Calling you guys out!

Ok,

I need some help here.

I need someone (Dave, Craigr, Troy, or Vinkman) to tell the "O'Malley" the Irish Taxi driver story

I need someone (Candy, Craigr, Troy) to tell the "Rawhide" - Sea Camp Story, or the 6 intelligent men story

Any other stories would be appreciated Greatly!

Vinnie

Vinkman Down

We had just finished snorkeling and the sun was setting off of Salt Island. Captain Don decided that he wanted more night life. He thought that Salt Island would be boring for the group so with almost no sun left in the day we decided to head to Norman Island. The "Caves" were there for adventure tomorrow, and maybe there would be some night life

As we got closer, night was falling. We pulled in just in time to find a mooring and discover the "Willie T". After grilling out and enjoying dinner, the group decided to clean up and head over to the Willie T for entertainment. The "Willie T" is a boat anchored in the harbor that operates as a pub and grub. When we first got there the night life was a little slow. We thought that we were in for a sleeper. However as the night wore on, more of the crew members from the fleet in the bay began to arrive. Next thing we know, the music is cranking and the back deck becomes a dance floor.

Now imagine this. The deck is not flat, as it is toward the back of the ship and angles up at about 15 degrees. It is the ship's "Poop" deck - for lack of a better description. By this time, the group has been steadily drinking for hours. Vinkman is "rockin'" he is jumping up and down in our little "mosh" pit. Next think we know, DOWN goes Vink. He slipped on the angled deck, probably due to all the spilled drinks that were running toward the bar. No worse for wear.

Next morning we all admired his "deck rash".

If you ever get to Norman Island, don't skip a trip to the "Willie T" Lots of good memories!

CAN DO attitude taken to the EXTREME!

It was to be our first trip to the Bahama's. We had chartered a Hunter passage from Florida Yacht Charters. The charter company told us the night before (when we arrived) that the weather was looking rough for our first day, and they would not allow us to cross if the winds were over 20 knots. We got up in the morning, went through the dreaded "Check out" on the boat, and checked the weather. The wind was 19 knots. Captain Don was very specific when he talked to the charter company "it is 19 knot winds, that is less than 20." They relented, but not until after they informed us about a German gentleman that was driven by his schedule. He sailed regardless of the weather, anchored out one night in the Bahama's and was washed up onto the reef. Lost the whole boat. Specifically because he HAD to make his destinations according to schedule. (there was a moral in this story, but it was conveniently ignored by Captain Don - another man of German decent ;)

We headed out of Miami East toward Bimini. As we started, the sun was out, and the entire crew was basking in the sun. The waves were about 10 -12 footers. The boat was riding rather nicely in the seas. As the day wore on, the weather blew in. As the front rolled past, the clouds came in. It grew very dark grey. The wind picked up - averaging about 25 knots actual (a little over 30 kts apparent). We reefed the main sail, and rolled in the Genoa to roughly a king size blanket. Slowly but surly the crew disappeared below to hide. The seas grew to about 20 - 25 footers. You would lose sight of the horizon as you dropped into the troughs. Just walls of waves on either quarter. To add to the fun, the seas were confused due to the change in wind direction from the front that rolled in. This would provide rogue waves every so often as the two waves combined and multiplied their height.

I was in full weather gear. Actually having a really good time. I felt like Luitentant Dan in "Forest Gump". I was hootin' and hollerin'. I felt very secure as the boat was handling the seas fantastically. Just enough sail to have strong control of the helm, but not too much so as to create weather helm. It was a solid boat, and felt very secure. Winged keels really help stabilize a boat in serious weather.

My sister and her friend Laurie came out to join me in full weather gear. They were getting sick below and wanted to see the horizon. When the made it out into the cockpit, they both stood in front of me facing back toward the stern. They held tight to the helm. Me spinning the wheel, and they watched and looked shocked. About 15 minutes after they came up, we hit a rogue wave. They were watching me, I was looking forward. It appeared on the port quarter, and they saw my eyes go WIDE. They braced for the impact. It slapped hard against the hull and sent a sheet of water half way between the first and second spreaders on the mast. (About 25 feet above the cockpit) the wall of water collapsed into the cockpit. Filled it with about 2 feet of water, pushing the girls against the helm. That was enough for them, back into the cabin. I had a good chuckle. After about 3 hours of this rough passage, we entered into the shelter of Bimini Islands. The seas calmed down dramatically as the wind was out of the NE and you enter the harbor through the reef to the West of the Islands. This entrance is interesting. You pass through a reef, and then run between the reef and the beach (100 yards only between the two) until you pass between the islands and into the harbor. I was glad the wind and waves were from the right direction for that entrance. If the weather was from another direction we would have never been able to make it into that harbor. Especially the first time into the harbor.

Beer tasted really good that night at "The End of the World Bar". I will never forget that sail. Never.

Another top 5 sail.

Want Adventure? Sail with Captain Don...

The day started out cloudy and cold. Don was on the radio listening to the weather forecast. The weather was ok today, but was supposed to get worse tomorrow. We had spend the night in Bullock's Harbor in The Berry Islands (Bahamas). The sail in the night before had been strange. It was very shallow, and we were watching our speed by shining a flashlight at the sea bottom and watching our movement over past the rocks, grass, and fish... When we finally got into the Harbor we could hear all the local residents whooping it up at the bars watching the Superbowl. This island was rather remote, and the Don did not want to get stuck here for several nights if the weather turned bad. As such he made the executive decision to head out toward the Abacos.

The sail was a little cool, but the weather held. The problem was our arrival time. We ended up off the south end of the Abacos at about 10 PM in the dark. We had never been here before, and as such were not familiar with the island and all it's harbor's or entrances. By the time we made it up the east side of the island it was about midnight. That was when we discovered that the entrance to Little Harbor was not lit with markers. This is probably because NO ONE in their right mind decides to enter through a reef at night. My last visual sighting was several hours ago off the south end of the island. I had to trust the GPS and my map cross references. To add to the fun was the fact that we were in 6 foot seas in the open Atlantic. The entrance was between exposed reef and rock, less than 100 yards wide. Did I mention that it was dark?

I have not told many people, but serious fear tastes like copper in your mouth. We creep closer. You can hear the waves breaking on the beach. I can taste stomach acid... We work close in, all the music is off, everyone is silent. Most of the crew is forward looking for markers.

Finally Steve finds a marker. It matches the chart. We get a little closer. We see the other side. Now I breather a little easier. We work our way through the entrance. Once inside the barrier reef, we head South toward Little Harbor. I have never been happier to drop anchor and lay down to bed. When we wake up, we discover a tiki bar just South of us in Little Harbor. After breakfast we all head in for an attitude adjustment. The view from over the rise looking out at the Atlantic makes Captain Don's decision appear very wise. The seas are building and there are white caps everywhere. We definitely would have been stuck in the Berry Islands. Looks like a good day to spend some time at Pete's! The trip to the North toward Hope Town is mostly protected, so no worries!

Life is an adventure, get out there and live it!

Oh Yeah.... beware the cow catcher!

We left the hotel that evening for dinner and a last night out on the town before heading home. Sara and I were having a great time, and did not want the evening to end, so we decided that we would stay out together. After a few more drinks (maybe one too many) and a dance, we headed back to the hotel. The taxi ride went fast, probably because we were nodding off on each other. When we got back to the hotel, the taxi dropped us off outside on the street instead of driving into the entrance. Sara and I paid the driver and headed in to go to bed. That was when Sara discovered the animal protection system for the entrance of the hotel.... Ever tried to cross a cow catcher when you are half in the bag? Doesn't go very well.... She went down hard onto her shin. All her weight on the steel tubes - focused on the shin bone.

By the time we got her to the hotel room there was a softball on her shin. We almost went out in search of a clinic at 3 AM. I don't think she screamed that loud when she was in labor - for all three of our kids!

Make sure you look down before entering a hotel in the US Virgin Islands. You may find out the hard way what a Cow Catcher is...

a SERIOUS Pizza craving!

Have you ever known anyone that would go out of their way for a specific restaurant. In college, I remember driving with my roommate from Ames Iowa to East Dubuque Illinois to have a foot long chili dog. I thought Gretch was nuts, but that was one seriously good chili dog - or was I just drunk??? Oh well, it was worth the 3 hour drive one way to get there...

My sister on the other hand has a freakish pizza jones. Here is what she endured:
* 20 minute drive to the airport
* 3 hour flight to Puerto Rico Airport
* 2 hour layover in Puerto Rico
* 2 hour flight to St Lucia
* 1 hour bus ride to marina to pick up sailboat
* 24 hours of sailing to make it to Admiralty Bay - Bequia.
* 5 minute dinghy ride to shore and a short walk to Mac's

WHAT POSSIBLY CAN BE WORTH ALL THIS YOU ASK???

Lobster Pizza!

Eat up - it is fantastic!

Year two - Day 2

Day two was a full day sail from Marathon key to Key West. Everyone was feeling good. Even Pete - who was short his wallet. Dawn was calm and the sunrise brought the ever present "dingle don" bird, who rummages through the kitchen banging all the pots and pans together. When we all had coffee and a stop at the marina, we headed out into hawks channel. The day was perfect, calm seas in the channel, and a warm - steady breeze for the trip down. The wind was just enough to sail most of the time, and power sail the rest.

This was the first year of the step transom Hunter Passage! Everyone loved hanging out on the step transom while we were sailing. Beer in hand, and legs dragging in the warm currents of the gulf stream. when the engine is off, the feeling is the next best thing to heaven! Warm sun, swish of the waves, music drifting over the water from the stereo. Close your eyes, and it takes you back. Can't you just hear"Tempted" playing in the background.

That is a sail that I would like to do over again, and again, and again. Perfect.

But not the best sail ever. It ranks about 5th on my list. Lets see if someone can pick a few of the others.

Jim