December 16, 2011 Day 1
32 33 N latitude, 77 59 W longitude
93 miles from Myrtle Beach,SC
351 miles to go to Marsh Harbor, Bahamas
Hello Everybody!
Our goal was to leave the dock this morning as the sun came up, and I guess you could say we did if you believe that sunrise is at 1010.
As we turned from the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club into the Intracoastal Waterway we were greeted by several dolphin, who swam by to bid us farewell. Another mile down the ICW a bald eagle flew over, perhaps the
same one we saw when we arrived a month ago. Our trip out to the ocean was uneventful but very scenic: beautiful golf courses along the waterfront, lots of condominiums, several large plantation-type homes,
marshlands, and shallow bays. We retraced our route in, following the same line on the chart.
Yesterday I was still in Jamestown, Jake was in Minnesota, and Leo was on the boat. I had done the bulk of
the provisioning previously, but needed produce, dairy, bread and some meat. Fortunately, Ben Jacobsen and Peter Vaiciulis, who are sailing with us on this leg, were able to get to Myrtle Beach by noon and willingly
provisioned from my list. They did an outstanding job. They found everything we needed and even had it all unpacked, repackaged and stowed! (I’ll have to ask for help more often. After all, how bad would it
be if there were mistakes, it’s only dinner.)
Unlike the trip around Cape Hatteras when we had 3 knots of foul current, on this leg we’ve had the current with us and are making wonderful SOGs of about 8 knots, even 8.5. We should get to the Gulf Stream within the next hour or so. The water is currently 75.9 degrees and the air is 60. The entire trip to Marsh Harbor is 442 miles,so we should be there on Tuesday.
The fishing contest has begun. I’ve been told that it’s the men against the boys, but we won’t know which is which until we learn who wins. Currently the ‘geezers’ (that would be Jake and Pete) have 2 black fin tuna reeled in by Jake and by Ben. (We’ve already had sashimi beautifully prepared by Peter) There have been other hits and some lost fish, but I don’t have good details, so you’ll have to wait for tomorrow’s update.
Because we are only 5 I am standing watch in the rotation this trip. That means I stand watch 4 hours, sleep 6 and do it again. (Just like everyone else) But right now I’m 45 minutes into my 6 hours of sleep and I have to get up at 0330. So, please excuse me for tonight. I’m going to bed!
All the best from the crew of avalanche looking for warm water, sunny skies, lots of good fishing, and baths on the back deck tomorrow.
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