ICW in Jacksonville, FL (Main Street Bridge) |
Ian is next to John with students from Panama as line handlers in Canal transit 2010 |
Melanie & I found our way down the ICW. The GPS, and electronic charts began to earn my trust. Of course never 100%. I always keep an eye out for a gremlin sneaking in, and mucking up the unit. South Beach Miami was warm while Daytona was still very cool. We were enjoying this new found warmth while living in swimsuits & shorts.
One warm day while returning from Miami while running a boat errand. I saw the big DQ, Dairy Queen, and asked Mel if she would like to have an ice cream. Just as I knew she would she replied with a big smile, and a bigger YES!
Before I can open the door I recognize a tattered Pepsi ball cap. I step inside, and announce to Melanie. ‘I don’t know if we want to enter here. It seems they will just allow any old sailor through the doors!” The owner looked at me like W.T.F.? I turned around, and we all had a good belly laugh as Ian introduced us. Turns out Jason, the owner, was a dinghy sailor in his youth, and as he got older crewed for his father. DQ became a familiar stop, and Jason, and his lady, Avivit, soon became good friends.
May 2011 |
Avivit and Jason Pyle |
Soon Biscayne Bay became a familiar place for us. We would motor out from under the Rickenbakker Bridge, and set sail on the Bay. Small chop with a 15-20 knot breeze we would fly along at 7-10 knots. This is definitely no S.F. Bay. We could drop the hook most anywhere, and take a swim. The bottom visible at all times. We would watch the bottom & it’s inhabitants fly by as we sailed.
South beach, Miami |
Miami Port Intercoastal waterway-Going to Biscane Bay Miami Star Island, South Beach -Miami |
Soon Ian introduced us to Frank in the anchorage. One day while trying to pull out a tap that I had broken off in the windlass. Frank ventured by, and in moments he was up on deck with helpful ideas to fix the problem. It seems where ever I go with Frank he knows someone, and where to aquire anything. Frank sent us on our way to a fabrication shop. In a couple of days I returned to find the tap extracted, and the hole rethreaded. Clean work done at a fair price, and on time too. A rarity in this day & time.
Now owning a catamaran is not an easy thing to own when amongst traditional sailors. They look at multi hulls with a distrustful eye, and sometimes just plain contempt. Frank, Ian, and Jason although never said to me, but later admitted they were amongst those who are suspicious of multi hulls.
Individually I invited the three of them for a day sail without knowing of this distrust. After a good sail across the bay, and on the return to our anchorage. Ian said to me that the boat sails fine, but she is making leeway, drifting sideways, and will never make the bridge. I denied this claim, and he asked me to turn on the computer to prove his remark. 15 minutes later we found our track from the stern to be in complete alignment with our course for the bridge.
While sailing with Jason again across the bay, and returning. We were in 18 knots of wind, and fading in & out of 8 & 9 knots of sailing. We were discussing the point of sail, and Jason remarked he never though a multi could sail 45 degrees off the wind, and keep such good speed. With our beers sitting there by themselves on the deck. Jason told me I wasn’t earning it. I asked what am I not earning. He said I am not earning this speed, it seems too easy. I told him the day I paid for the boat I earned everything with it. The next day he told me when Ian introduced us. I an had said I sail a catamaran, and Jason thought “Oh I am sorry”, but he had to take that thought back, and admitted he was very impressed.
Frank’s remark was saved for when we returned to the anchorage after the day’s sail. We were getting in the dinghy so I could return him to his own boat. When he made the remark that it was too late for him to start all over. I asked what he meant by that. He said : I am impressed with how the boat sails. I never thought a cat could do that, and it’s just too late for me to start all over “.
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