Southern Crosses

Key Largo dive

By Annen on September 09, 2008 | Comments 0

Welcome

Greetings everyone, I would like to welcome you to my blog, Southern Crosses, which just happens to be the name of my newly released novel. Southern Crosses was several years in the making, and was quite a project of mine. I wanted to take you on a sailing adventure along the western coast of present [...]

The Captain and Admiral

By Annen on September 08, 2008 | Comments 0

Introductions

Welcome to the Southern Crosses blog, and thank you for visiting. I would like to introduce the crew of the s/v AbbyGale based in St. Pete Beach Florida. We are aboard a 1985 40′ Endeavour Center Cockpit sloop rig sailboat. The sloop rig designation means that we have a single mast, and are just a [...]

Resting at anchor

By Annen on September 07, 2008 | Comments 0

Our boat

Welcome aboard the s/v AbbyGale, our 1985 Endeavour sloop rigged center cockpit sailboat. The s/v stands for sailing vessel, sloop rig means one single mast, and the center cockpit is just that, in the center. She is 40 feet long and weighs 25,000 pounds. An amazing 8,600 pounds of lead is in the bottom of [...]

First Mate in command

By Annen on September 06, 2008 | Comments 1

Chat with the author

Questions, comments, or suggestions, I welcome them all. Please feel free to let me know what you thought about my book, this web site, or sailing and travel in Florida. Do you have a favorite Florida beach hangout you would like to share? Where is that special out of the way eatery with a distinctive [...]

Book purchasing information and discounts

By Annen on September 04, 2008 | Comments 0

Book purchasing information and discounts

Southern Crosses is presently offered for sale: Buy a copy of Southern Crosses! and is listed on Amazon, B&N and other online retailers. Bulk rate purchases are available upon request, for a quote, please contact me at: annen@southerncrosses.com Please contact me at the above address should you be interested in any book signing events in [...]

Featured Articles
Welcome
Introductions
Our boat
Chat with the author
Book purchasing information and discounts

What a great little anchorage

Tampa Bay’s Fantasy Island getaway

Over two million people nearby and we once again manage to find a nice peaceful anchorage. (click on the photo for a larger view) This is a place I’ve suggested to our yacht club, BCYC, as a weekend cruising destination before. So, with no firm plans on the chart table, the wind happened to blow [...]

April 27, 2013 | Annen | Comments 1

Southern Crosses is back sailing!

Southern Crosses is back sailing!

Wow- I’ve been a very bad sea Captain… I got busy with work and all the trials and tribulations of daily life. Then the next day happened, and then the next, then another- I’m looking at myself in the mirror and discovering that I’ve managed to get a couple of years older, some more grey [...]

April 17, 2013 | Annen | Comments 0

Capt. Bilgeplug and the magnetic saltwater

Dear Capt. Bilgeplug, What the heck is going on with the world? I don’t seem to be able to keep anything on the boat anymore, well anything of value. I seem to have the unique ability to drop anything and everything of importance over the side. Any ideas? Jim Dandy S/V Seanile Dear Jim, [...]

August 05, 2011 | Annen | Comments 0

Turn left by this pole, down the dirt road

Florida Bay Scallops; 2011

Well folks, here it is, Florida Bay scallop time again. The season opened up a little early this year, with the same daily limits. The best scalloping areas are a bit too shallow for our big boat as I draw 5′ of draft.However, I only need 6″ on the dinghy. So, we put the dinghy [...]

July 23, 2011 | Annen | Comments 0

Captain Bilgeplug and the head hose

Dear Capt. Bilgeplug, I’ve been reading a lot lately about extensive problems with the onboard MSD, more commonly known as the ‘head’. With all the horror stories out there, we are now very concerned, if not actually afraid, of this necessary device. Is it a basic design flaw? Would it be safer for us to [...]

June 28, 2011 | Annen | Comments 0

Entebbe Sailing Club rules

Entebb-a-what?

Entebbe~ as in Uganda, that place in equatorial Africa… I’ve been kind of busy lately and have been a bit remiss in keeping my website up to date with postings. I’ll have to give myself 20 lashes whilst tied to a phone pole as I haven’t been around a good solid mast for a while [...]

June 13, 2011 | Annen | Comments 0

My new website

My new website is up and running, please have a look and let me know if you see anything I can improve on, new categories, or anything you would like to see different. This is designed as a really easy place to list any of your boat related items or services for sale, and as [...]

November 26, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

Marco Island coming into view

Marco Island, overnight

The sail north from Little Shark River was fantastic. The wonderful thing about sailing is that you’ve gotten where you are going as soon as you set foot on the boat. It’s slow and peaceful, what a way to leave the stress behind. The only thing you need to do is change the scenery once [...]

November 19, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

This was a new flag when we started

Little Shark River, the Florida Everglades

After leaving the crab trap obstacle course behind, we had an absolutely beautiful sail from Key West. There were zillions of crab traps. I just can’t imagine that there are that many crabs in the Gulf of Mexico. We spotted the entrance to Little Shark River as the sun was beginning to kiss the horizon. [...]

November 15, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

Our first catch of the day!

Marathon… Nope, didn’t make it

With all our repairs made, the boat nice and tidy, and most things in working order, we decide to strike out for Marathon. I’ve not had the pleasure of tying up to a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor before, so this should be interesting. I have listened to all the stories from others who [...]

November 07, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

Jimmy Buffett's private island just west of Key West

Key West, ahhhh…

It was a slow trek in. If you read the previous blog you know we were ripping along at about 2 knots, which is not much more than walking speed. It seemed like it took forever to get into the port. We entered Key West from the south channel, which took us right past two [...]

November 04, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

Boca Grande Key in the Marquesas

The Marquesas Islands

The Dry Tortugas will always hold a special place in our cruising logs. The place has so much beauty, but can be very fussy for the sailor. It would be wonderful if our federal government would use some of the excessive stimulus dollars at hand and put in some mooring balls… hummm… perhaps I’ll write [...]

November 01, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

The anchorage view from the top of the fort, all two boats.

The Dry Tortugas ~ Paradise with a twist!

It was a dark and stormy night… We were really glad to see Fort Jefferson. The pictures do not do the waves justice. We had spent the night pitching and rolling in the confused seas. We were looking forward to a bit calmer water as we entered the bank that supported the fort. We followed [...]

October 28, 2010 | Annen | Comments 1

Weather perfect! Heading for the Dry Tortugas

Heading out to sea… destination~ the Dry Tortugas

“Seas 2 feet, east winds 5kts, bay and inland waters a light chop.” We listened to the marine weather forecast intently before striking out into the deep blue seas of the Gulf of Mexico. The mechanical weather lady repeated the forecast for the next 5 days promising idyllic beauty and serenity with all things nautical. [...]

October 26, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

Burnt Store to Estero Island

Burnt Store to Estero Island

Forgive me BLOG readers, for I have sinned. It has been… ummm some unknown days since my last entry. One of my readers wrote to me (thanks Ellan) and let me know that today is Wednesday. So, when anyone asks what day it is… I have an email to prove it. So here it is, [...]

October 24, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

Sheree saves sea shells at the sea shore

Exploring around Pine Island Sound

We have remained anchored in Pelican Bay for more than a few days now. Every time we get ready to leave some new adventure presents itself and keeps us from leaving. The peaceful beauty of old world Florida is something to relish. It is disappearing so quickly under pavement and towering buildings one has to [...]

October 15, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

Sunrise, my daily view

Pelican Bay / Cayo Costa State Park

I woke up this morning just before sunrise. We are anchored in Pelican Bay, where we have been for the past several days. The anchorage is along the east side of Cayo Costa State Park on the west, and protected on the east by a small Key, Punta Blanca. The waters are calm as the [...]

October 12, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

Longboat Key to Cabbage Key Florida

I had visions of working on the second novel during this trip. I’ve got the first five chapters done, but I don’t seem to be in control of my time anymore. I don’t know where it goes. I should have as much time as I always have had… right? The sun rises and presents a [...]

October 10, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

Setting sails in the Gulf, heading offshore

Heading South, Longboat Key

So there we were, sitting at home watching the grass grow again. And I just cut it too. It seems like a never ending cycle. Depressed at the thought of listening to the mower and weed-eater again we checked the weather. The temps are beginning to slide down into the high 60’s at night. The [...]

October 05, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0

Capt. Bilgeplug and the spare parts

Capt. Bilgeplug and the spare parts

Dear Capt. Bilgeplug, I was working on my boat, doing the usual chores when summer vacation happened. I had to take the family to one of the overpriced theme parks that, sans the mouse hat, nobody will remember in six months. BTW, it cost a whole boat dollar just to get in! The entire time [...]

September 28, 2010 | Annen | Comments 0