News From Lake Cruisebegon

Fernandina Beach
30 42.88 N 081 28.56 W

OK.  We're here in Fernandina waiting for the right weather to go outside.  With us are Don and Margaret on their new boat Ellie, and Greg and Michelle on Argonauta.  The six of us, had dinner together up at Cumberland a couple of days ago.  How are we all friends?   We are all cruisers with Vermont connections.  Greg was connected with the Hort Farm in Burlington where Jenny volunteers.  Don owned the W32 Heron.  Get it?

We three boats, plus many others, are all waiting for a weather window.

I also discovered by accident that Darrick on Y-knot is also anchored nearby.  He's alone on the boat because his wife Sharron flew home to Wisconsin for a while.  

Joyce and Bo are in Saint Augustine and heading up this way on Sunday.   Joyce is itching to hunt for shells on the Cumberland Island beaches.  Bo is shopping for stuff at the West Marine store in Saint Augustine.

Bob and Sandra on Carpe Diem are in Lake Worth.  They just sailed up from Key  Biscayne and had a terrible time.  Bob wanted to go out to the Gulf Stream for a boost.  It seems that they hit a squall that kicked up the waves and that made Sandra sea sick.  Gulf Stream waves are especially nasty in those conditions. The squall didn't blow past.  After a while, Bob figured out that the squall was following the same track he was.

Peter, our friend in Vero, lost his dinghy and motor in a Gulf Stream crossing.  It seems that he needed to be back in the USA on a certain date, so he went despite an ambivalent forecast.  Soon after leaving Bimini he hit a terrible storm.  Peter said the waves in the Gulf Stream were 30 feet high and that the wind knocked him down flat even though all his sails were down.  It broke the 1/2 inch line securing his dinghy.   He reentered the USA amidst the breaking waves at the (inadequate) inlet at Boca Roton. I think he's lucky to be alive.

Jeff & Wendy on the W32 Calpyso did a successful outside passage from Cumberland to Winyah Bay.  They're in NC already.  They may bump into George and Carol on Traumeri who ought to be in about the same place, and heading the same way.

Jay on his W32 Pygmalion is sailing today on San Francisco Bay. I know because he just emailed me.

On the dock I saw a boat Kismet from Sodus Bay, NY.  I introduced myself to Jim, the captain.  I asked if he knows Walt and Pat aboard Amazing Grace in Sodus Bay.  He said, "Yes.  I not only know them, I know you.  Two years ago you ran aground in the channel entering Boot Key Harbor and I came out to help you.  By the way, I'm stuck here for a while because my wife is in the hospital .  She had her appendix out."  "Oh," I said, "I already know all about your wife.  Greg and Michelle on Argonauta told me.  I hope she's better."  Jim said, "Yes she is."

Meanwhile, up in Sodus Bay, NY Walt and Pat just returned from a Caribbean trip on a cruise ship.

Up in the sailors lounge, we encountered Dave and Kathy from Orion.  We know them from the boat yard in Deltaville a couple of years ago.   They too are waiting for a window.  We also talked with a sailor who said that he was rescued by the Coast Guard yesterday, but was anxious to be on his way again today; winds are gusting to 39; go figure.

Our friends on Martin and Betsy on Molly Blossom, a Krogen 42 motor yacht, just called for help on the radio.  They are aground one mile south of us.  Tow Boat US is on the way to their assistance.

Got all that? That's the news from Lake Cruisebegon, where all the captains are sirs, all the mates are admirals, the winds are all fair, and the seas following.

p.s. Tonight,we're going to try to round up people to play Balderdash.  Let's see, who do we know?

p.p.s. What about those teen agers who waste their lives keeping track of everything their friends are doing using text messages and Facebook.  Can you believe it?