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Story of Island Time: Part One
Island Time's Story Part One:
The story starts with exerpts from IT's daily log book, found on board.
Island Time, a Tartan 37' sloop, hull # 47 built in 1977, was purchased in Florida by Jon D. in 1997. After a survey and numerous repairs he and a friend flew to Tampa, Florida on Nov 1997 to sail Island Time to Texas.
I cannot help but cringe as I read about their ordeal, in IT's logbook.
After casting off on Nov 18 they ran aground only 250 yards from where they started (tide was going out). Soon IT was on her side, they did a quick inspection of the hull and added a dab of anti-foul here and there, while waiting for the tide to come back in. At high tide IT righted herself and they set out for the ICW(inter-coastal waterway). They stopped at Cabbage Key and spent the night there.
On Nov 19 they set off again, motoring, sailing, ran aground again, powered out. Centerboard would not come up, so they motored up in ICW to Venice. They ran aground again and called a TOW boat which towed IT to a public dock. They spent the night there and Nov 20 cast off again and not wanting to wait to fill the fuel tank, they motored out of Venice outlet. They soon set the sails and all was going well again until the wind dropped and they had to start the motor and after they motorsailed for one hour, the engine died, out of gas! Neverless, they sailed on to Tampa Bay and on Nov 21 sailed across the Bay. They needed diesel badly and called Boat US (on the radio), for assistance and soon the diesel was delivered to them. Talk about courtesy!! Anyway, after bleeding the fuel lines the battery was too low to crank the engine and they asked Boat US for a tow to a marina with a travelift, so that they could check out the problem with the centreboard too. Found out the board's pendulum bracket was broken so they took the centerboard off to be repaired in Texas. As both of them had to be back in Texas to work, Jon then left IT in a marina for 2 weeks.
On Dec 8 they went back to Florida, full of hopes for a problem free cruise to Texas. Alas, the blasted engine would not start and after numerous times bleeding the fuel lines without any success, called a mechanic. Mechanic could only come by in 2 days and to make matters worse the weather turned ugly. I could sense Jon's frustration as I read more and more into the log.
On Dec 10 the mechanic showed up and found lines and filters clogged (I have been there twice, Jon!!) Soon the engine was running, but the weather still stank, so they decided to wait until the next day.
Dec 11, thick fog.......no go......waited one more day.....
Dec 12 Rain in Spain.!!!........Decided to fly back..weather forecasts not good.
Dec 18 Back in Florida..stocked boat up , food, booze etc.....
Dec 19 Set off.... and on Dec 20 arrived at Apalachicola.....log stops here...
April 7 1998- Perido Key left for Petit Bois then on to Gulf Port, New Orleans, left boat in marina. Flew back to Texas.
June 7 1998 Changed oil filter.
June 8 got 85 nm on the log.
June 10 at Intercoastal City.
June 11 crossed Texas State line and got to Port Arthur Yacht club.
July 2 Into Sabine lake, arrived at Stingaree Marina.
July 5 cast off, passed Brazos river lock, barge traffic at Colorado river July 6 arrived Matagorda Bay !!!! and Serendipity at 0330 hrs !!

Bummer!! An 8 month ordeal! If everything had gone right then it would have taken 5 days, I bet! But nothing is ever perfect when it comes to yachts !

You think that's bad ?? Wait till you hear my part when I purchased IT from Jon!

Saturday December 11, 2004
Position at 0600 local (1100 UTC)
20 45 N
81 38 W
Cog 290
Sog 4.5 kt
Wind 5 kt
Wind from the NW
Motorsailing, sailing on a 50 % basis
Total daily run---131 miles
Total distance made good----128 miles
926 miles to Port O'Connor jetties
Need 132 miles a day average---- 7 or 8 days to go
ETA 18th pm or 19th December

With the wind down and batteries low, we motorsailed on and off. It was another terribly hot day and I started up the refrigerator to ice some water for colddrinks.
Late afternoon saw a spectacular perfect vertical waterspout under a single cumulonimbus cloud. I tried to zoom in with my camera to get a clear shot but the boat movements made it impossible. Got some footage anyway. Soon we encountered a squall, the strong winds and rain were brief. The wind died altogether and the seas became flat, so flat I could see the reflection of the stars on the water surface! Last time we encountered such seas were in the Pacific between the equator and the islands of Marquises. Saw my first ship this morning since crossing the busy Windward passage shipping lane.

Island Time's Story Part One:
The story starts with exerpts from IT's daily log book, found on board.
Island Time, a Tartan 37' sloop, hull # 47 built in 1977, was purchased in Florida by Jon D. in 1997. After a survey and numerous repairs he and a friend flew to Tampa, Florida on Nov 1997 to sail Island Time to Texas.
I cannot help but cringe as I read about their ordeal, in IT's logbook.
After casting off on Nov 18 they ran aground only 250 yards from where they started (tide was going out). Soon IT was on her side, they did a quick inspection of the hull and added a dab of anti-foul here and there, while waiting for the tide to come back in. At high tide IT righted herself and they set out for the ICW(inter-coastal waterway). They stopped at Cabbage Key and spent the night there.
On Nov 19 they set off again, motoring, sailing, ran aground again, powered out. Centerboard would not come up, so they motored up in ICW to Venice. They ran aground again and called a TOW boat which towed IT to a public dock. They spent the night there and Nov 20 cast off again and not wanting to wait to fill the fuel tank, they motored out of Venice outlet. They soon set the sails and all was going well again until the wind dropped and they had to start the motor and after they motorsailed for one hour, the engine died, out of gas! Neverless, they sailed on to Tampa Bay and on Nov 21 sailed across the Bay. They needed diesel badly and called Boat US (on the radio), for assistance and soon the diesel was delivered to them. Talk about courtesy!! Anyway, after bleeding the fuel lines the battery was too low to crank the engine and they asked Boat US for a tow to a marina with a travelift, so that they could check out the problem with the centreboard too. Found out the board's pendulum bracket was broken so they took the centerboard off to be repaired in Texas. As both of them had to be back in Texas to work, Jon then left IT in a marina for 2 weeks.
On Dec 8 they went back to Florida, full of hopes for a problem free cruise to Texas. Alas, the blasted engine would not start and after numerous times bleeding the fuel lines without any success, called a mechanic. Mechanic could only come by in 2 days and to make matters worse the weather turned ugly. I could sense Jon's frustration as I read more and more into the log.
On Dec 10 the mechanic showed up and found lines and filters clogged (I have been there twice, Jon!!) Soon the engine was running, but the weather still stank, so they decided to wait until the next day.
Dec 11, thick fog.......no go......waited one more day.....
Dec 12 Rain in Spain.!!!........Decided to fly back..weather forecasts not good.
Dec 18 Back in Florida..stocked boat up , food, booze etc.....
Dec 19 Set off.... and on Dec 20 arrived at Apalachicola.....log stops here...
April 7 1998- Perido Key left for Petit Bois then on to Gulf Port, New Orleans, left boat in marina. Flew back to Texas.
June 7 1998 Changed oil filter.
June 8 got 85 nm on the log.
June 10 at Intercoastal City.
June 11 crossed Texas State line and got to Port Arthur Yacht club.
July 2 Into Sabine lake, arrived at Stingaree Marina.
July 5 cast off, passed Brazos river lock, barge traffic at Colorado river July 6 arrived Matagorda Bay !!!! and Serendipity at 0330 hrs !!

Bummer!! An 8 month ordeal! If everything had gone right then it would have taken 5 days, I bet! But nothing is ever perfect when it comes to yachts !

You think that's bad ?? Wait till you hear my part when I purchased IT from Jon!

Friday December 10, 2004
Position at 1100 hrs UTC
20 01 N
79 27 W
Cog 295
Sog 4.5 kt
Wind 6
Wind from the East
Still Running
Total daily run 124 miles
Distance made good 120 miles
1054 miles to Port O'Connor jetties( as crow flies)
Need now 132 miles a day average .......8 days to go......

Another quiet day for us, no traffic, in fact I have not seen anything except for a pod of dolphins that came to frolic in front of IT's bows at sunset. Water is crystal clear. Wind dwindled down to 5 knots and sometimes we only sailed at 3.9 knots. Stayed up until 0500 hrs UTC, keeping a close watch, then catnapped till early hrs. Spent time typing IT's story which should start appearing on the logs soon. Will also soon add a summary of all the legs sailed, distance, days, average speed etc. Sit back and enjoy, more surprises to
come !!

Thursday December 9, 2004
Well.It is safe to reveal my position again.

Position at 1130 UTC
19 20 N
77 24 W
Cog 290
Sog 6.5 kt
Wind 16 kt
Wind from the east
Running
Total daily run 160 miles
Yesterday day's daily run 114 miles
1174 miles to Port O'Conner jetties(as the crow flies)
Need 130 miles a day average to make it on the 18 th-----9 days to go

I am just 30 miles south of Cabo Cruz, the southerly point of Cuba. I can clearly see the mountain range. Heading now for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. As my weather fax indicates a northerly front approaching, bringing north winds, I am trying to get as north as possible to eliminate too much tacking towards the Gulf of Mexico.
Had a close encounter with a freighter yesterday morning as we crossed the busy shipping lane, the Windward Passage to Panama shipping lane. I counted 7 freighters passing us and one came within 100 meters. We were on a close reach and it came charging at 20 knots plus across our bow. I was actually looking up at the bridge and can you believe it? Nobody on watch!! I got it on video and I must admit it freaked me out. Had a hard time trying to catnap last night as the close encounter just stressed me out. Fortunately no ships have come into a 16 mile radius of us. The winds backed and veered twice yesterday and I have constantly trimmed sails, adjusting the windpilot trying to keep a straight course. It was really hot yesterday and I took a relieving freshwater bath in the cockpit again.
It is really getting nicely cool at night and for the first time since the equator, I draped a sheet over myself!

Wednesday December 8, 2004
We are still in the piracy hotspot and I am withholding our coordinates.
Cog 315
Sog 6.8 kt
Wind 15 kt
Wind from the NNE
On a close reach, starboard tack, double reefed main and full yankee.

Wind went down and soon backed, coming from the ESE. With the yankee poled out we sailed most of the day on a run. Late afternoon wind veered and I jibed the main and we were on a broad reach again. Wind went down as well as the seas. I made use of the calm conditions, catching up my lost sleep. With the radar on 5 minute watchman intervals, it shook me awake at 0200 hrs this morning. A freighter was heading straight my way. I shone my spot light in it's direction and soon it was giving way for us. Passed us at 400 meters.
Went back to sleep and was woken up again. Another freighter coming into the guard zone, but it was bearing at a safe distance. The wind has since died completely and I started the motor. It was not long before the northern winds picked up and I trimmed the sails again. At present the wind has picked up nicely and IT once again is galloping happily along. Three more freighters have passed us on their way towards the Windward Passage between Cuba and Haiti.

Tuesday December 7, 2004
Still witholding coordinates until open waters again.
Cog 295
Sog 6.5 kt
Wind 15 kt
Wind from the East
Still on a broad reach, starboard tack. Double reefed main and reefed yankee.
Total daily run --163 miles

The sea was quite a state yesterday. Crosswells from all points of the compass. Rock and rolling like being inside a Maytag.
Two trawlers passed me again last night. Radar warned me.
At this pace all looks good to be on schedule.
Seas much calmer this morning, have since unfurled the yankee a little more.

Monday December 6, 2004
Position at 0600 local (1100 UTC)
Withholding coordinates as we are in a piracy hotspot. 5 attacks around Haiti
and 4 attacks around Jamaica this year alone.
Cog 280
Sog 7 Kt
Wind 28 kt
Wind from the NE
On a broad reach, starboard tack.
Total daily run---160 miles

With the seas and wind building up, I have since reefed the sails.
A squall hit us late last night with heavy rains.
Soon a trawler passed us too close for comfort and I took action steering away from it. Another trawler at 0200 hrs passed, but at a safe distance.
Did not sleep very well, in fact it feels as though I played a rugby match yesterday. All my muscles are hurting this morning from the rock and rolling. This causes me to knock the senses out of my body against the berth boards. This morning we are still rolling and yawing terribly and the seas are in a state!
Crosswells everywhere, whitehorses breaking into the cockpit. Nevertheless, I am coming on home!

Sunday December 5, 2004
Position at 1100 hrs UTC (0600 local )
16 52 N
67 26 W
Cog 285
Sog 7 kt
Wind 18 kt
Wind from the ENE
On a run to a broad reach.
430 miles to my next waypoint near Jamaica. Will then start the count-down to
Palacios.
Total daily run ----157 miles

Have since reefed the genoa to slow down the yawing.
No drama here. Saw only one yacht in the distance, coming from the SW heading towards the Caribbean Islands.
Sailed all night between a run and a broad reach.
Lightning on SW horizon.
Light rain this morning.
Woke up at midnight, drank some coffee and kept watch until 0400 hrs and then went to catnap again.

15-May-2005   14-May-2005   02-Apr-2005   26-Mar-2005   26-Feb-2005   05-Feb-2005   22-Jan-2005   
15-Jan-2005   08-Jan-2005   01-Jan-2005   25-Dec-2004   18-Dec-2004   11-Dec-2004   04-Dec-2004   
27-Nov-2004   20-Nov-2004   13-Nov-2004   06-Nov-2004   30-Oct-2004   23-Oct-2004   16-Oct-2004   
09-Oct-2004   02-Oct-2004   25-Sep-2004   18-Sep-2004   11-Sep-2004   04-Sep-2004   28-Aug-2004   
21-Aug-2004   14-Aug-2004   07-Aug-2004   31-Jul-2004   24-Jul-2004   17-Jul-2004   10-Jul-2004   
03-Jul-2004   26-Jun-2004   19-Jun-2004   12-Jun-2004   05-Jun-2004   29-May-2004   22-May-2004   
15-May-2004   08-May-2004   01-May-2004   24-Apr-2004   17-Apr-2004   10-Apr-2004   03-Apr-2004   
27-Mar-2004   20-Mar-2004   13-Mar-2004   04-Dec-1999