Waiting on Weather
Chris, Jan, Ray, Jane, Bob: Emmy Kate's Crew
"I am writing this post on Sunday, November 6th the day before we are supposed to start the Caribbean 1500 Rally. There should be 61 boats taking off on Monday at noon to sail from Norfolk, VA either to the Bahamas or to Nanny Cay on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands."
That was how I began this post last weekend, and I set it up with a schedule to appear on the following Friday, November 11th. I assumed we would be halfway to the Caribbean by then. Unfortunately, the weather gods had other plans and a little fellow named TS Sean was born on Monday morning. The organizers of the Caribbean 1500 held a meeting in the parking lot of the Bluewater Marine Center. A large crowd of folk clad in sea boots and colorful foul weather gear assembled at 8:30 a.m. All had been preparing for a noon departure. Rick climbed up on a table and read the weather forecast along with the announcement that the start was officially delayed until Wednesday. On Wednesday came the announcement that the start would be Friday.
The amazing thing is that though we felt ready to go on Monday, we have found things to do on the boat every single day we've had to wait. And we've been eating our way through the provisions I bought, so I've been having to re-buy and re-stow. The good part is that I have been able to sneak away from time to time to do a little bit of work on the book. When I do, though, I feel guilty because everyone else is working on the boat.
The boat we are sailing aboard the Emmy Kate, a 2011 Lagoon 400 with a crew of five including the owners, our captain Jan, crewman Bob and me. As chief cook and bottle washer, I have spent the days working with the owner's wife making lists, shopping, and stowing. It takes a lot of food to feed a crew of five on a 1500 mile passage.
Preparations
One of the fun parts of doing a rally like this is the fact that friends and family at home get to track out position through the Fleet Viewer. Just click on that link and you will see a chart with the location and track of all the boats in the fleet. Hopefully, by the time you read this we will be away from the dock and heading out the bay, at least.
Many folks in the rally submit daily blogs via email either by a modem on the Single Sideband Radio or via satellite phone. The Emmy Kate has tons of very cool gear aboard including a night vision monocular, a joystick for steering, and an Iridium satellite phone. The owner, Ray, has asked me to be the blogger for our boat, so I hope to be submitting daily updates. You will be able to read the blog by going to the World Cruising Clubs Daily Blogs homepage. And though I have high hopes that I will get some work done on my novel while underway, that remains to be seen.
Finally, I've brought my own SPOT along on the trip, and I'll be broadcasting my location as TALESPINNER, although in reality I'm traveling on this big boat with lots of crew and my little Caliber is waiting for me at the New Bern Grand Marina in North Carolina. We're hoping to cover the 1300 to 1500 miles of this trip in about 7-10 days. I have a ticket to fly from St. Thomas to Fort Lauderdale on November 21st and it's possible that I might not make it in time. You'll be able to figure out whether I'll make it or not by watching on the Fleet Viewer. Hopefully, I'll fly to Fort Lauderdale to spend Thanksgiving with my son and then rejoin my own boat some time in December for the cold trip south.
Fair winds!
Christine
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