Sailing BrainWaves

After spending a night at a very classy marina. (They gave us a bottle of wine.) We headed off to check in with Customs. I wouldn't have bothered, but you know... the bishop. Two $25 cab rides later and we were no longer illegal aliens. We reprovisioned and cast off for the intracoastal Waterway. As we approached our 4th drawbridge in the first 2 hours of travel, we heard a slapping sound from the motor as the belt we replaced last week shredded itself. As we had just experienced this I expected only part of the belt would shred and the rest remain functional. But then David said he smelled rubber and I went to investigate. Smoke was coming from the engine compartment. I prepared the fire extinguisher and hesitantly opened the compartment. More smoke, but no flames. As I searched for the source of the fire, it gradually occurred to me that this was steam, not smoke. The belt had totally disintegrated. The water pump was not turning and the engine was overheating. After an emergency...

We awoke at 0400 to get an early start on a long passage. After waiting 2 days for 15-20 ft. seas to wane we were anxious to be underway. Despite the forecast (8-12 ft. waves) it was remarkably calm. Our good fortune did not outlast my sordid past, though. With their approach hidden by the glare of the rising sun, a US Coast Guard Cutter approached us and demanded to board. I was certain Cat Cay Security had gotten to them and I would be dragged back to the Bahamas to join Jean Valjean on the rock pile. Actually they were very polite and friendly and just did a safety check. We passed. Just so the story doesn't get too dull, we did average 8-9 knots in the Gulf Stream (compared to our normal 5-6) and as we approached the Florida Coast at Pa!m Beach In!et their were 25knot winds with rip tides and 6-8footers breaking on the beach and all around the inlet. If not for the courage of the fearless crew the Minnow would he lost. The Minnow would be lost! The Captain (Don via email)

Jean Valjean stole his loaf of bread and did 17 years of hard time. We ran out of bread today. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The bishop and I planned our assault on the beaches of the private island of Cat Cay. One of the homes had ongoing construction so we landed and asked if we could leave our dinghy while we go to the market. "Sure, no problem." This was too easy. We wandered through the golf course when security caught up with us. "You boys live here?" We were doomed. I thought of all sorts of lies, but I was traveling with the bishop. When my $20 bribe failed we slunk back to our boat. Now that I'm a habitual criminal I was not dissaude. I dinghies around the island to a secluded beach. (007 does this all the time.) I then proceeded to wander 4 miles all over this island looking for the grocery. What would 007 do? I asked a maintenance guy on a golf cart where it was. Undoubtedly thinking I was a lost dementia patient, he gave me a lift to t...

Stranded in paradise. Partly Cloudy, 78 and breezy. Pretty tough duty but David and I will survive somehow. Explored our anchorage by dinghy but couldn't find a place to beach our boat on this private island. Since I am already a felon on Culebra (Breaking and e entering: hopped a fence in and out and landed on a private dock so I could pay my $28.24 for a cruising sticker.) I feared a 2nd offense might make me a habitual offender and lead to time in the big house. Also I hesitated to corrupt David given the scandal it might cause. "PETOSKEY BISHOP ARRESTED!" The Captain (Don via email)

Today was the first day of our Norther . Winds blew 15-25 knots out of the north and it was cooler. Since we were on a shallow bank surrounded by a reef, this didn't really bother us much. We had a nice, if long, 74 mile reach and arrived at a beautiful anchorage on Cat Day. However out on the Gulfstream where we are headed next the seas are 15-20 ft. (wind against current) for the next 2 days, so we are stuck here in paradise until Tuesday. By the way, Michigan beat State today, just in case you didn't know. GO BLUE!!! The Captain (Don via email)

February 27 & 28th This was back on Tuesday and Wednesday but the snorkeling was so cool. In Staniel Day we swam in the Thunderball Grotto where 007 defeated SPECTRE. It was an underwater cave with beautiful fish and a stingray. At Exuma National Park I had the best snorkel ever with loads of colorful coral big fish, several turtles. As I swam with the turtles they suddenly got coy and headed for cover. I looked to see why as a 7 foot shark cruised by. This shortened my swim rather abruptly. Yesterday we dropped Ric off in Nassau, then David and I made like mechanics. After changing spark plugs and fuel filter on the dingy motor, we opened the engine compartment to change the oil on BrainWaves. There was black spaghetti all over the engine. The belt had shredded. THE ALTERNATOR STRIKES AGAIN!!! So with a few borrowed tools from helpful boaters we replaced the belt as well as changed the oil, then treated ourselves to a seafood dinner. Today we tried to leave Nassau Harbor but ha...