The last couple weeks have been rather expensive. Both the main and the jib have suffered tremendous tears. The jib is terminal, the main, just barely limping along. Luckily, or well planned I had already ordered new sails so recieved replacements within a couple days of the disasters.
They are now up and we are havng ball, both with the speed the sails develope and the new trim we must learn for the new material. I have a crew of more weathered teens that may learn yet to appreciate what we now have.
The weather isn’t great for fishing or snorkeling, but is just right for sailing. Since we’ve seen speeds never before seen going into the wind, I expect great things heading back to Islamorada with the wind tomorrow.
The scouts from Georgia, a total of 32 on the sail boats spent their last evening here comparing their adventures. Each boat Captain allows the crew to decide what they wish to do. Some wanted to swim, others, fish, or sail. We all had some of each and sent many a youngster home with marvelous experience.
Fish Galore at Looe Key Sanctuary
Yesterday was a day for sailing, not for swimming or fishing. We brief the scouts that the weather often determines what we are to do…today was the proof. They went snorkelling at one location and in the 15-20 knot winds found it too rough. The waves were often breaking over their heads filling many a mouth with salt water and restricting their visibility to a few feet.
When they finally got back into the boat and hoisted the sails, there were grins…at least for the first few hours. It was decided by our leader that snorkeling was out and there was no use in anchoring half way to Key West. So, running at 8 knots we headed for Key West, making the 76 miles for the day well before sunset.
We’re not allowed into the marina until around 10 a.m. of OUR scheduled day so anchored west of Wisteria awaiting our opening the following morning.
Memorable point of the day - one scout got sea sick before the first dive. A counselor noticed he no longer had his patch behind the ear so ask why. “I took it off because it is good for 3 days”. Go figure!
One more day before I start. 1 boat left tonight. The remaining scouts arrived too late for the boats to be able to reach their first anchorage before dark. It isn’t that the captains couldn’t anchor by themselves, its that it becomes very difficult, if not impossible to control 8 persons totally unfamiliar with the vessel…so the remaining 3 will head out just before sunrise. They’ll have some distance to make up. It may only be 5 or 6 miles but we only go about 7 to 8 miles an hour at the best of times.
I decided to clean my air conditioning water/grass strainer as the water flow was slowing. I finished the cleaning, put everything back together, and the water pump failed. Sunday, before a holiday and I am not able to order from the distributor with the giant discounts…off to the local West Marine 30 miles away in Key Largo through Keys holiday traffic is not my idea of a relaxing weekend. Oh well, we all have to be somewhere.
The Boy Scout High Adventure Coral Reef charters start tonight for the first 256 trips for the 4 vessel squadrons. Capn Tim and Ozy are part of the 3rd squadron to start with 13 trips scheduled, departing Memorial Day. There are 18 of the boats and Captains already here so the dock is alive with activity. There is a comradery here that excels anything I have ever witnessed.
I spent the evening playing the guitar, sort of with 2 other guitars, a mandolin, and either spoons or a harp. We finally shut it down around 10. Can it get any better than that? Yep, and it probably will.
