November 10-12
Somewhere out in the dark Atlantic, we're hove to in 20-foot
seas while gale force winds howl through the rigging. Inside
the cabin, Nick is checking into the Cruiseheimers Net on
the SSB while Deanna pushes his liver back inside a gaping
wound in his abdomen. Deep punctures such as these don't hurt
all that much, so he barely winces as she stitches up the
ragged flesh. Outside, conditions worsen. With his liver back
in place, Nick hustles out to deploy a drogue while Deanna
whips up a tasty dinner of grilled plantains and Mahi Mahi
Crusted with Macadamia Nuts.
OK, so this didn't really happen. But after attending the
three-day Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) annual convention
in Melbourne, we're prepared for such an unlikely scenario.
(Note to our parents: Take a deep breath; it was just a joke.)
The convention provides us with useful information for successful
cruising and an opportunity to buy even more stuff for the
boat. Most importantly, the event brings us together with
friends we haven't seen for some time. Jim and Roxanne on
S/V Dawn Dancer arrive after spending the summer at
home in Connecticut. Gerry on S/V Cosa Bella drives
down from St. Augustine. Jan and Terri on S/V Kiva
fly in from Texas and stay with us on our boat. And after
three years, we finally reunite with Dean and Nancy on S/V
Pegasus. They were the first boaters we met in Corpus
Christi when we put our previous sailboat in the boatyard.
They left soon after to go cruising, but we stayed in touch
and they gave us a lot of helpful advice when we started our
own cruise. Seeing them again was a special milestone in our
cruising journey.
Caribbean Soul weighs anchor at Melbourne
(picture by Nancy Whitsett)
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Friends at SSCA from left to right. Standing:
Jim and Roxanne, Nancy and Dean, Deanna and Nick. Seated:
Terri and Jan
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November 13
On Monday after the convention, we weigh anchor and head
50 statute miles south to Fort Pierce. This is our first opportunity
to use our new two-way headsets when anchoring. Now I can
tell Nick if his underwear is showing when he bends over the
anchor.
New two-way headsets expand communications
between the helm and the bow. "Hey, Captain. Nice buns!"
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Dakota would like to be captain, but he can't
see over the helm
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November 14
On Tuesday, a light south wind guarantees no sailing, so
we motor another 50 miles down the ICW to Lake Worth. At the
Jupiter inlet, the ICW makes a tricky S-curve, with three
opening bridges to go through just to make the passage more
nerve-wracking. After passing the second bridge as we approach
the final curve, I read to Nick from the Southern Waterway
Guide: "Follow the buoys, watch inlet currents and
make the final turn cautiously. You will not see the opening
until you are almost on it." I look up from the book
just in time to see the marked channel appear on our port
side.
"There's the channel! You should turn here!" I
insist.
Pointing to the chart plotter, Nick shakes his head. "Not
according to this chart, I should---" Whump! The boat
lurches to a clumsy stop on a sandbar. Workers on a nearby
boat observe our dilemma with interest. Nick throws the boat
into reverse. Ninety horses churn up the mud and, much to
my surprise, we're free. Seeing their opportunity for a quick
buck evaporate, the workers turn away.
"You should have listened to your navigator," I
say quietly.
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One of the bridges at the Jupiter inlet
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November 15-22
We spend a week anchored in the north end of Lake Worth in
North Palm Beach. The dinghy "dock" is a sandy beach
that virtually disappears at high tide. Those ventilated plastic
shoes we bought in Annapolis prove their worth here. The area
is known for outboard motor thefts, so we don't dare leave
the dinghy after dark. Boaters must take their trash to the
Publix, located a few blocks away. It's perplexing to us that
so many Florida communities make it difficult for transient
boaters to come ashore and spend money.
All in all, it's a nice anchorage though. Village Marine
comes out and services our watermaker. Now that we don't have
to worry about running out of H2O, the hygiene of the crew
should greatly improve.
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Sunset at the North Palm Beach anchorage
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Dinghies are beached and locked to a cable
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"High Theft Area" spray painted
at the dinghy landing
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Nick pushes a shopping cart full of garbage
down A1A. How do you tell
the difference between a yachtie and a homeless person? Yachties
have
wet butts from the dinghy ride to shore.
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Tiger Wood's $20-million yacht, Privacy,
our neighbor in North Palm Beach
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November 23-24
On Thanksgiving morning, we move the boat to the West Palm
Beach area of Lake Worth. Our friends Jim and Roxanne on S/V
Dawn Dancer have invited us to join them and several
family members for dinner. We expect an abbreviated turkey
dinner, but they put out a full-blown feast. We have a lovely
day and go home with full bellies. Thanks, Jim and Roxanne!
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Caribbean Soul anchored in West Palm
Beach
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Approaching Lake Worth inlet behind Peanut
Island
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Dawn Dancer
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Roxanne and Jim preparing their Thanksgiving
feast
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Dawn Dancer hosts Thanksgiving. You
can't beat a catamaran for spaciousness and comfort.
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November 25
After rocking and rolling in the West Palm Beach anchorage
for two days, we head back to the calmer anchorage in the
north end of Lake Worth. We'll be putting the boat in a marina
early next week so a mechanic can (we hope) perform an exorcism
on our demon-possessed mechanical refrigeration system.
OK, Dakota. When are you going to
learn to drive the dink?
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Anchorage in North Palm Beach, north end
of Lake Worth
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