Ft. Pierce to Cocoa Beach

We left the slip we have occupied for a week today at 0800.  Keeling Time stayed behind to repair the lightening strike.  We guess that they may not catch up with us for some time due to some family personal stuff that will take them away from KT for several weeks.  The trip from Ft. Pierce was an ejoyable one in light, cool winds and mostly cloudless skies.  Certainly, the traffic and size of boats is far less than south of here.  We witnessed at least two regattas along the way and more sea birds than we have seen in some time.  Speaking of that, we think there are more seagulls and pelicans in Port A than in the entire route from there to here.  Could it be that the remote nature of Port A makes better nesting places than say the mega yacht world around Ft. Lauderdale?

We anchored in Cocoa Beach around 1700 and had some of Bear's King Ranch Chicken and a beautiful sunset.  There are many boats anchored here but few have signs of life.  Most that do have foreigh flags.  Tomorrow, we plan to head north past Cape Canaveral toward to St. Augustine.

Change of Plans

As mentioned earlier, we planned to sail north with Keeling Time.  Such is not to be for some time.  KT took more of a hit last evening than originally thought.  We were waiting for the arrival of their new battery charger (check out Clark Industries) to arrive so that we could both get underway.  Said charger arrived this morning along with a very competent Technician, Tim Allen.  It took no time at all for the investigations, not associated with the battery charger installation, to reveal more damage to KT.  Virtually all the electronics aboard, now less than a year old from the last direct lightening hit, are non-functional.  Said electronics are all new and now all junk.  Raymarine electronics are not inexpensive.  Now it appears there is little left of them.  The course computer died along with wind, depth, speed and autopilot are not working.  Fortunately, the electrical stuff like a/c and refrigerator/freezer still work.  There is only one boat between us so now I will do a major function test tonight of all our systems. 

The damage to KT will put them in port for some unknown time.  If they can get the parts, they might be underway in a week or so.  There are lots of if's in lightening damage such as wiring in the mast and below decks and such things as possible damage to through hull fittings. I don't think the hit was that strong but KT will still need to have a diver check out the hull.  We will definitely offer to stay with them and help any way we can but methinks there is little we can do.  If the offer is declined, we will move on tomorrow and hopefully, they can catch up.  Such is life aboard.  We wish them well and hope that we can sail with them soon.

Heat Relief Turns Knarley

The clouds and attendant thunderstorm shown in our last blog did not produce a funnel cloud but it did produce frequent lightening and it targeted this harbor.  We received very high microbursts and rain the likes of which occur in hurricanes.  The portlights I repaired all held and did not leak except for the one over our berth.  It was a real test of the gaskets.  Looking out our companionway doors, we saw a fifty+ feet Formosa Ketch in the slip astern of us heeling about fifteen degrees.  That is one heavy boat.  Rain was moving horizontally.  It was a pfrogue strangler.  About five minutes after the rain started we were bracketed by God's own artillery.  For the most part it was impacting at some distance.  I turned the computer and all electronics off but not the a/c.  Just as all the electronics went to sleep, a doozie hit so close there was no time lapse between the flash and the thunder.  It was definitely reminiscent of real artillery incoming.

We were late to dinner aboard Keeling Time but we were sure they would adjust the event because of the maelstrom outside.  Shortly, Rick knocked on the deck and said they had some damage.  Mind you, this is the second time they have been hit.  The first fried all electronics and electrical stuff aboard Keeling Time including even their refrigerator.  It cost them two months for repairs.  Anyway, both crews felt the strike was easily within a hundred yards or so of our boats. 

Keeling Time's damage this time seems to be isolated to a failed gas solenoid circuit breaker and their radio which comes on and shows proper operation but no sound.  Our damage so far appears to be the a/c thermostat stuck permanently on 72 degrees cooling.  More parts to acquire at some port up the coast.  The a/c does work.  Perhaps that fuzzy looking gadget on the mast head that is supposed to dissipate near lightening, might have worked.  Thanks Robert for putting it up there in the first place.  Thanks Seabrook for installing one on our new mast.  Now, both KT and WK crews will be looking for and expecting anomalies which may show up weeks from now. 

At first light, crews in the marina emerged and started fiddling with stuff not normally fiddeled with (bad grammar).  That means that the local West Marine will be busy today.   For those not aboard, surprises await. 

We plan to visit my former CO from Vietnam when we get to Jacksonville.  His mate suffers from severe back pain and they gave us the name of the clinic they use.  We are hoping to see the back specialist so we can get Bear's problem resolved.  For now, she is better but still having some pain. 

We can do without yesterdays "event of the day".  We are looking forward to the mail pouch Poozak sent out yesterday and to setting sail at first light tomorrow, barring some discovery of lightening demons.  We are glad we were not underway at sea when that wooley booger storm came by. 

Heat Relief

Ok, so today started like any day in the past three weeks.  It was a windless hot day from the start.  Now, things have changed a bit, and we think it is for the better, that is of course if we do not get a tornado or lightening.  A few minutes ago, nature gave us a break: the Florida afternoon thunderstorm.  This one is a bit different and promises to get someone very wet. 

All boats entering the US from foreign ports must "clear in" at a Customs facility or, if properly equipped, it can be done via telephone.  US Flagged boats can acquire a Customs decal after providing certain information to the US Government.  That stamp, if referenced on the telephone, might just keep one from having to bundle up all the crew passports and crew and waltzing down to the actual facility.  In some cases it might be a very long cab ride.  Another item available from Customs at heavily entered ports is what is called a "Local Boaters Card"  which enables local boats to whip over to the Bahamas and back without the hassle of the formalities of "entering" port.  We were told to whip by the Customs office at the Ft. Pierce airport to obtain these documents/decals.  We got there at 0900 the day Keeling Time had to return their rental car.  Sign  on the door said no deal until 1000.  We did some local shopping, including another trip to West Marine, then returned at 1000, just two hours before the rental car return.  We stood in line for half an hour then noticed a "Ring bell for service".  A push of that button brought a uniformed, humorless young Customs officer to the bullet proof banker's window.  He promptly informed us that neighter of those two items were available at this location.  He further informed us that we had to take our carcasses to Miami or one of two other places, with ship's papers, passports, and actual everyone on board, to get the Local Boaters Cards.  We could, of course, get the sticker with the all important number on line.  Imagine doing that on foot.