Farewell to "Escape"

3/2/2010

From the showroom floor on Lake Champlain,

To over the road to the Florida Keys,

We've sailed across the Atlantic Ocean

to discover distant seas.

You've carried us to paradise places,

meeting many, many new faces.

The "Escape" memories that were made

will never fade

but will be cherished and often shared.

Thank you "Escape" for helping to create us.

Your spirit will always live within.

Today a new chapter begins and we happily share,

from out hearts and within, that

the spirit of "Escape" will now float

as Tim's new boat.

Congratulation, Tim!

You now own the best boat!

While you plan and plot,

don't forget the dead reckoning dot.

As you travel near and far,

enjoy your time at the dock,

on anchor or sand bar.

Always remembering, "Escape" will take you there

with joy and minimal fear.

And at the end, Tim,

She'll have waiting for you

a very cold beer!

Please take care of her.

Treat her well and with respect.

For her spirit will bring you bountiful happiness,

much joy and abundant memories.

Many Blessings and God Speed.

Cheers,

Tom and Babette

"Escape to Paradise"

Sunday, June 10,2007

With the engine oil changed, water and fuel topped off, the only mission now was to decide to enter Florida at Lake Worth (West Palm Beach) or Ft. Pierce. We needed to find paper charts for the Ft. Pierce area if that is to be landfall. Our GPS chip covers to Vero Beach (just north of Ft. Pierce) but our paper chart supply only covered to Jupiter, Fl (about 40 miles south of Ft. Pierce). You’re probably thinking - “Why worry about it? You’ve got the GPS.” It could probably work that way, but “what ifs” are a BIG part of cruising. What if the GPS craps out? We do have back up GPSs but that’s where the physical chart comes in handy. It also provides the full view.

Babette put out a request over the VHF radio for anyone with charts of the Ft. Pierce area. Amazingly enough we had several responses - several to loan to look at and one person with a spare one. Rich on Knot Tied brought over his MapTech Chartkit for the Eastern coast of Florida and the Keys for us to look over. We studied them overnight - reading the cruising guide and matching info to the charts - a tedious project but a necessary one. Rich also suggested that the local book swap, Buck A Book (where he volunteers) has some chart kits but wasn’t sure which ones were there. After studying the info we had, we decided we’d really like to make landfall in Ft. Pierce. If we couldn’t find one then we’d make copies of Rich’s.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Off to get another jerry can to carry extra fuel (another precaution) and to Buck A Book. We met Rich at Buck A Book. He’d been doing a lot of unknown to us leg work to locate charts. No Ft. Pierce charts at the shop BUT Rich then offered to sell us his at half price. He would be flying back to the states before he’d be bring his boat back so he’d just buy another chartkit. Cruisers do help cruisers - creating cruising angels. Rich was our angel!!

Decision now made - depart Marsh Harbour, stage at Green Turtle Cay, Great Sale Cay, cross the Gulf Stream and make landfall in Ft. Pierce, Florida.

Anchor pulled at 1:00 pm and after saying good-bye to all our friends we set sail around Whale Cay Passage bound for Green Turtle Cay. The treacherous Whale Cay Passage was the calmest we have ever seen it. We were at Green Turtle Cay by 4 pm. Making such great time we alter our plans, passing by Green Turtle and will anchor at Powell Cay instead (only another 12 miles north). Anchored up at 7 pm we do the final boat prep for the crossing - hooking up the jack lines, securing the jerry cans extra tight, etc. (trip 33.5 nm)

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Ready to go at 7 am - a long haul ahead to Great Sale Cay. We listened to Chris Parker’s single sideband weather forecast. Squalls off Florida predicted but we should be ok at Great Sale Cay, even if we have to wait them out there. We’ll be ready when the weather permits.

Motor-sailed with only 10 knots of wind. Nice gentle trip. Arriving at Great Sale Cay we could see a thunderstorm in the distance. Anchored at 3:45 pm Our cubed ice is dwindling but the blocks are holding up well. Overall a beautiful evening - the thunderstorm missed us and Tom enjoyed feeding the gulls. (trip 45.9 nm)

At midnight all hell broke loose. Squalls were all around us. The winds picked up and changed directions, now blowing in from the WSW - the direction in which the anchorage is exposed. Winds were 20-25 knots and the seas picked up to 2-3 ft windblown waves. Lightning and thunder was off in the distance. The uncomfortable hobby horsing lasted until 4 am but then all returned back to calm waters.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Weather report calls for continued squalls to move over the area (some with winds to 40-60 knots) and a low north of us to move east creating north winds. Not good for crossing the Gulf Stream so we’ll stay put until tomorrow when things are expected to have calmed down.
Our trip from Great Sale Cay to Ft. Pierce is expected to be anywhere from 22-28 hours so the most comfortable weather conditions possible would be warmly welcomed.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Left Great Sale Cay at 7:45 am with a 10 knot N wind - prediction was to switch to a 5 knot easterly - a motor sail day and night. Heading to Matanilla Shoals on the Little Bahama Banks the skies were sunny, just a beautiful day!! This is just a waypoint on the edge of the banks just before the deep Atlantic - no island. Our plan - to cross the banks during daylight arriving at Matanilla Shoals about 7 pm, cross Gulf Stream through the night and arriving at Ft. Pierce Inlet between 7-9 am in daylight. Great Plan…………only……………

Escape was cruising along causing us to become ahead of schedule. We arrived at Matanilla Shoals 1 hour early even after our attempts of slowing down. No problem…we’ll slow down with the lighter easterly winds in the stream. NOT!!!

The winds and waves were behind us pushing us along at 5.5 - 6 knots. At that pace we would be getting to the inlet at 5am before sunrise. Not good. With the lack of wind for speed and the wind/wave direction causing an awful roll just pure sailing wasn’t an option. As we were trying to revise the plan, Tom did his hourly engine checks discovering that the stuffing box wasn’t dripping (thus not wetting/cooling the prop shaft). We quickly change course, head south, kill the motor and sail while Tom made the necessary adjustments. This killed some time (a couple hours) because on that point of sail with a reefed main and no jib into the Gulf Stream current we could only advance ½ - 1 knot. Basically we were sitting in the middle of the Gulf Stream, bobbing like a cork. This plan was working so we continued for awhile. When we were 20 miles off the Florida coast we altered back on course.

The evening’s traffic consisted of 3 cruise ships, 5 freighters, and 1 large tug with a tow. Sunrise came at 6:24 am. The beautiful sunrise was a perfect ending to a fabulous 14 month Bahamian adventure.

Sunrise over the Gulf Stream

At 8 am we headed into Ft. Pierce Inlet, up the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway) to marker #184 where we entered the Taylor Creek channel and the entrance for Harbortown Marina-Ft. Pierce where we had reserved a slip.

Tied up in slip H39 we check in with the marina and then get a taxi to take us to the St. Lucie Airport where we needed to clear back in the USA with Customs and Immigration. Back at the boat we realized that it has been 14 months since Escape has been tied up!!!! The necessary check-ins were all done….now it’s time to sleep. Two exhausted sailors crash for the rest of the day. (trip 123.6 nm)

After a few days of searching for long term dockage, we decided to stay right where we have landed. Harbortown Marina-Ft Pierce is our new home - at least for a year or until the water moves us onto our next adventure. This one has sure been a good one!! Life is good!!

Nestled into her slip

It’s important to enjoy life but to know you are enjoying it is priceless.

Escape to Paradise (4/2/06 - 6/15/07) is out.

Monday, June 4, 2007

Believe it or not!! The weather has finally made the change and we are able to begin our voyage back to the Abacos. We settle our mooring bill with “Cinnabar” at the Pinder’s Supermarket dinghy dock and head out to Royal Island Harbor for an early morning departure.

Bradley Newbold, aka “Cinnabar” is a pillar of the Spanish Wells community. He was one of the first boat pilots in the area to lead boats through the treacherous Devil’s Backbone which runs the eastern shoreline between Spanish Wells and Harbour Island. At age 79 he is still in demand and pilots boats ranging in size from 30 - 165 feet.

We were welcomed into Spanish Wells by Bradley and his wife, Pat. We enjoyed the car tours, assistance, their stories and their family. The opened their home to us as if we were part of the family. We will miss them but back to Abaco we go.

Bradley and Pat Newbold

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Departed Royal Island at 6:15 am

Crossing was uneventful except for rain showers. Gypsy Palace accompanied us. Anchored at Lynard Cay for the night. Exhausted but glad to be home in Abaco. (trip 57.3 nm)

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Sailed into Marsh Harbour about 1 pm. (trip 20.2 nm)

Total Eleuthera/Exumas trip - 460.2 nm or 529.2 statute miles

Thursday, June 7 - June 10, 2007

After catching up with all our friends, enjoying BBQ rib night at the JIB Room we become ready to prepare and chart our return course to the US. We shared info about our trip to Exumas with friends on Island Dream, Pat and Darnell and they shared info regarding places in Florida where they stayed during their recent return.

May 17 - May 31, 2007

Marooned in Spanish Wells, St George’s Cay since 5/14 (17 days and still counting). The winds just won’t blow themselves out!! There are several boats stuck in the same situation and we are all trying not to go crazy. We have been able to do a bit of walking on the beach as well as exploring and of course there are the social gatherings with the other cruisers.

One walk on the beach brought us some kind of sea worm. At least that’s what we think it might be. No one seems to know what it is. They looked like rolled up nylon stockings, felt like jello and broke very easily when lifted creating 2 new ones. Tom actually split one in two when he first lifted it with a stick.

We met quite a few new cruisers heading in all directions but we all were stuck in Spanish Wells with the wind and squalls.

Having not done laundry since we left Marsh Harbour on April 9th, Babette was forced into doing it for a day’s entertainment. Luckily this affluent community had 1 washer and 1 dryer located behind a small grocery store and what a bargain at $2 a wash and $2 a dry!! It did occupy most of the day but mission was accomplished.

The man we rent the mooring from offered to give us a ride back to our dinghy by car so we wouldn’t have to lug the load of laundry. What a pleasant surprise!! His wife, Pat, and himself, Bradley, gave us a tour of the area and neighboring George’s Cay. A lot of developing going on in this area. We were amazed by the amount of construction and mainly by locals.

We left Rock Sound on Sunday, 5/13, for Hatchet Bay. Escaping the thunderstorms to the south of us we welcomed the enclosed bay with grateful feelings. We were very lucky today!!

(trip - 42.9 nm)

Out of Hatchet Bay, Monday 5/14, with a destination of Spanish Wells. We raced through the feared, but respected, Current Cut at 9.7 knots!! Arrived in Spanish Wells an hour before the winds picked up. Now it’s time to kick back, chill and relax as the weather forecast is yucky (windy and thunderstorms) for the next week! (trip - 28.6 nm)

Some pictures from Current Cut

The rocky bar need to pass before the sharp right angle turn with the cut behind.

Escape cruising through the cut at 9.7 knots!!

The ebbing current was ripping at about 4 knots.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

The day has come!! We decided to begin our return back to the states. Deciding which route to take was difficult. Do we take the one we came down on which took several days or another route with only a couple long days? Weather reports state a lot of unsettled weather and atmospheric conditions. Not to mention the sub-tropical storm Andrea which was only a little more than 100 miles from Nassau. Being within 50 miles from Nassau we decided to return the way we came …back up the Eleuthera coast.

Our last night in Exumas was spent in the Emerald Rock anchorage in the Land and Sea Park in Warderick Wells. With an absolutely calm evening, the water being clearer than a swimming pool and the most perfect sunset we savored the moment. (trip - 19.2 nm)

Thursday, May 10, 2007 Exuma Sound Crossing

Up before sunrise to prepare for the day’s voyage across Exuma Sound. After listening to Chris Parker’s weather forecast and for the location of Andrea, it looks good to go. We passed through Warderick Cut with the tide flowing in our favor at 7:50 am. Within 45 minutes….BOOM!! ….a clap of thunder was heard in the distance. Babette called a local weather forecaster and inquired about the thunderstorm conditions on her radar. The radar showed was only scattered storms…..no squall line….no problems.

We watched the distant dark sky for 4 hours trying to decipher it’s direction. Having difficulty figuring out which way it was traveling, it began growing darker and darker. When the rainfall on the water became apparent….that’s when we knew we were doomed. The storm had been chasing us for 30 miles and had now caught up.

The wind changed directions from SE to NW (not exceeding 20 knots - thank god!!) and the torrential downpour created whiteout conditions. We were 1.5 nm from the shoreline and flying along at 7.5 knots. We wanted out of the lightning and the shallow waters ahead of us so we reversed our course and headed backwards. Within 45 minutes the skies had become sunny and we were back on course. We have experienced many thunderstorms but this was the 1st one in over 14,000 feet of water.

We arrived in Rock Sound, Eleuthera at 3:45 pm ready for a cold beer. We made great time crossing the Exuma Sound and now we’ll wait for the atmosphere to become more settled before cruising up the coast. (trip - 51.7 nm)

Lesson learned: When you can’t tell what way the clouds are moving, it’s probably because they are coming toward you.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Left Emerald Rock, Waderick Wells and motor sailed to Staniel Cay (trip 19.4 nm)

We go ashore to check out the area. Staniel Cay is a mixture of Bahamians and foreigners with second homes on the island. It is known as the cruising headquarters for the central Exumas and is welcoming and helpful to the yachting community. There are a lot of mega yachts in the area. The Staniel Cay Yacht Club is the central attraction.

Much sea life can be seen at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club docks - large nurse sharks, several stingrays, variety of fish and fish skeletons.

Stingrays

7 ft nurse shark. One of the larger ones. There are several.

Friday, May 4, 2007

We heard our friend Captain Randy on the VHF radio. He and his friend, Marlee were up from Georgetown after the family regatta taking a few days of leisure until the next race. Randy is the captain of Nomad which is the towing boat for the Bahamian racing sailboat, Abaco Rage. We became friends with Randy in Abaco. He anchored Nomad next to us at the Thunderball Cave.


Saturday, May 5, 2007

Randy and Marlee ask us to join them on a skiff tour through Pipe Creek Cay. No questions asked we hop aboard. It was a beautiful sunny day with spectacular waters. Randy weaved us through the coral heads and sand bars.

Captain Randy & Marlee

First stop - Sampson Cay where we visit Randy’s friends to return some snorkel gear they borrowed. Marlee needs a souvenir for the dog sitter so David sends her over to Graham who lives in a petite cottage across the bay. He carves buttonwood. Interesting guy and a recluse!!

Second stop - Little Pipe Creek sand bar. We drift the skiff to the sand bar where out of the sand awaits an anchor line to hook up to. Secured to the line we pop a cold one to quench our thirsts. Absolutely awesome!

Little Pipe Cay beacon


Marlee relaxes with a cold one on the sand bar.

Weaving through the sand bars, rock and coral heads once again, we arrive at our third

stop - Compass Cay Marina. Tied up to the dock, we treat our thirst to another cold one from the marina store. We met Micah and Andrea who are running the marina and cottages. Very quiet cay but very quaint!! They even have pet nurse sharks that they have named. The other island entertainment are the NAS-CRAB races.

Tom & Micah at the Compass Cay Marina gathering spot.

Meet the pet sharks at Compass Cay Marina

NAS CRAB Raceway and the rib of a 45 ft sperm whale

We return back to our boats and gussied up for the Cinco de Mayo festivities at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Homemade sangria, margaritas, and Corona beers are the specials. A Mexican buffet is dinner at the ringing of the dinner bell at 7pm. We didn’t stay for the buffet as we were all tired from being tourists for the day. Life sure is good!!

Captain Randy & Babette celebrating Cinco de Mayo
at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

Sunday, May 6, 2007

We leave the Thunderball mooring with a slack tide due to the strong current that flows with the tides to head to Big Majors Spot, an island just around the corner (2.1 nm) After getting a good anchor set, Tom notices the autopilot isn’t working right and needs to be reset. So after breakfast we haul anchor and take advantage of the calm conditions needed to reset it. After numerous circles made trying to reset it, it just won’t set so we give up and re-anchor, just a little frustrated.

We regroup and head out for the next attraction of Big Majors Spot…..Pig Beach. Wild pigs swim out to greet the incoming dinghies looking for any table scraps they might bring to share with them. We meet 5 of the pigs but we didn’t get to meet the piglets. It’s quite something to say the least!

We’re spotted….

then checked out…he begged…

And he got what he wanted.

We only saw 5 of the pigs - 2 males, 3 females.
There were piglets but they didn’t come to visit.

Back at the boat, we notice it’s slack low tide and it would be a good time to snorkel the Thunderball Cave. This is where they filmed the James Bond movie “Thunderball” with Sean Connery as well as “Splash” with Tom Hanks. Once inside the entrance it opens up to a skylit cavern filled with colorful coral and abundant fish. Tom was amazed he was able to get Babette inside the cave seeing she is a reluctant and anxious snorkeler, BUT…….she did it!!

Thunderball Cave entrance.

At the days end we enjoyed a BBQ steak dinner aboard Escape. Quite a few full days.