Catamaron Harmony. More on the trip

This link takes you a Google Earth map of our trip south showing the "check ins" we sent to the wives and a small section of the track where we were doing over 10 knots at times.

Charleston, SC

Click on the title to see us. Use the "satelite" function.
We left Norfolk on Saturday and went outside around Cape Hateras. On the nose for the first night with a bang bang here and a bang bang there.... The waves would go between the hulls and up hitting the underside of the boat and slaming under the table in the salon. Cleared the papers, etc off the table quite quickly. Not a fun night but then it swung around some and we had some pleasant motor sailing. Had some enging problems on Friday night so we hove to and rested for a few hours to regroup just off Cape Fear. I figured it out while asleep and during my 12-3 watch fixed the engine and we were on our way. Winds on the quarter and speeds down the waves up to 11 knots. Got into Charleston about 7PM, after dark trying to find the correct lights among the hunbdreds of distracting lights. Finally a good nights sleep.

FW: Check-in/OK message from LewHill SPOT Messenger

> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 18:45:39 +0000
> From: noreply@findmespot.com
> To: Lew_Hill@hotmail.com
> Subject: Check-in/OK message from LewHill SPOT Messenger
>
> LewHill
> Latitude:36.92223
> Longitude:-76.18909
> GPS location Date/Time:11/06/2009 13:45:54 EST
>
Click the link below to see where I am located. or on the title of this message:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.92223,-76.18909&ll=36.92223,-76.18909&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
> Message:I'm doing fine. Just letting you know where I am.

Catamaran Harmony getting ready for the trip south

Looks like it is all coming together for a departure on Nov.2 or 3 (knock on wood). Harmony is in Norfolk getting new struts fabricated and installed and we have new insurance with Travellers at 1/2 the cost of BoatUS and I have crew as of today. Want to get as far south as possible before I have to fly up for my niece's wedding in Maine. WHEW!
Oh yeah, we got the external track for the main which makes it much easier to hoist and lower. I can even do it with the drill winch handle. Even got new sumbrella for the jib leech. Although it is 2 weeks until we take off, "on the road again" keeps running through my head. Can't wait.

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Message on trip from Keyport to Norfolk

Click on the link above to see a map of our location

Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 19:55:49

I'm doing fine. Just letting you know where I am.

Latitude:38.3677
Longitude:-74.8785

Nearest Location:Ocean City, MD
Distance:17 miles west of us

Our terrible summer

It has been one stinking summer. I have spent most of it sleeping with very little energy. I think this email from Florrie says it all.

Yesterday we went to Dr. E, the eye doctor who did the original cataract surgery. It is the first time he's seen Lew since the ER on July 16th. He said that Lew's eye is looking really good and he scheduled tentative dates when Lew can have the last surgery. Actually there will be a second one to take out the stitches. Now we have to wait for Dr. U, the retinologist, to say it is ok. Lew sees him on Monday. It looks like Lew will have the last surgery on either the 9th or the 16th of Sept. That is the good news.

The not-so-good news is that, because the third surgery is more invasive than the others (thanks to "issues" with Lew's eye), it will take ANOTHER 8 weeks to heal! That means we won't be able to move the boat south before November 4th at the earliest. I can't begin to list the ways this scrambles our "plans" for the fall. All we can do is take one little step at a time, fixing what doesn't require lifting of anything more than 30 lbs. We may be going down the ICW in the cold, behind the boaters' "migration" that will start from Norfolk on Nov 4th or so.

By the way - Lew's right eye also needs cataract surgery! But we can't do anything about that until this one is all healed, of course!

This has NOT been the summer we planned!!!! >:{

Hugs,
Florrie

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Changes to Florida Anchoring law

 

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Thought this info (below and printable version attached) from BoatUS might be of interest to you.

Bess and Bill

 

 

Achoring Information

for Florida Cruisers

For several years, certain local cities and counties in Florida have been restricting the length of time that

boats are allowed to anchor. Legislative changes were made recently to Florida statute Chapter 327 which

should increase the boater's ability to anchor within Florida. Some changes take effect July 1, 2009, and

others on October 1, 2009.

Unfortunately, many local law enforcement personnel appear to be unaware of the changes.

Boaters continue to be told by some officials that they are subject to anchoring limits.

Below is a summary of the anchoring portions of the law with citations.

We recommend that boaters carry this sheet with them when cruising in Florida.

Courtesy of Boat Owners Association of The United States

What is a live-aboard vessel?

The definition of "live-aboard vessel" has been changed, effective 7/1/09. Active cruisers who live on their boats

with no permanent residence on land are no longer considered live-aboards and, therefore, their anchoring

cannot be regulated by local governments. It is no longer relevant that the vessel is a boater's "legal residence";

that term has been removed from the statute.

(from Chapter 2009-86, section 6)

327.02 Definitions of terms used in this chapter and in chapter 328.—As used in this chapter and in chapter 328,

unless the context clearly requires a different meaning, the term:

(17)"Live-aboard vessel" means:

a) Any vessel used solely as a residence and not for navigation;

b) Any vessel represented as a place of business, or a professional or other commercial enterprise; or

c) Any vessel for which a declaration of domicile has been filed pursuant to s. 222.17.

Can my anchoring be restricted by local governments?

Under state law, boaters who use their boats for navigation (even if only occasionally) will not have their anchoring

restricted by a local city or county outside of permitted mooring fields. Cities and counties will be expressly forbidden

to "enact, continue in effect, or enforce any ordinance or local regulation … regulating the anchoring

of vessels other than live-aboard vessels outside the marked boundaries of mooring fields."

Although local governments are allowed to regulate anchoring within the marked boundaries of properly permitted

mooring fields, there are currently a few such locations. These are Key West Mooring Field (149 moorings);

Ft. Myers Beach Mooring Field (70 moorings); Fernandina Beach Municipal Mooring Field (20 moorings);

Miami — Dinner Key Mooring Field (still under construction).

(Existing FL law) 327.60 Local regulations; limitations —

(2) Nothing contained in the provisions of this section shall be construed to prohibit local governmental authorities from

the enactment or enforcement of regulations which prohibit or restrict the mooring or anchoring of floating structures or

live-aboard vessels within their jurisdictions or of any vessels within the marked boundaries of mooring fields permitted as

provided in s. 327.40. However, local governmental authorities are prohibited from regulating the anchoring outside of

such mooring fields of non-live-aboard vessels in navigation.

(Effective 10/1/09) (from Chapter 2009-86, section 14)

(3) However, local governmental authorities are prohibited from regulating the anchoring outside of such mooring fields

of vessels other than live-aboard vessels as defined in s. 327.02.

What about the new mooring field pilot studies?

Over the next few years, the state will work in 5 geographic areas (two each on the Atlantic Coast and Gulf Coasts,

and one in the Keys) to test new anchoring and mooring concepts with both live-aboard and non-live-aboard

boats. They want to promote more mooring fields and public access to Florida waters, and to deter improperly

stored boats. Cities or counties in this program may regulate by ordinance the anchoring of all vessels outside of a

mooring field. However, this ordinance may only take effect after significant input from stakeholders and approval

from the state FWC. Any ordinances passed and the pilot program itself expire on 7/1/14.

The pilot program will be fully implemented over the next two years. No city or county has been accepted into

the pilot program – the application period has not even opened yet. It will take several months before the first

location for this program is selected and more time after that for an ordinance to be developed and approved.

As these locations are chosen, we encourage local boaters and boating groups to join the public stakeholder process

and help the cities or counties develop reasonable programs for locals and transient boaters. As of now, there

are NO enforceable anchoring ordinances outside the marked boundaries of mooring fields anywhere in Florida.

(from Chapter 2009-86, Laws of Florida)

Section 48. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in consultation with the Department of Environmental

Protection, is directed to establish a pilot program to explore potential options for regulating the anchoring or mooring

of non-live-aboard vessels outside the marked boundaries of public mooring fields….

What about boating restricted areas?

As of 10/1/09, local governments will only be allowed to create "boating restricted areas" (including but not limited

to restriction of vessel speeds or restriction of boating traffic) for public safety reasons. They must be approved

by FWC and the USCG before they are enacted and can only be put in certain areas. Until a uniform waterway

marker is placed in the water, the area may not be enforced.

These areas may include boating restricted areas located:

• Within 500 feet of any boat ramp, hoist, marine railway, or other launching or landing facility;

• Within 500 feet of marine fuel pumps;

• Inside 300 feet of any lock structure;

• Within 300 feet of any bridge fender system or a bridge span;

• Where vessel traffic presents problems of congestion or vessel safety.

(from Chapter 2009-86, section 13) 327.46 Boating-restricted areas.

(1) Boating-restricted areas, including, but not limited to, restrictions of vessel speeds and vessel traffic, may be established

on the water of this state for any purpose necessary to protect the safety of the public if such restrictions are

necessary based on boating accidents, visibility, hazardous currents or water levels, vessel traffic congestion, or other

navigation hazards…..

The 2008 version of Florida law may be read online at:

http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0327/titl0327.htm

Please note that the compiled Florida Statutes, which will include these changes will not be available until this

fall. For a copy of Chapter 2009-86, law of Florida (house bill 1423) as signed into law and filed with the Florida

Department of State on May 27, 2009, go to: http://laws.flrules.org/files/Ch_2009-086.pdf

Reviewed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, July 2009

The Nation's Leading Advocate for Recreational Boaters www.BoatUS.com

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Boat Insurance

I have been investigating the wonderful world of boat insurance. (Click on the title above and see an excellent resource from Blue Water Sailing magazine listing many.) Some of the insurances make no sense to me. Two of them will cover you in a hurricane in Cuba or off Cape Hatteras in August but not in most of the Bahamas in February. One defines "coastal" as anything offshore without touching another country. Going to Europe is fine until you enter a country there. Many have restrictions as if hurricanes never get above the Florida/Georgia border. So far, for the same coverage, most of them have been around $1600 plus or minus a little except for Boat US which is almost double. I have yet to find any which will simply insure me in the Bahamas for 6 months.

Spot Messenger

I just got the Spot (findmespot.com) which allows you to "check in (with lat and long), call for help but not an emergency, call for 911 with geostat to the emergency responders anywhere in the world including the Coast Guard. It connects through satellites and sends an email for checkins and can track progress over 24 hour periods. Right now there is a 100% REBATE of the purchase price. See their site for details.

We went to visit Melissa and Jeff yesterday. Click on the title above to see what Spot sent us. Zoom on the area near the Green Arrow (our lat and long) to see a street level shot of their house.

Cuba

We got all excited about the "opening" of Cuba until I checked it out.
According to the US State Dept.(click link above):
"In addition to the appropriate general or specific license, persons seeking to travel to Cuba, via aircraft or vessel, must obtain a temporary sojourn license from the Department of Commerce. Temporary sojourn licenses are not available for pleasure boaters. Additional information is available from the U.S. Department of Commerce at http://www.bis.doc.gov/. Pursuant to an Executive Order issued after the 1996 shoot-down incident, boaters departing south Florida ports with the intention of entering Cuban territorial waters also must obtain permission in advance from the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. Coast Guard provides automated information at 1-800-582-5943."

FW: Yesterday

Lew & I worked on the boat Friday. Today I'm doing things at home.
I never get as much done as I'd like when I think of things in the AM. However, I did take a walk of a little over a mile and I will be going to exercise class in about an hour. I guess that is good enough.

We had a fabulous time yesterday afternoon with Jim & his two women. Riley is 4.5 and such a hoot!!! We all went over to the boat for a little while. Yesterday I spent about 10 minutes finishing up one small project there then enjoyed Sarah & Riley. Then us girls left the guys there with Jimmy being hauled up the mast to retrieve part of the torn jib. It made for entertaining photos but what a lot of work!
When all that was done, we enjoyed dinner and cake here in honor of Jim's 38th birthday last week. It was a great day!

Thought you'd like these pictures.

Abacos video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXGgF3H4yGY&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=2554BD1E2A9C655E

This is a short utube video of the Abacos

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FW: For the Blog?

What Capt Lew does on his days "off".

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RE: arrived home

Em,

      After you left, the fog came in so we decided to stay another night at Annapolis.  The next morning was rainy but no fog so we left.  We motored up the Chesapeake and, when we got a little wind, I put up the jib.  It soon ripped at the attachment to the halyard.  Luckily, I was able to furl it, as it had started to slip down.  Now it is stuck and won't come down or up or out.  It unfurls a little then won't budge.  Time to climb the mast.  Anyway, we got as far as Summit North Marine...1/2 way through the C&D Canal...for the night.  Off again early the next morning to catch the tides.  While going down the Delaware River, I got several weather reports which suggested that we go directly home rather than do an overnight the following night.  We rounded Cape May with two other boats.  They went into Cape May and we kept going.  Scattered showers and cold accompanied us but no thunderstorms and no high wind (we had a reefed main up for the night just in case).    We got to Keyport about 3 the next afternoon (20 hours from Cape May) to find that the launch service hadn't started yet.  Brought the boat to the dock and offloaded into Florrie's car.  Took a rowboat behind us to the mooring, found that the chain painter was not installed yet so we made up a bridal, and rowed back to the dock.  Came home and spent an awful long time in a hot shower.  I guess there are certain advantages to a home on land.  

  Florrie left at 6 AM the next day for Maine and I slept most of the next day.  Now the sun is out...not in our Delaware forecasts at all.  I am putting off going back out to the boat for a few days. 

  Oh, I almost forgot.   The refrigeration has been working really well since we are in colder waters.  
Lew
S/V Harmony
http://CatamaranHarmony.blogspot.com

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From: mcgrawp@nb.sympatico.ca
To: lew_hill@hotmail.com
Subject: arrived home
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 21:57:13 -0300

Hi Lew

,Just arrived home everything OK, wondering how you guys are doing and your progress?

 

 

Emery

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Norfolk to Charleston

Click on the title to see us. Use the "satelite" function.
We left Norfolk on Saturday and went outside around Cape Hateras. On the nose for the first night with a bang bang here and a bang bang there.... The waves would go between the hulls and up hitting the underside of the boat and slaming under the table in the salon. Cleared the papers, etc off the table quite quickly. Not a fun night but then it swung around some and we had some pleasant motor sailing. Had some enging problems on Friday night so we hove to and rested for a few hours to regroup just off Cape Fear. I figured it out while asleep and during my 12-3 watch fixed the engine and we were on our way. Winds on the quarter and speeds down the waves up to 11 knots. Got into Charleston about 7PM, after dark trying to find the correct lights among the hunbdreds of distracting lights. Finally a good nights sleep.

Look what we missed by going outside

SC: Myrtle Beach - ICW Closure - Mile 347.3 to Mile 365.4


Due to the wildfires we reported on earlier this morning, the Coast Guard is shutting down the ICW between Miles 347.3 and 365.4.

The Captain of the Port of Charleston is establishing a Safety Zone between the U.S. Highway 501 Bridge (Mile 365.4, 65-foot fixed vertical clearance) and the Little River Swing Bridge (Mile 347.3, 7-foot closed vertical clearance).

No vessels my enter this area without permission of the Captain of the Port of Charleston, but vessels already on the water are allowed to exit this zone.

We will publish more updates as they become available.


Gary Reich, Managing Editor

catamaran Harmony update

When last we left our intrepid adventurers they were at anchor at Treasure Cay, Abacos, Bahamas. They moved onto a dock at the marina to stage the next event. That night a thundersotrm came through with the most spactacular display of lightning ever seen. This lasted for about an hour. The boats still at anchor did a few deck dances with boats dragging and resetting anchors in the middle of the night. We slept soundly at the dock. The next day we got supplies and had our last Grouper sandwiches. Florrie left the next morning as did Patty McGraw so Emery McGraw joined me to bring Harmony home. We left on Thursday and motor sailed 5 hours to Allan/Pensicola Cays where we found a totally deserted island with a large anchorage protected from the north. That night we did the deck dance as our anchor dragged. Nextg morning we sailed to Great Sail Cay with anothe large anchorage. Lots of people there going different places in Florida. We left about 7AM and went along the northern banks. While on the way we joined two other boats: Kokamo and Los Gatos, also cats who were going where we were going...Cape Canaveral. We left the banks about 7PM and headed across for the Gulf Stream. Seas were confused with NE and SE Rollers. About midnight, we were in the GulF Stream when the wind swung to the South and built to 25knots. At one point we were surfing down the small (2 to 3 feet) at 13 knots. For those who don't know boats, that is really moving...our cruising speed is about 7. We brought in the jib and slowed ourselves down. When I came on watch, the wind had died and we were down to below 4 knots. We motor sailed into Cape Canaveral where we went to a dock for $10, I called custome and checked in, Emery got a cab and check himself into the country/ He is a Canadian so he couldn't use the Boater's Option (a must for all US cruisers leaving and entering from Florida. After getting checked in and becoming legal, we motored across the lock to the Indian River and up to Titusville before the thunderstorm came thrugh. Just befor it hit, we anchored on the South side of the Titusville Bridge and decided not to push any farther. So we are hear for the night with stuffed Spanish Mackeral (caught yesterday)for dinner. Gotta eat something with our dark and stormies (rum and ginger beer) then quick to bed cause I only got 3 hours sleep last night.

An Urgent Message from Theresa and Rai

Rai and Theresa,
   Thanks for your concern.  My wife will be flying back on Thursday and I will be joined by a friend who is an excellent sailor for the trip north.  It looks like a front will pass over us Thursday night and there will be a weather window on Friday afternoon (at least that is what 3 out of 4 weather models predict).  If so we will go across the banks between Treasure Cay to a spot (Memory Rock) about 15 miles north of West End, Abacos and ride the Gulf Stream as far north as possible.  Sat and Sun are predicted to be mild winds from the right direction so we will continues sailing until it looks like we should get into port for a frontal passage.  Once we are within 8 miles of shore, we will have internet for weather.  Within 20 miles, or so, we can pick up the NOAA weather predictions. 
  All these places can be found on Google Earth, if you have it.  If not they are probably on Mapquest.
  If you want to see the kind of weather information we rely on check out  http://weatherpassage.com , http://weatherunderground.com or Http://NOAA.gov.  In addition, we have XM radio and can get the local weather reports from all the major cities in the US and we can listen to Chris Parker (4045), weather guru and Herb (12359) on the Single Sideband (short wave)radio. Both of them provide weather information for cruisers.  We will also check in daily with the Cruisheimers net on the SSB (6227). In case anyone else is worried, I am putting a copy of this email on the blog.
Lew
S/V Harmony

Dragging the anchor

So there we were...(this is the way boaters start a story)...talking with some friends on their boat at the dock when Gary, whom we had met two days ago, saw me and called: "Lew, your boat is dragging." The boat was out in the anchor field. He assured me that two other boats had dinghyed over and had reset the anchor. (A really good reason to have the motor controls in the cockpit) Anyway, we called on the VHF and all was ok so we got some ice and left for the boat. We thanked the other boats while a very large turtle swam around us, and checked the anchor. They had reset one anchor and set a second which had been accessible on the deck. Then along came Siggi 2, a trawler that we haven't seen since the Dismal Canal in Virginia. They recognized our boat and are now anchored nearby. We are all getting together later this afternoon for cocktails on Harmony. Such is the way of cruisers.

A day out on Catamaran Harmony.

Today we went for a dinghy ride about two miles south to a small cove. While there we fished for Grunts...got about a dozen for dinner..and watched the hammerhead sharks and rays. Went ashore to clean the fish and back for a nap. It is a tough life.

Great Guana to Treasure Cay

It was Friday and the first front had come and gone.  We went up to the dock for fuel and water and then went off to Great Guana (home of Nippers beach bar) for Saturday and Sunday lunch.  Brown tip was playing at Grabbers. We left and went to the dock at Treasure Cay to sit out another frontal boundry.  It came on Monday night.  First the wind came out of the South at 30+knots.  Then, about 3AM it switched to the West with rain.  It is now 10 to 15 degrees colder with the wind still out of the West at 30.  AND, we are in one of the most protected harbors in the Abacos.

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Harmony in Marsh Harbour

We are at anchor in Marsh Harbour waiting for another front to come through. Here it is blowing 5 to 10. Outside the harbor it is 20 to 25.
Shelling at Tahati Beach.
Tahiti Beach on Elbow Cay.