Few pictures because the wifi is terribly slow to download them and transfer them to the computer from my iphone.
Started my day at 4:30 am applying the Transderm Patch behind my ear to prevent seasickness. It lasts 4 days. Walk Mazu. Left the dock this morning at 9.
Going out of Fisherman's Cut, Miami to the open ocean we were greeted by huge 8' wave walls with 1 second intervals that slammed the boat. At the helm (Drew's below assessing our route to Morehead City) I watched the bow dip under the waves with the water rolling up to the closed dodger and fanning out spectacular white spray on either side. The boat was moving against the waves and wind and puttering/motoring forward with the outgoing tide and current. All hatches closed, the walls of waves keep bashing the sturdy boat.
Our cockpit is fully enclosed with dodger/windshield bimini top and zippered vinyl curtains. We don't get wet. A half mile out we enter the Gulf Stream to give ourselves the extra 2 to 3 knots. But this sunny day we're slapped hard with the 5 swells against us in NNE wind. The all holy weather reports forecasted a SE wind. We never saw it. We take shifts. I never do 2 am to 6 am.
Saturday May 16
9 to 9, out 24 hours with a pretty rocky ride. This is what they call salty sailors sailing. The total trip is 615 miles at sea Miami to Morehead City. We go in there because of the rough seas around Cape Hatteras. I listen to my ipod's entire list setting it to random. No phone, No Internet 84 miles off shore just VHF radio to call nearby boats. We haven't seen any. At the 31st parallel we turn east. Now the rolling swells wash under our starboard side instead of hitting them straight on. It gives a gentler motion enough to stop Mazu from shaking, but she still pants and not enough to put on toenail polish, but enough to allow me to read (Daring - a Gail Sheehy memoir, finished Thomas Harding's Far from he Madding Crowd) and write.
When I watch the water on all sides I start to see different shapes of waves. The triangular pyramid wave is my favorite because the water comes together and at the top a pirohette of white foam spurts out the top in a little dance. The wave must have a name.
Sunday, May 17
Still watching the black and navy blue ovals and lines that paint the surface of the ocean.
84 miles off shore and birds skitter across the water and settle camouflaged between the waves. Once we saw a little migrating bird land on our steering wheel.
Monday, May 18
Back on land at 3:30 after 79 hours out at sea. Mazu is ecstatic. We crash into a slip at Morehead City Yacht Basin. We are terrible going into slips with their high pilings and finger piers dividing the boats. We always use the bow thruster to direct the bow against wind or current and try to line up our boat to back in. Tricky business. I frequently get exasperated and say, "I can't do this." Drew handles the lines to tie and untie at the dock, and I'm at the helm trying to follow directions. Fortunately we've never had any damage to others' boats.
Ate at a fabulous place called Red Fish a short distance away.
Tuesday, May 19
Sunny, 79 degree day we putz up the ICW 35 miles (6 hours) to River Dune Marina, NC - shangri la for us.
As soon as we check in I head for the pool (after walking Mazu). Finally a swim and hot tub. Of course, torrential rains shorten the hot tub. We run to the wide wonderful screened in porch, had a drink and watched the storm. This is a resort with very low slip fees.
Wednesday, May 20
Another short day, 35 miles, 6 hours to Belhaven. Last year like a horror movie May flies coated the boat. We had to put towels over our heads to get inside. It's almost the exact day we were here last year.
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