Launched

2/16/16 At Tiger Point Marina

Ibis - immature and adult on Egan's Creek

It blew like crazy in the middle of the night when the latest cold front went through.  With the mast and sails up, we shuddered and shook in the cradle, neither of us getting up to check the wind speed, but both agreed it was in the 30's.  This was verified by our neighbor from New Hampshire, a Hylas 47, who was hauled yesterday and in a nearby cradle.  He was surprised how it felt since we're in 'hurricane cradles' - they didn't have the sails on as  added windage - don't want to think how it would feel in a hurricane.  It rained a bit as well which helped wash some of the dirt from the decks.

About 0900 we started the launch process.  First the transporter picked up the cradle and boat to make it accessible for the travel lift, then it's off to the launch dock.  Since the current really runs here, launches usually take place at slack water on either tide.  We had low tide - not a problem with our less than 5' draft.  What was a problem was the wind.  The forecast was for 10-15 but we had 15-20 with gusts.  The tricky part was easing the boat out of the slings and slot and onto the adjacent dock - a 90 degree cross wind turn.  The last thing Bill (or we) wanted was to scrape the hull on one of the pilings and messing up the new paint job.  It was a bit touch and go, but with the help of the full yard crew, we got tied up without touching the pilings.  Bill was impressed with our snazzy fender covers, visible on the deck, especially when he learned we'd made them Sunday to meet his launch requirement.  The whole process would have been much easier without the gusty wind.

Launch - we're eventually tied up at the dock to the right of the pilings,
a long way down at high tide!

Much of the day was spent cleaning and polishing the decks and cockpit cushions.  The job would have been easier if we could have used boat soap which seems to help suspend the dirt once it's been scrubbed loose, however it may also loosen our vinyl name until it's cured.  By mid afternoon the boat was looking respectable.  At least we had a warm, sunny day so the inevitable getting wet in the cleaning process was tolerable (our roll up hose is like a soaker, with pin holes spraying geysers of water from various spots, convenient for storage but not otherwise the most useful hose).

A green heron watching us clean and polish

With those chores done, it was time to take a closer look at tides and conditions for heading on our way.  The weather for the rest of the week looks great, tides more so-so, with low tide mid day.  Since we aren't in a great rush and have the car until 1100, we'll depart just after low tide, with time to do laundry and last minute provisions before turning in the car.  We'd need to leave at first light to run offshore to St. Augustine, about 60NM by the time the distance of the inlets are added, before dark, so we'll putter along on a rising tide (needed at Nassau Inlet just S of here) and stop shy of the St. Johns River for the night by Ft. St. George.  We can go outside in the morning and arrive at the St. Augustine Inlet with enough daylight to continue on our way if the conditions look good, or stay on the ICW.  

At this point, we don't plan to stop at St. Augustine.  It's an interesting place, but it's been irritating in the past to hear and feel the hard buoy bump along the hull when the current switches, something we don't want on the freshly painted hull  (maybe we could design and market 'mooring ball covers'...).  It's a down side to the convenience of picking up a mooring when strong currents are an issue.

Lynnea