hide in the mangroves.
If I were whole the choice would be 'out to sea'; the most dangerous place to be in any condition, let alone a hurricane, is in the port where you are at the mercy of every other sailor, his skill and tackle to keep his boat away from yours. Out at sea seems irrational, but actually a lot safer in my eyes. Today we'll try hiding in the mangroves if the boat will even move what with that 'hair shirt' on her bottom.
If I were whole the choice would be 'out to sea'; the most dangerous place to be in any condition, let alone a hurricane, is in the port where you are at the mercy of every other sailor, his skill and tackle to keep his boat away from yours. Out at sea seems irrational, but actually a lot safer in my eyes. Today we'll try hiding in the mangroves if the boat will even move what with that 'hair shirt' on her bottom.
So serendipity has played her next card, which has some resonance with a fellow who is always saying
So serendipity has played her next card, which has some resonance with a fellow who is always saying
HO TO THE FLOW for only it knowsS
HO TO THE FLOW for only it knowsS
Love is . . . going with it
Love is . . . going with it
Sunday, August 2,2020
Sunday, August 2,2020
We're up the creek without a paddle. . . But an eagle was atop the mast at daybreak, so all must be in order. HO TO THE FLOW. . probably two more days before back in port
We're up the creek without a paddle. . . But an eagle was atop the mast at daybreak, so all must be in order. HO TO THE FLOW. . probably two more days before back in port
Monday, August 3, 2020
Monday, August 3, 2020
Not widely publicized but John and I are known as the Odd Couple. He's Felix, I'm Oscar. Things have gotten intense on the boat marooned for a couple of days, so am asking for some suicide prevention beams be sent John's way. IF we can keep him alive one more day, we'll happily remain the Odd Couple. HO
Not widely publicized but John and I are known as the Odd Couple. He's Felix, I'm Oscar. Things have gotten intense on the boat marooned for a couple of days, so am asking for some suicide prevention beams be sent John's way. IF we can keep him alive one more day, we'll happily remain the Odd Couple. HO
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Two days ago I said the most dangerous place to be in a hurricane is in port because you are at the mercy of all the other boats and the professionalism of their skippers. Now I would like to amend that to include barge canals. Tucked away in the mangroves,, a guy in a 55 foot Beanatau plows in the side of us. It was a glancing blow, but every bottle in the boat was knocked over and John Chiaraluce Sr. and I had a very rude awakening. The eagle should have stayed aboard.
Two days ago I said the most dangerous place to be in a hurricane is in port because you are at the mercy of all the other boats and the professionalism of their skippers. Now I would like to amend that to include barge canals. Tucked away in the mangroves,, a guy in a 55 foot Beanatau plows in the side of us. It was a glancing blow, but every bottle in the boat was knocked over and John Chiaraluce Sr. and I had a very rude awakening. The eagle should have stayed aboard.
The attacking vessel . . . a Beneteau 55 sloop
The attacking vessel . . . a Beneteau 55 sloop
August 5, 2020
August 5, 2020
NOT ANOTHER WORD ABOUT IT . . . but the fact is you can buy $200,000 TO $2,000,000 boat without a license to operate it safely. It's like letting teenagers drive semi trucks on the highway. Some insurance companies require licensed captains, but the wealth privilege overrides that frequently; the captain can't make it but the owner's ego wants to entertain his gusts anyway.
NOT ANOTHER WORD ABOUT IT . . . but the fact is you can buy $200,000 TO $2,000,000 boat without a license to operate it safely. It's like letting teenagers drive semi trucks on the highway. Some insurance companies require licensed captains, but the wealth privilege overrides that frequently; the captain can't make it but the owner's ego wants to entertain his gusts anyway.
In our particular case, the man-made, straight as an arrow, barge canal through the mangroves of Merritt Island connecting the ocean port to the Indian River (Inter-coastal Waterway) is roughly about a football field wide - 300 feet.
In our particular case, the man-made, straight as an arrow, barge canal through the mangroves of Merritt Island connecting the ocean port to the Indian River (Inter-coastal Waterway) is roughly about a football field wide - 300 feet.
View of the barge canal . . . wide and straight as an arrow
View of the barge canal . . . wide and straight as an arrow
S/V CoupRider was anchored about 20 feet in from the mangroves, is 13 feet wide with bow and stern anchors diagonally out 100 feet another 20 feet which meant we were taking up 43 feet of the 300 feet, leaving over 250 feet of canal to get by which probably 75 boats, including massive tugs and tuna rigs, had successfully managed to navigate.
S/V CoupRider was anchored about 20 feet in from the mangroves, is 13 feet wide with bow and stern anchors diagonally out 100 feet another 20 feet which meant we were taking up 43 feet of the 300 feet, leaving over 250 feet of canal to get by which probably 75 boats, including massive tugs and tuna rigs, had successfully managed to navigate.
Then comes along a 55 foot Beneteau sloop in broad daylight while John and I are taking a nap. Mind you that if he anywhere close to the centerline of the canal, he clears us by over 100 feet. Nevertheless, he manages to catch the aft anchor line with his rudder, slams into the side of us, dragging the anchor all the way forward till he reversed unfouling the anchor.
Then comes along a 55 foot Beneteau sloop in broad daylight while John and I are taking a nap. Mind you that if he anywhere close to the centerline of the canal, he clears us by over 100 feet. Nevertheless, he manages to catch the aft anchor line with his rudder, slams into the side of us, dragging the anchor all the way forward till he reversed unfouling the anchor.
What's left of a good anchor . . . . .
What's left of a good anchor . . . . .
I never sleep around full moons anyway and what with the expected storm, John and I had an adrenaline letdown once the storm had passed through to the north. So we decided catch a cat nap ONLY TO HAVE BE JOLTED AWAKE BY A LUNATIC!
I never sleep around full moons anyway and what with the expected storm, John and I had an adrenaline letdown once the storm had passed through to the north. So we decided catch a cat nap ONLY TO HAVE BE JOLTED AWAKE BY A LUNATIC!
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