Lorenzo & Delois Johnson

I am ready to go back to the boat!!!  We have had a great Christmas, visiting friends and family and enjoying the Grandkids.  However, life is much better on the boat.

I drove to Florida on New Years Day to visit the boat.  Lil’ David was exactly like we left Him; everything was fine.  I changed oil, repaired a broken teak handrail, and some other ninor maintenance items while I was there.  I also took a carload of THINGS back with me, making it easier when we return at the end of the month.

The staff at the Dockside Marina is very good.  They are great people, and they really take a personal interest in the care and well being of Your boat while it is in their care.  We could not have found a better place to leave Lil’ David for this extended period. We really appreciate their help.

Robert and Kay Creech on C-Life along with Louis and Dianne on Bellaluna arrived in Carrabelle while I was there.  They had a good weather window for the Gulf Crossing to Steinhatchee on the following day.  They left the next morning, even though there was lots of fog on the water.  They had a small weather window, but conditions would not be acceptable for travel again for at least 8 to 10 days, with no gurantee that it would be any better then than the conditions they have now.  I talked with Robert later, and He said they had a good crossing, even though it was not very smooth.

We are watching the weather patterns in the Florida Panhandle now to help us to make good decisions when it is our turn to make the crossing.  We have two options; A 161 mile crossing directly across the Gulf to Tarpon Springs, or a series of three 80 mile trips around the rim of the Gulf Panhandle.  The first leg is from Carrabelle to Steinhatchee; the second leg is from Steinhatchee to Cedar Key, and the third leg is from Cedar Key to Tarpon Springs. 

The rim route has several disadvantages:

1.  It is longer

2.  A longer weather window is needed

3.  The waters entering the ports are very shallow.  Our 5′ draft will be challenging.  We will need to wait and follow a local boat into the harbors in order to reduce the risk of damage to propellers and running gear.

4.  The ports do not offer a lot in the way of entertainment, and this is especially important if You have to spend a long time there waiting on the weather.

The rim route allows smoother travel when the seas are rough,  because the prevailing winds will be on the stern.  The Rim route avoids the overnight travel issue, but it creates three very full days, with each day having very little time margin to avoid port entry after dark.  

The direct route will put the prevailing winds on the beam, making the ride uncomfortable if the seas increase.  The distance requires an overnight trip, since entering and leaving the harbors must be done in daylight to avoid the fish and crab traps.  One other advantage to the overnight crossing is that the winds are generally lower at night.

Another option is to leave Carrabelle early in the mornng, travel until dark, and then find a place to anchor for the night continuing the trip the following day.  It is fairly easy to find locations in the Gulf with 30 to 50 feet depth.  This not only makes anchoring easier, but also provides added protection from the large ships.

We really regret that Gary and Judy on Gilraker will not be with us for the remainder of the trip.  We have really been blessed to have had their company.  We left Holden Beach together, and We had plans to return together.  There may be a way….?