STS - 126 Launch (Day 052)

Kennedy Space Center MM 885.0
Lay Day

We have ignition!

Weather: Warm (mid 80’s); south wind @ 15+ knots; light chop in the anchorage

Comment: What a great day! We visited with our friends aboard Tally Ho; took a short dinghy ride, then a nap, and then back to Tally Ho for a pre-launch dinner which was wonderful. Lots of good food to eat!

Seconds after launch, Endeavour eclipses the full moon

At 0750, the launch crew (Vanessa, Andrew, Dave, Anna Marie and me) moved to the port rail to get a good view of the launch. A nearly full moon shone brightly and the launch pad itself was lit be incredibly bright flood lights. At 0755, the ground around the Pad 39A began to glow. Seconds later, a ball of fire began to rise upward. The glow was incredible and lit the entire area. Being miles away, it took a while to hear the thunder, but hear it we did, even though we had a 15 knot south wind. Not only did we hear it, but we felt the water shake as well. The whole scene was so incredible; words cannot adequately describe what was taking place. We thought about the astronauts and what they were experiencing; we thought about the engineers and equipment manufacturers and others who played even very small roles in the incredible event we were witnessing. We marveled at the genius that developed rockets, and we thought about the incredible power it takes to get all that weight into outer space.

NASA photo of Endeavour (mission STS-126) at T + 00:00:14

I have always wanted to witness a space launch, especially a shuttle launch. It exceeded my wildest expectations. Shortly after the launch, cars and busses began to leave the island. In a short time, they were lined up, bumper to bumper on the two-lane road for miles. Andrew observed that the crew of the shuttle will have already circled the earth while these folks sit in their cars waiting to go only a few miles away.

By 0930, we were back aboard SUNSHINE contemplating what we had just witnessed. It was spectacular!

NOTE 1: For official photos and video of the launch, visit nasa.gov

NOTE 2: This was the last scheduled night launch for a shuttle.
NOTE 3: We have heard that this was the next to the last shuttle launch and that the shuttle program will end with the next mission. We’ll need to see official confirmation of this from NASA.

Arial view of our anchorage near the Kennedy Space Center

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Getting Ready for the Shuttle Launch (Day 051)

Addison Point Anchorage, near the Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL MM 885.0
Distance Traveled: 46.0 Hours Underway: 7.7 hrs. Average Speed: 6.0

Weather: Temp range 70 degrees to 84 degrees; south wind @ 15-20 knots; Partly cloudy, mostly cloudy and partly sunny as the day progressed

Comment: Fired up at 0745 and underway at 0755. Tally Ho and SUNSHINE passed through the Musson (aka Coronado) Bascule Bridge with a favorable current at 0720. We saluted friends Joe and Dee as we passed New Smyrna Beach. They are on a cruise this week!

It was a long slog down the river and the Mosquito Lagoon and the current turned foul and the south wind increased in strength.

Canvasback Too rejoined the flock as we passed Titusville on the way to our launch anchorage at “White Post.” Capt. Dave reported that the posts are no longer there, but he knew where to turn and what heading to take. As we traversed the Titusville Swing Bridge, the wind increased, making for a lumpy ride to the anchorage. Capt. Dave suggested that we hide behind the NASA Causeway at Addison Point. After a bit of exploration, all three vessels made for the protection of the Causeway. We anchored yards away from the roadway in a slight chop with the wind howling through the rigging.

We have a good view of the launch pads from this anchorage, but if the wind dies down as predicted, we’ll travel back up the Indian River to the open anchorage that is perhaps three and a half miles closer to the launch site. By nightfall, there were a total of ten boats in this anchorage.

Arial view of our anchorage near the Kennedy Space Center


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To the Rock House Creek Anchorage (Day 050)

Rock House Creek near Ponce DeLeon Inlet, New Smyrna Beach, FL MM 842.2
Distance Traveled: 13.5 Hours Underway: 2.9 hrs. Average Speed: 4.7 mph

Weather: Overcast to partly cloudy to partly sunny; temp range – mid 60s to high 70s; east wind 15 to 20 knots diminishing to 10 to 15, clocking to the southeast and then 5 knots late in the evening

Comment: Canvasback Too cast off from SUNSHINE at about 0730. Capt. Dave decided to make tracks to Titusville where he will secure a slip and visit friends. He’ll catch up with us again on Thursday as we proceed to an anchorage about 5 miles from the Shuttle Launch Site. We expect to have front row seats for the Friday night launch (weather permitting).

As for Tally Ho and SUNHSINE, we planned a short day (13 ½ miles) where we’ll anchor in Rock House Creek, overlooking Ponce DeLeon Inlet, near New Smyrna Beach. While underway, we were able to roll out the jib for a bit of motor sailing. The sky was overcast and we had a few (a very few) drops of rain before the clouds began to break up and let some blue sky poke through.

Anna Marie trudges through the moonscape!

Both vessels were anchored by 1030 hours. Andrew launched his dinghy and was gracious enough to ferry us ashore as well. The island we are anchored behind is being filled in with sand dredged from the channel. From the top, it looked like a moonscape.


Ponce DeLeon Light from the moon!



After our walk, we met a bunch of folks who arrived by kayak. There must have been 15 boats on the beach. We had a pleasant discussion with the kayakers who were all seniors out for a day’s paddle. They live about eight miles down stream in Edgewater Landing. Rather than paddling eight miles, they transported their boats to New Smyrna Beach. They paddled for about an hour to get here and they were enjoying some snacks, the scenery and each others company until the current changed and they could ride it back to the launch site.

Kayakers paddling back to their cars

Once we returned to our vessels, it was chore/nap time (chores on Tally HO/naps on SUNSHINE). Later, Andrew and Vanessa visited and between beverages and snacks, we solved the problems of the world.

Double Rainbow caps off the day!

We finished our day with dinner, TV and more relaxing time and… a double rainbow! What a life!

Arial view of the Rock House Creek Anchorage

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Daytona Here We Come (Day 049)

Daytona, FL MM 829.2
Distance Traveled: 38.7 Hours Underway: 6:15 Average Speed: 6.3

We're in a parade of six sailboats

Weather: Partly sunny, temp range mid 60s – low 80s; Wind out of the east @ 12 to 15 knots

Comment: Up anchor before the agreed time (0700 hours) because we planned a fuel stop at Palm Coast Marina. We took the crew of Tally Ho by surprise and as we motored by, we caught a glimpse of the captain in his night shirt! He began barking out orders and was soon underway with Canvasback Too.

One of a pair of Bald Eagles to circle the boat in Daytona

We completed our fuel stop and rejoined the group who had passed the marina only five minutes prior to our leaving the fuel dock. When we re-entered the waterway, we were in a group of six sailboats on our way to the L. B. Knox Bascule Bridge.

This was a good day on the water as we had the current and wind in our favor all day (well at least until we dropped the anchor at 1245 hours. At times, SUNSHINE was making 8.5 miles an hour with the jib unfurled and the motors humming nicely.

Charky the Magic Man shows Vanessa a few tricks

After setting the anchor and rafting Canvasback Too to SUNSHINE’s hip, we enjoyed a quick sandwich followed by a dinghy ride to town where we met the crew of Tally Ho for a walk to Old Daytona. We were surprised to see that almost one-half of the store fronts were closed and up for lease or sale. Apparently the “Old Daytona” idea, although very attractive, never took off. Also surprising is that we passed seven or eight motorcycle shops on our way to Old Daytona. They were all open. We can only assume that bikes are still selling!

Charky's Card

Before returning to our vessels, we enjoyed a few libations at Caribbean Jack’s where we were entertained by an octogenarian gentleman who performed magic tricks. He was most entertaining and even had Vanessa blushing at his “under the blanket with George Clooney” trick.

Arial view of our anchorage in Daytona

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Lay Day at Fort Matanzas (Day 048)

Fort Matanzas, Summer Haven, FL MM 792.4

Weather: Sunny; temp range mid 50s to low 70s (cool on the beach); NE wind 15 -20

The Anchorage at Fort Matanzas

Comment: After breakfast on board, we launched the dinghy and took a ride to the ocean. Actually, we stopped short of the ocean as the current was rushing out and we didn’t want to scoot under the bridge. We went back to the NPS ferry dock area and met Dave, Andrew and Vanessa for a beach walk, a long beach walk. Vanessa is a first class beachcomber. She scored a fishing rod with reel and lure and a piece of an old finger bowl with the letter “S” stamped on it. We presumed that the “S” was the last letter of the Matanzas marking, identifying the bowl as an item from the fort. The park rangers could not discount our assessment.

Dave and the world's greatest interpreter

Back at the dinghies, we used Tally Ho’s cast net, one of Vanessa's finds from a previous beach walk, before we set off on a bivouac to the local restaurant for a late lunch. The restaurant was on the other side of the river, clear across a causeway bridge that spans three miles of dunes, wetlands and river. We ate well for the long walk back to the boats.

Sunset from Fort Matanzas

Between walks, we took the NPS ferry to Fort Matanzas where we listened and questioned the interpreter. This is the second time we have heard this gentleman provide his interpretation of life and events at the fort. He is extremely knowledgeable and gives a most impressive and entertaining presentation. Among all of the interpreters I have ever heard, this guy is the best! He truly makes history come alive. A visit to Fort Matanzas is worth it, just to watch and listen to this person. Unfortunately, we did not get his name, but will look for it when we return in the spring.

Arial view of our anchorage at Fort Matanzas



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Fort Matanzas (Day 047)

Fort Matanzas, Summer Haven, FL MM 792.4
Distance Traveled: 15.0 Hours Underway: 3.0 Average Speed: 5.0 mph

Weather: Sunny and warm, wind out of the west at 10 knots; temp range 50 to 80 degrees (The good weather streak is at 4 consecutive days)

Comment: We up for more chores today. Anna Marie went to the grocery store while I went to the used bookstore in town. We were back at the boat by about 1045 hours with groceries stowed.

We’re leaving the marina today with Tally Ho and Canvasback Too. Reflection is staying for the rest of the week. They’ll catch up with us in Vero Beach.

This manifestation of the Flock has planned a short day. Fort Matanzas is our chosen anchorage and it only 15 miles distant. While underway, we heard Coast Guard reports of a missing woman near Vilano Beach. Boaters were asked to keep a sharp eye out and report any sightings to the Coast Guard. After about an hour and one-half, the vessel “Evening Passage” reported that they found the body female near buoy 2 in the St. Augustine Inlet. The inlet is not far from Vilano Beach and we can only presume it is the missing woman (click here for a link to the news article).

The Coast Guard is also searching for an overdue boat with two fishermen aboard. The drama has not been resolved. Click here for that article.

After three hours underway, we had the anchor down in the Matanzas River, between the US Park Service ferry dock and Fort Matanzas.

We dined aboard, and planned to meet the crew of the other Flockers tomorrow morning. We’re planning to spend the day at the beach which is only a short dinghy ride away.




Arial view of our anchorage at Fort Matanzas

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Lay Day (Day 046)

Lay Day - Oyster Creek Marina, St. Augustine, FL MM 779.9

Weather: The streak is at three! Three days of warm, sunny weather; wind @ 10 – 15 knots

Comment: It’s project day! I changed the oil in both engines while Anna Marie tended to the laundry. Then it was off with Andrew and Vanessa for a walk to the Sailor’s Exchange. I bought four hinges ostensibly to replace the ones in the cockpit. Unfortunately, they turned out to be the wrong size. Too bad, all four cost what one from West Marine would cost. The store closed at 2:00 pm, so I didn’t have a chance to return them.

Anna Marie and I then turned our attention to replacing the lazy jacks. It took a couple of hours to measure, cut and string them. We also ran a line to the new upper shroud cleat. This will be used to raise the radar reflector.

After lunch, Anna Marie hoofed it to the grocery store to pick up a few supplies. We’ll do a full re-provisioning when we get to Vero Beach.

Tonight, it’s tea and crumpets aboard Reflection then dinner aboard SUNSHINE.

My good friends John and Honey aboard Hielan’ Lass have dropped their hook in the anchorage just south of the Bridge of Lions here in St. Augustine. John reported that he reserved a spot in the city marina, but the slip available had a 13’ beam. He needs 13.5.’ They’ll get him in tomorrow. Unfortunately, we’re leaving tomorrow but I’m sure we’ll get together in a few days or so, probably at Vero Beach.


Arial view of the Oyster Creek Marina, Sebastian River, St. Augustine, FL

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