Peaceful Easy Cruise Texas to New England

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Peaceful Easy Cruise Texas to New England Back
- 2006
Green Flashes, Manatees, Waterspouts, NOAA
Weather, and Other Mythical Stuff
WYC Education Seminar 930 to 1130 1
0 Feb. 2007 Members Room Waterford Harbor Marina
If you would like a copy of this presentation
visit www.globaldeliveryservice.com/contact.htm
and request.
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2006 Cruise Flag

• Steve Ramage - Paducah, KY
• Dennis Kelly - Lees Summit, MO
• Curt Cook Moreland Hills, OH
• Dan Beauline, Toronto, CA
• Rich Murphy, Groton, CT
• George Harth, Norwich, CT

• Ken Suddick Detroit, MI
• Mike Murray Fernandina Beach, FL
• Roger Goodfellow, Woodlands, TX
• Curt Nichols, Woodlands, TX
• Bob Fox, Clearwater, FL
• John Della DeWitt

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Seminar Outline

• Cruise Overview - John
• Preparation - Getting the Dream Underway - John
  Della
  
• Cruise to New England Ports Along the Way -
  John
  
• Cruise back to Texas Ports Along the Way -
  John
  
• His Lessons Learned - John
• Her Lessons Learned - Della
• Crew Lessons Learned - Roger
• 2007 Cruise Schedule - John
• Question and Answer - All

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Cruise Overview

• Overview of the Cruise
• Seabrook, TX to Groton, CT 18 May to 25 June
  2006
  
• Groton, CT to Seabrook, TX 9 Oct. - 19 Nov. 2006
• 4931 Nautical Miles
• Offshore Most of the Cruise ICW to Bypass Cape
  Hatteras
  
• Crew Size 3 to 4 total

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Preparation - Getting the Dream Underway

• Vessel Prep
• Best prep is frequent use
• Dont wait until she is 100
• Four page to-do checklist
• Murphy lives on boats
• Personal Prep
• Mail
• Medications
• Medical and Eye Appts.
• Banking and Bills

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Preparation - Continued

• Communications
• Keeping in touch was critical.
• Researched several options
• How we did it
• Cell phone antenna and amplifier
• Air card for the lap top
• About 40 of marinas yacht clubs we visited had
  public access wireless systems.
  
• Used Sat Phone when not in cell phone range.
  Used it very little.
  
• To keep our friends on shore updated we used a
  web page where I posted a log of our trip and
  updated it frequently with our progress and
  photos. www.globaldeliveryservice.com/PEF.htm

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Preparation - Continued

• Safety
• Weather Service
• Equipment
• 4-person, offshore life raft
• EPIRB
• SSB
• Sat Phone
• VHF with DSC, Fog Horn and Hailer
• Radar
• Chart Plotter x 2 (onboard Raymarine laptop
  with USB GPS antenna)
  
• Offshore Medical Kit
• Night Vision Goggles
• Crew Briefs and Orientation

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Preparation - Continued

• Safety Continued
• Ditch Bag
• Stowed in ditch bag
• First aid kit
• 4 days rations
• Can Opener
• Heavy duty disposable flatware/cups/plates
• 4 days water
• Flashlight
• Small spot light
• Flares
• Binoculars
• Strobe light
• Kite
• Inflatable distress flag
• Hand-held VHF in waterproof case
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Extra batteries in waterproof container
• Ziplocs

• Grab as you go
• EPIRB
• Sat Phone
• Hand held GPS
• Water Container
• Launch dinghy - if you have time

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Preparation - Continued

• Route Planning
• Used Maptech
• Did the major point to point plot and then
  reviewed the course line in detail
  
• Planned duck-out points
• Planned Week-Long Segments
• We would sail for 3 to 4 days and then layover
  for 3 or 4 days.
  
• During layovers we would drop off or pick up
  crew do boat chores maintenance visit the
  local area to include the West Marine stay in
  touch with family, friends and business.
• If we had a good weather window and did not need
  to wait for crew we departed early to keep slack
  in the schedule.
  
• Did Sailing on a Schedule Work?

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Preparation - Continued

• Provisioning
• Provisioning is an art
• Simplicity is key
• One Pot Meals
• Snacks are Important
• Prepare and Stow to Build in Cockpit
• Have a Backup
• Dont Depend on Microwave Foods
• Have a Rough Weather Meal in Mind

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Provisioning List
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Provisioning List - Continued
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Provisioning List - Continued
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Cruise to New England 2006Departed LYC on 17 May
and Arrived in Groton, CT 25 JuneTotal Distance
2507 nm.
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Cruise to New England - Continued
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Cruise Back to Texas 2006Departed Groton, CT on
9 Oct. and Arrived in Seabrook, TX 19 Nov.Total
Distance 2424 nm.
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Cruise Back to Texas - Continued
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His Lessons Learned

• NOAA Weather more often wrong than right
• Tow Boat US great source of local knowledge
• Crew Orientation -- do a better job
• Not relaxing but one hell of a trip
• Bicycles great to explore
• Rental Car -- cheaper than taxis
• Getting a good 5 or 6 day window across the Gulf
  of Mexico near impossible in Nov.
  
• Reserve marina space in advance
• 30 to 40 minutes to get Sat Phone signal.
• I dont have a sailboat I have a 7 knot trawler
  with a mast.
  
• Summer weather in New England is great
• Learn how to use the Single Side Band

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Her Lessons Learned

• A novices first time offshore overnight
• Dealing with the sleep monster
• Cruising is serious business
• Your first line of defense is you, your boat and
  crew dont count on the USCG

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Crew Lessons Learned

• What to Bring
• One Duffle Maximum
• Foul Weather Gear
• Life Vest/Harness, Whistle, Strobe Light
• Gloves
• Small Flash Light
• Multi Tool
• Minimum Clothes Packed in Zip Lock Bags
• Snacks, Coffee Singles
• Cup for Coffee, Cold Drinks etc.
• Deck Shoes and Sandal
• Sunglasses and Strap

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Crew Lessons Learned - Continued

• What to Bring Continued
• Hat, and Tie Down
• Cash, Credit Card, Passport
• Cell Phone
• Note Pad Pen
• Shaving Gear, etc
• Medications Needed
• Small towell
• Bed Sheet
• Book, Book Light
• What Not to Bring
• GPS, VHF, Extra Clothes Just in Case

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Crew Lessons Learned - Continued

• Be on Time
• Be Flexible Do not Expect Port or Arrival Time
  to be as Scheduled
  
• Expect There to be 30 Knots of Wind and 4 to 6
  Foot Seas Offshore
  
• Keep a Log
• Be Early for Your Watches
• Take Your Turn Cleaning up Head, Galley, Deck,
  etc
  

• Pick up After Yourself
• Roll With the Punches Deal with the Weather,
  Heat/Cold, No Wind Stress at Sea
  
• Get Along with the Crew Seven Days Even on a 45
  ft. Boat is a Long Time. There is no Where to
  Go
  
• Have a Great Adventure.

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Seabrook, TX to Pensacola, FL17 to 10 May 471
nm. 3.3 to 2.8 days UnderwayDodge the Oil Rigs
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Pensacola to Marathon, FL24 to 27 May 483 nm.
3.3 to 2.9 days UnderwayGreen Flash Country
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Marathon to Fernandina Beach, FL31 May to 3 June
425 nm. 2.5 to 2.2 days UnderwayRide the
Gulf Stream
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Fernandina Beach, FL to Beaufort, NC7 to 10 June
352 nm. 2.4 to 2 Days Ride the Gulf Stream
Some More
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Beaufort, NC to Norfolk, VA14 to 17 June 249
nm. 3.5 to 3 Days via ICW Daylight OnlyBypass
Graveyard of the Atlantic Cape Hatteras
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Norfolk, VA to Groton, CT21 to 24 June 362 nm.
2.5 to 2 DaysWhale Watch
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Question and Answer How do You Get a 64.5 ft.
Boat Under a 64 ft. Bridge