The Voyages of SV Passat II: May 2014

April/May, 2014 - PASSAGE TO BERMUDA

We enjoy a good passage, with little to no wind at the start, modest wind from the SE in mid-passage and good S to SW winds at the end. The low winds at the beginning resulted in a very quiet crossing of the Golf Stream, so no complaints there. We estimated 8 to 10 days and arrived in 8 days 4 hours and 20 minutes.

Sunny warm weather for most of the way, but had a rain storm just after sighting Bermuda. A bit of excitement as the wind shifted 90 degrees in just a few minutes, dropping from 15 to 20 knts to 10 knots at the same time. Took a bit of time to adjust sails as we had to find and don stored rain gear.

Motor sailing on a calm sea.

Sunset over St Augustine, Fl.

alex off watch.

Sandra off watch.

Rain rain go away!

Bermuda in sight.

SV Passat II - Postcard - Underway to Bermuda

No wind and "Susie" seas. Motoring with the sails up, just for show. Making only 3.7 knts as that is the most economical from a fuel consumption point of view.

We have crossed the strongest part of the Gulf Stream current, so do not have to worry so much about steep "wind against current" waves. Ha ha.

If the weatherman is correct we should have low winds for up to two more days then the hoped for 15 knts from the NW to take us the rest of the way. We all know how accurate they are. With our luck we will get the winds, but they will come from the E, on the nose, but we live in hope.

The sun is out in full force so we are working on our tans and reading our books.

Sandra baked Brownies, so morale is high, as is the sugar high.

All is well with us and we hope the same for you all.

Wishing you fair winds and calm seas.

Barrie, Sandra & Alex
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At 4/27/2014 5:40 PM (utc) our position was 30°03.90'N 079°13.43'W

SV Passat II - Postcard Enroute to Burmuda

Normally we are a dry boat underway. To promote high moral(read prevent mutiny) it was decided to permit one adult beverage a day with diner. I reluctantly (Ha Ha) agreed to join in "just to be sociable".

Those who know me well will confirm that I do not think red wine (or mustard) should be allowed on a boat. The spill / stain ratio is just too high. The Admiral likes red wine so guess what? Those that answered "you have red wine" would be correct.

The Admiral has a favorite blanket on board. It is (was ((foreshadowing))) white with colored fishes on it.

In spite of being in travel mugs on anti slip mats, with their lids on, two of the three mugs went flying. The lid on the mug with white wine stayed on and caused a minor mess on my shirt and shorts, cleaned up in seconds. The lid n the mug with red wine flew off, distributing its nearly full contents on my aforementioned white shirt, Alex's shirt and shorts and the Admirals favorite blanket. After considerable time and effort the stains persist.

Please bear witness that up until this very moment I have not even breathed an "I told you so". A restraint I do not normally display.

Do we still have red wine on board? Sigh! Will it be served while we are underway? I await the jury's decision.

Wishing you all fair winds and calm seas.

Wining in paradise.

Barrie, Sandra & Alex
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At 5/1/2014 2:51 PM (utc) our position was 31°26.05'N 072°03.42'W

April, 2014 - ST AUGUSTINE, FL

After a full month at Titusville we leave the dock, with the addition of friend Alex as crew.

We arrived in St Augustine en-route to Charleston, SC. We stopped to fix the flapper valve on the exhaust and to take in this historic town. It is the oldest, continuously occupied, community in the USA. Founded by the Spanish and captured by the British it is a blend of both architectural styles.

The oldest urban street in the USA.

Alex befriends a skinny street person.

Sandra with two intellectuals in the Library courtyard.

Guide shows how the limestone walls were constructed.

Sitting Room in top end boarding house.

Stand up bath, stores on the wall.

Window view of oldest street.

Colorful neck tie.

Town well.

St Augustine town square.

SV Passat II - Postcard from St Augustine, Fl, USA

We are as ready as we can be for our first Ocean crossing. Tomorrow, weather permitting we will leave for Bermuda.

Our month in Titusville was very productive, with lots of maintenance and improvements to Passat. Included was sail and sail cover reconditioning, wind steering rebuild, Life Raft re certification, new EPIRB (with built in GPS), new Force 10 3 burner stove, a Porta Bote dingy (folding type), new 12 volt TV/DVD, with digital antenna, etc...

We enjoyed visits with our friends Brian and Joyce (Pawsitive Latitude), Tom and Rose (Sojourn) and Reg and Sharon (Pea Soup). We took in the local sights, including Cape Canaveral, a nature preserve, local beaches, Ft Myers, and a local production of Monty Python's Spam-a-Lot.

Lots of work and lots of good times, but we are ready to move on.

Keep tuned for more postcards and (I hope) blog updates.

Wishing you all fair winds and calm seas.

Barrie and Sandra
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At 4/26/2014 1:36 AM (utc) our position was 29°53.23'N 081°18.33'W

April, 2014 - TITUSVILLE NATURE PARK AND BEACH

Titusville is next the Cape Canaveral national nature preserve and beach. We spent a day enjoying these amenities.

April - 2014 - TITUSVILLE, FL - FRIENDS AND SOCIAL EVENTS

Titusville was not all work and no play. We enjoyed visits from friends and attended a couple of dock parties. Friends who visited included: Brian and Joyce (SV Pawsitive Latitude), Tom and Rose (SV Sojourn), Reg and Sharon (SV Pea Soup).

Also, Alex ( MV Obsession) flies in from Canada to join us for the next stage of our voyage.

Crews of Sojourn and Pea Soup chow down with us at the marina.

April - 2014 - TITUSVILLE BOAT PROJECTS

To prepare Passat II for the Atlantic crossing we undertook a number of repairs and upgrades. these included, new cook stove, sail refurbishing, new sail and tiller covers, new EPIRB (with built in GPS), certificating the life raft, rebuilt wind steering, new plumbing fixtures, new LED lighting, addition of a TV/DVD player, etc...