Preparing for another thunderstorm at anchor. Need sleep! Only 2 hours of sleep in the last 50. Trip took way too long due to light air and last nights thunderstorms.
Tag: Gulf of Mexico
Land Ho! Key West off the starboard bow!
Posted by – June 9, 2010
Just picked up cell service. Crazy night last night. We spent the whole night running from squalls that lined up 20 miles off key west. Had big seas and blew out two sails in the thunderstorms we couldn’t avoid. Made good time at first but light winds for about 24 hours. Only motored the last 30 miles or so though. We got about 2 hours of sleep each in 15 min catnaps. Delerious. Soo ready to sleep. About 2 hours until we drop anchor.
Lowered the staysail. Raised the drifter.
Posted by – June 9, 2010
Caught a huge Spanish Mackerel! Still 42 nautical miles from Key West. Tired. Ready to get there. Nice weather. Running along at about 4kts. Dolphins followed at our bow for a while. They were huge and playful.
Long night. Low wind. Slow moving.
Posted by – June 9, 2010
Reported a flare seen around 2:30am to the USCG. Heard back that 6 others saw the same flare but coming from south of Key West. Saw lights from what looked like a tanker around 4:15am and altered course to avoid collision. You never know if anyone is paying attention in those things. Back on track now. It’s been low, low winds. Long trip. Only halfway.
99.9 nautical miles to go! Harness in place. Even Sandy is tied to the boat.
Posted by – June 9, 2010
Getting our harnesses ready. Will strap in tonight.
Posted by – June 7, 2010
Sandy is out! 108 nautical miles to go.
Just reefed the main. 7 miles offshore. 120 nautical miles to go.
Posted by – June 7, 2010
Bearing 169 degrees. Wind at 13kts.
Last sea buoy!
Posted by – June 7, 2010
Float plan is the same as last time. Boca Grande pass straight to Key West. We’ll make for Ft. Myers or Naples if we have trouble.
Out of Boca Grande pass. 130 nautical miles left.
Posted by – June 7, 2010
So far so good! Great weather. Caught a Spanish Mackerel but something else had taken a bite of him first. Threw him back. About to kill the engine and rely on sail the rest of the way. Loading up on Rockstar energy drinks. 3.5 miles offshore and we have 2 bars of cell service.
