2/14/14 – Start 0930, Finish 1145, From Vero Beach Fl. to Fort Pierce Fl.

2/14/14 – Start 0930, Finish 1145, From Vero Beach Fl. to Fort Pierce Fl.

Weather/Sea – South wind, sunny

Captain - John Kwak

Crew – Dan Martin, Paul Kirk

A short trip of 2hr15min to get to Fort Pierce.  After filling with diesel, we got a slip in Harbortown Marina for the day. One reason for staying was to go to Marine Connection Liquidators, a used boat parts dealer. I had been here with Ed Weber on our trip to the Bahamas and we bought some stuff then. This time I wanted to sell some dodger fittings. Dan and I walked 2 miles to get there. I got $10.00 for my parts but spent $20.00 for a light and $10.00 for a 4 lead cable so I can move the Garmin GPS Plotter  to the pedestal.

Harbortown Marina has a restaurant where  we ate dinner, it was very busy since it was Valentines day.

2/11/14 – Start 0920, Finish 1920, From Titusville Fl. to Vero Beach Fl.

2/11/14 – Start 0920, Finish 1920, From Titusville Fl. to Vero Beach Fl.


Weather/Sea – South wind, sunny

Captain - John Kwak

Crew – Dan Martin, Paul Kirk

We first went to the pump out dock and emptied both holding tanks. They hold 40 gallons each and were full. It is the most unpleasant job on a boat.

Then back into the Indian River heading south, follow the dug channel carefully because it is mostly shallow outside the channel. With the wind out of the south east we tried sailing twice but the wind stayed just south of the limits of pointing. The channel is mostly very straight so we motored at 6.6 to 7.0 knots using the Simrad autopilot. We got to Vero Beach in the dark. To get into the Vero Beach Municipal Marina you have to make a sharp turn to port after green buoy 139 and before the fixed bridge. I cut the turn a little sharp and ran into 5 foot depth of soft mud, turned to the bridge side and found the deeper channel.  Dutchess, with her 24” prop and 65 HP diesel, can usually push thru soft mud. Going by flashlight we went from buoy to buoy thru the mooring field to find our assigned buoy #33.  Finally at 1920 we tied off on the mooring ball and could relax. 

Paul Kirk had been cooking the Chicken and rice in Celery cheese soup in the oven for 2 hours so we could eat right away. Good crew, good food, good trip.

On Wednesday 2/12/14, moved to a dock and went shopping for supplies using the Vero Beach free bus. This is a very nice marina, well maintained and landscaped. In fact the entire city is well landscaped.

I plan to stay here for a month in March before heading North again in April.

We went to dinner at bonefish using the free bus. When we got to the restaurant the power was out in the entire area so we could only sit at the bar and drink, no food available. After 1.5 hours and a few drinks the lights came back on and we could order food.

On Tuesday 2/13/14 we planned to sail to Fort Pierce but the West wind was 20 to 25 knots with heavier gusts pushing the boat sideways, and stretching the dock lines very tight.

So I decided it was too hazardous to leave the slip and we are staying here another day. That is boating!

2/10/14 – To Kennedy Space Center

2/10/14 – To Kennedy Space Center

Weather, sunny, nice warm.

On 2/10/14 Monday we went to the Kennedy Space Center to see the rockets and especially the Shuttle Atlantis. Very interesting and well worth the $50.00 entry fee.

You take a bus ride around the launch pads and Vehicle Assembly Building. Then they drop you at the Apollo Rocket display building where you can spend as much time as needed.

Then back in the bus to the Center to see the Shuttle Atlantis and ride in the simulated launch vehicle.

We saw the two, 3D IMAX movies, one about the International Space Station and the other about the Hubble Space Telescope, with all the images from galactic space, very impressive. Will go again on the way back north.

We dropped of the rental car(U-save did a very good job and was very friendly) in Titusville and had the rental car guy drop us off at Kelsey’s Pizza Parlor and enjoyed very good Pizza, then called for a Taxi to take us back to the Titusville Marina.

2/7/14 – Start 0900, Finish 1700, From St. Augustine Fl. to Daytona FL.

2/7/14 – Start 0900, Finish 1700, From St. Augustine Fl. to Daytona FL.

2/8/14- Start 0930, Finish 1530, From Daytona FL to Titusville FL.

Weather/Sea – north wind, very foggy and rainy, with low clouds both days.

Captain - John Kwak

Crew – Dan Martin, Paul Kirk

Left St Augustine following the Matanzas River part of the ICW thru Fox Cut and into the Halifax River to the Halifax River Marina in Daytona Beach. The next day we proceeded into the Halifax River, Indian River North, the Mosquito Lagoon these all have dredged channels to form the ICW, then thru the Haulover Canal into the Indian River to the Titusville Marina.

Both days where dreary and foggy with strong North winds and low visibility. We sailed from Buoy to Buoy and many times could not see the next buoy when we passed the last one. We had a light chop on these waters because these  inland waters do not have a long fetch.

On 2/9/14 Sunday was a day of rest as prescribed it turned sunny and very pleasant. We went for walks and did laundry. Tomorrow we go to Cape Canaveral Space Center to see the rockets and especially the Shuttle Atlantis.

2/5/14 – Start 0900, Finish 1650, From Fernandina Beach Fl., To St. Augustine Fl. two nights

2/5/14 – Start 0900, Finish 1650, From Fernandina Beach Fl., To St. Augustine Fl. two nights

Weather/Sea – No wind, light fog, cloudy

Captain - John Kwak

Crew – Dan Martin, Paul Kirk

Finally leave Fernandina Beach no issues getting thru draw bridges. Arrived at St. Augustine and took mooring ball for first night. Beautiful view of the city from the Dutchess. Dinner onboard consisted of spaghetti with sausage. Next morning moved over to the other side of Bridge of The lions and docked at St. Augustine Municipal Marina. We researched issue with oil in the engine room appearing that we used a quart on short trip. Took walk in St. Augustine to purchase oil absorbent pads and food supplies. Removed old oil soaked pads and installed fresh pads, ran engine and checked for leaks. No leaks were apparent. Weather was not conducive to sightseeing so went to restaurant called A1A Ale Works. Food and service was very good and price was reasonable.

2/2/14 – Start 1030, Finish 1930, From Brunswick Ga., To Fernandina Beach Fl.

2/2/14 – Start 1030, Finish 1930, From Brunswick Ga., To Fernandina Beach Fl.

Weather/Sea – No Wind, Heavy Fog

Captain - John Kwak

Crew – Dan Martin, Paul Kirk

Left dock at 1030 in light fog. Fog got heavier as we headed out. Ok on Radar and GPS to just before bridge. GPS malfunctioned and John relayed compass bearings to Dan from Garmin below deck to get back to Brunswick Landing Marina as fog had increased to 50 foot visibility. Checked cable connection to external  GPS  antenna and reconnected wire splice to fix the problem.  Headed back out after fog lifted at 1230. The plan was to go off shore for a quick trip south to Fernandina Beach. However, as we got close to the Atlantic the fog was too thick and had to turn around for an ICW Passage. Entered  ICW at 1400, low tide at 1546. Jekyll Creek very shallow with 7’ at times but was able to make it thru with no issues. Made it thru to Jekyll Sound but again got fogged in which required GPS and radar to make sharp right turn into Andrew Sound. No visibility until about 1 mile up the Cumberland River at which time the fog lifted. Fogged in again by Crooked  River, which required navigation by GPS and radar. Sunset   before the Navy Degaussing Range. Deep water in Cumberland Sound and lighted buoys were much appreciated in current conditions. Dan was stationed at the bow relaying where green and red buoys were located to Paul and Paul relayed location to John in order to navigate.  Turned into Amelia River as  fog cleared a little but still had to navigate thru fog to find Fernandina Marina and docked for two nights. All of the crew  had a much needed cocktail and then went to a sports bar to watch Seattle win the super bowl.