All Entries in the "Travels" Category
Key West/Dry Tortugas May 2009
Early on May 02, 2009, 7 boats left the safety and comfort of the BCYC (Boca Ciega Yacht Club) basin and nearby waters to embark on our latest “trip of a lifetime”. Destination: Key West, the Dry Tortugas and point’s in-between.
Xanadu, Panache, The Rachael, Casa Mia, Second Love, Sailacious, and Celebration made up the expedition.
We [...]
Gulfport Florida with a little ‘Clam Bayou’
I didn’t think I could do it, but I somehow managed to persevere. Expending minor amounts of mental energy and proper planning, I was actually able to achieve the almost impossible.
Wasting an entire day is truly becoming an art form for me. It’s not for everybody. My standards of a normal day have changed [...]
Vinoy Basin, St. Petersburg Fl
Many years ago I was watching the local news when the weather guy cut to a camera shot from a bank building in downtown St. Pete. They showed sailboats in the harbor anchored on a beautiful morning as the sun sparkled along the water.
I pointed at the T.V. and said, “One day that is going [...]
Just build it already…
I walked up and down the docks at the marina. It’s Monday morning and the place is a ghost town. Most of the folks have reported back to work and the parking lot is empty. I do not suspect I’ll get any more offers of assistance to avoid my solar panel task.
We had a big [...]
Time to finish the solar panel…
I’ve managed to dawdle on this project as long as possible now. Avoidance is a time tested method of problem prevention. Whenever I’m involved in an extensive project such as this, I mentally prepare for total disaster somewhere along the way. This is an old boat with lots of hidden quirks just daring to be [...]
Stop bleeding and get back to work…
I’ve been among the ranks of do it yourselfers for a number of years now. I’ve even seen the T.V. show. Why do these people not bleed? Is it some magic editing technique and we simply don’t see it? Could it be pay related? I pulled my old diesel engine out of this boat at [...]
Much about nothing
Sitting at the marina last week we decided it was time to stop sitting at the marina. Sure, plugged into shore power with the A/C running on high makes for a comfortable afternoon. The satellite dish is connected and faithfully gathering every show imaginable from the sky. Most of which I don’t care to watch [...]
The bent scoop
Not every day on the beach is a great day. Beach days are always better than office days. Heck, the dentist chair is better than an office day if I recall correctly. At least in the dentist chair there was Nitrous Oxide to take the pain away…
The surf God is presently angry on the west [...]
Florida Bay Scallops: The how to guide
You’ve ordered them in restaurants, you seen them on the Discovery Channel, and you may have even seen their shells on the beach. Well, now you’re going to find out how to hunt the little fella’s down, gather them up, and finally enjoy some of Florida Bay’s tastiest little morsels we affectingly adorn our seafood [...]
The great beach wash-up
Well then… I finally made it back to Florida where I belong. The desert was fun, but nothing like home. So anyhow, I have a new toy. A Garrett Infinium LS metal detector and I just have to give it a try.
So I hit to beach today with my Infinium in search of famed golden [...]
Island time photos
Time is a precious thing. It can’t be taken back once it’s gone, knowing that, we should all endeavor to use it wisely. I found myself on Island time recently, and enjoyed every minute of it. Although you can’t actually go back in time, you can look at photos and mentally relive some rather fine [...]
Isla Mujeres Race, Part 3
The next day or so was very similar, with several minor exceptions. Nobody really ate much as it was too rough. The easy food was consumed when one had an opportunity, or desire, to eat. Pringles, Chex Mix, cans of cheese spread with crackers… man food, with beer of course.
The day passed easily enough sans [...]
Isla Mujeres Race, Part 2
Strategies were becoming apparent as we could see which vessels were settling in on what course. Some were choosing to follow the most direct and shortest path, the rhumb line, while others were going out to look for currents and eddy’s to up the speed along the course. We choose the longer path, but with [...]
Isla Mujeres Race, part 1
St Petersburg Florida to Isla Mujeres Mexico Race: April 24th 2009
Weeks of planning and preparation are about to bear fruit. The anticipation and excitement of my first race have led me to the morning of the 41st annual St. Pete, Florida to Isla Mujeres, Mexico race. I’m the newest crew member so therefore assigned [...]
Isla Mujeres Mexico
Buenos Dias de Isla Mujeres
Good morning all. For those of you that were following the race via the internet, you saw how well we did. Our arrival, just under one week ago, began a long list of events related to the race. We have also enjoyed all that the island has to offer. Fine dining [...]
Regata del Sol al Sol, St. Pete to Isla Mujere Mexico
It’s that time of the year, RACE TIME!
The 41st Regata del Sol al Sol is preparing to depart from the Saint Petersburg Yacht Club on Friday morning the 24th, at 1000hrs. We will be racing from St. Pete Florida to Isla Mujere Mexico, a short 460 nautical miles to the southwest. It will take us [...]
Yum-Yum from Key Largo
15 gallons of gas: $43.12
Fishing lures: $14.73
Sunscreen: $7.95
A woman who can catch fish, clean them, and cook ‘em up: Absolutely PRICELESS!
(No… sorry… she is not for sale or trade)
It would seem that while I’m overseas on a business trip my lovely wife Sheree has found herself in Key Largo hanging out with her brother, Capt. [...]
The Great Bahamas trip: Part 6 / Chub Cay to Bimini
Two Years Before the Mast – Chub Cay to Bimini
By: Nat Manning
After a nice layover in Chub Cay, we cast off on Tuesday, the 10th of February and motored out clear of the reefs off Moma Roda Rock. We unfurled the sail and slowly slid down the underside of the Berry Islands, past an almost [...]
The Great Bahamas trip: Part 5 / Nassau to Chub Cay
Two Years Before the Mast-Nassau to Chub Cay
By: Nat Manning
Leaving Nassau Harbor consists of a rapid transition from the quiet calm of the seaport to the deep ocean swells of the Tongue of the Ocean. From calm to six foot waves in just a few minutes. From the forty feet of the ship [...]
The Great Bahamas trip: Part 4 / Nassau
Two Years Before the Mast – Nassau, By: Nat Manning
On Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Elise II arrived in Nassau around five o’clock in the morning. As the Skipper tided up the boat and secured all the equipment from the overnight passage, I (Gilligan) spent most of the day in the bunk sleeping, much to [...]
