We reviewed at least 8 weather and wave apps and websites and decided to cross from the eastern edge of Florida's panhandle to the Tampa Bay area. The reason for this crossing is that there isn't any Gulf Intercoastal Waterway in the area. Waves were suppose to be .5 to 2 feet and wind under 10, with up to 14 fora short period during the night. The reason we leave at 4pm from Carrabelle is to get out past the barrier island into the actual gulf in daylight, and then run all night and arrive near Tampa Bay/Clearwater in daylight to see the crab pots for the last 10 miles into the coast. Crab pots marker bouys have ropes that can get into your prop.
Angie
When we got out into the gulf we had 2-3 ft waves and decided to keep going. We were traveling with our friends from Madison WI, and another boat 1 hour in front of us, and another boat 3 hours ahead of us. The sun set and waves continued to build to 3-4-5 feet and winds up to 14 mph, all on our nose. In 5 ft waves at 9 mph we had a pretty wild ride. With our flared bow some of the spray when we hit the larger wave would we higher than the flybridge. Not a drop ever came into our open window in the flybridge. I was hard to get comfortable as the helm chair was moving us around, so sometime we sat on the side seat or I even stood about half of the first 7 hours. The wind and waves dropped to 10 mph and 2-3 about 1am. This felt pretty good compared to the first half of the trip.
Angie slept some below on the sofa and some above later. Angie took the helm for a couple hours (3-5am) during the moon rise and I slept. We commuicated with the other boats every hour during the night. We were behind our friend by 3/8 mile most of the night. We got to our marina in Dunedin, FL about noon. It was a sucessful crossing with to mechanical or boat issues. Only our weather station display fell off the wall in the main cabin.
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| Helm during the night |
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| Pretty happy to calming seas and the sunrise. You can see our friend ahead of us. |
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| Angie's moring nap after taking the helm for a couple hours. |
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Coming into the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway near Dunedin FL |
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Our friends after crossing. The couple on the left did a high speed (20-22 mph) daylight
crossing the day before we came across. |
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Caught my first fish in Florida (mangrove snapper).
I was going to deepwater fish during the crossing but it was too rough. |
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| Angie decorating for Christmas. |
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing. Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
ReplyDelete(Psalms 107:21-31)
A Psalm of thanksgiving after your crossing the gulf.
We had a similar crossing. It was nice until midnight when the wind rose and the waves on our front quarter were 6-7. It was also freezing that night. Glad you made it across. Do you have reservations at Black Fin?
ReplyDeleteYes we do from Jan 15 to March 15. Might adjust it a little thou.
ReplyDeleteWe will take you to see the sights, if you haven't been here before.
ReplyDelete