Cruise 2009 - 2010 Statistical Information

“SUNSHINE”

ICW Cruise 2009 - 2010
Statistical Information

LIVING ABOARD:

Number of Days aboard SUNSHINE = 162 (79%)
Number of Days Home = 42 (21%)

Number of days underway = 41 (20%)
Number of “Lay Days” = 121 (59%)

ANCHORING, DOCKING, MOORING, AND ON-THE-HARD:

Number of days anchored = 30 (15%)
Number of days docked = 63(31%)
Number of days on a mooring ball = 108 (53%)
Number of days on hard = 0 (0%)
Highest dockage fee = $68.50

FUEL INFORMATION:

Total engine hours = 322.2
Total gallons of fuel consumed = 254.2
Average price of fuel (gas) = $3.11/g
Total cost of fuel = $790.34
Fuel consumption = 0.77 gallon per hour

RECORDS FOR LONGEST DAY:

Longest day (hours traveling): April 16, 2010 Hollywood to North Palm Waterway 13.8 hours
Longest day (mileage): November 6, 2009 New Smyrna Beach to Dragon Point 68.7 statute miles

DISTANCE:

Total Miles = 1784.1
Average miles per day when moving boat = 43.5

CREW:

Terry and Emma

The Last Days of Cruise 2009 - 2010

The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center as seen from our anchorage.

The last sunset of cruise 2009 - 2010.

Another shot of the last sunset of cruise 2009 - 2010

We left Vero Beach on Thursday, April 22, 2010. The trip up the Indian River was uneventful. The weather was great. We even got to motor sail for several hours. That's a big deal for us. When we unroll the jib, our speed usually increase by about 1.5 mph. On this day, we were motoring at 5.0 mph. After the wind clocked to the east, we unrolled the jib and averaged 6.8 mph. It enabled us to make it all the way to the NASA Causeway some 67.3 miles up river.

We entered the Indian River after exiting Hobe Sound last Saturday (April 17). The Indian River is broad and shallow and 153 miles long. It is an estuarine system where freshwater meets salt water within the same body of water. We have enjoyed nice cruising on the river in nice weather, but when the wind is up, especially if it is on the nose, it makes for a long trip. On those occasions when we have experienced headwinds, the river seems long and bleak.

We had great passage on the river this time! On Thursday evening (April 22) we anchored for at the NASA Causeway. We enjoyed a great meal of pork chops and sauerkraut. After dinner, we made our way to SUNSHINE's bow to witness the launch of an Atlas V rocket. The launch was to test the characteristics of the ORION (designed to replace the aging space shuttles) or for some Air Force equipment. The NASA.gov site wasn't clear on saying what the mission actually was.

At any rate, although not nearly as spectacular as a shuttle launch, it was impressive none-the-less! What a way to end the cruise. Our meager attempt to capture the launch can be seen below.

Tomorrow, we have just 8 miles to Westland Marina in Titusville, where SUNSHINE will be put on land for the summer.

On Friday, April 23, we hauled the anchor for the last time on this cruise and motored to Westland Marina in Titusville. We began the work of preparing SUNSHINE for her summer residence in Florida and will continue that work until Tuesday. Between the necessary tasks, we hope to visit with our friends in New Smyrna Beach. We should begin the long drive to NJ on Wednesday and expect to be home on Friday, April 30, 2010.

Back in Vero

AT A GLANCE:

From: North Palm Waterway Anchorage, North Palm Beach, FL 1012.5

To: Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Vero Beach, FL MM 951.7

L/L: 27 39.46N 80 22.28W

Distance Traveled: 62.4

Hours Underway: 10.1

Average Speed: 6.2 mph

Weather: Temp range 73 - 84; wind ESE @ 5 - 10 mph; mostly cloudy

Comment: It was a good day on the water. We only had to wait (for about 27 minutes) for one bridge (Indiantown). Our speed was mostly at or above 7 mph, although our average was 6.2. The average includes the time spent pulling up the anchor, waiting for the bridge and picking up the mooring ball in Vero Beach.

We were assigned to ball 19 which is right in front of the marina complex. It makes for a short ride to the dinghy dock!

Vero Beach - Here We Come!

Sunrise from the North Palm Waterway anchorage

Rowers on the waterway

Paddle Boarders on beautiful Hobe Sound

Goodbye Hollywood!

Waiting to board the Super Servant for a trip to the Caribbean

(Port Everglades)

The Pineapple Boat (off loading in Port Everglades)

What Else Is New?

THE DAY AT A GLANCE:

LAY DAY: Weather induced Lay Day @ Hollywood Municipal Marina, Hollywood, FL MM 1072.2

Weather: Temp range 75 - 84; wind E between 25+ mph, gusts to mid 30’s; mostly sunny choppy in the harbor

Comment: What else is new? We are experiencing another weather induced lay day! We are sure in a most unusual weather pattern. At least we’re making the best of it.

Today we investigated the transportation system. We took the number 4 bus to Young Circle. That is the western terminus of bus 4’s route. It is also the downtown or old section of Hollywood. The boulevard is lined with shops and restaurants, many appear to be upscale, although the clientele riding the bus sure doesn’t seem to be. We boarded the number 1 bus in front of Publix because we thought it might be interesting to see the Riverwalk. It wasn’t until I looked at the schedule to see that the bus stops at the Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, that I realized the Riverwalk is the same one we visited two years ago when we sailed SUNSHINE up the New River.

After a mediocre lunch at the Irish Pub, the only facility that seems to be open in the big complex of the Riverwalk, we strolled along the river watching boats come and go. Just as we were about to turn back, I spotted a sign pointing the direction to the Shoppes of Las Olas. We walked a bit further and found a funky, up scale district of old stores and restaurants, many with a French flavor. The shoppes went on for about four blocks. We walked down one side and up the other before returning to the bus stop on Third Avenue. We caught the #1 back to Young Circle (a ride of about 35 minutes) and then boarded the #4 back to the marina.

We spent the evening aboard. It looks like we’ll still be here tomorrow. If so, we’ll explore the southern end of the brick walk!

Hollywood Beach, FL

Volleyball on Hollywood Beach

The outside gardens of Le Tub restaurant in Hollywood Beach is loaded with old tubs and other bathroom fixtures, now being used as signs and planters

To get to Hollywood Beach from the municipal marina, we had to walk over the Hollywood Boulevard Bridge. On the way back to the boat, we had to wait for a bridge opening for this southbound sailboat out of Oriental, NC.

The Day at a Glance:

From: Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Coconut Grove, FL MM 1094.3

To: Hollywood City Marina, Hollywood, FL MM 1072.3

L/L: 26 00.88N 80 07.22W

Distance Traveled: 25.3

Hours Underway: 6.5

Average Speed: 3.9 mph

Weather: Temp range 75 - 84; wind E @ 23 mph gusts to 30; partly cloudy with some sun in the afternoon

Comment: Fired up the engines at 0650 and underway at 0700. The channel to Biscayne Bay is 1 3/4 miles long and as we turned the corner to head out the channel into the bay, we found the wind that had been predicted. It seemed that not only the wind but the current was against us most of the day.

We negotiated several bridges today and our timing was off on most all of them. There were two or three bridges that we missed by minutes. It meant that we had to wait for the next opening which were thirty minutes apart. It was really slow going.

We guided Hielan’ Lass through what Cap'n John thought would be shallows at Bakers Haulover Inlet, but didn't see depths below 10 feet the whole way. I estimate that we passed by at about half tide.

Our planned stop for fuel was the Hollywood Municipal Marina. During the conversation with the fuel attendant, we discovered that they had a slip for us. We contacted Hielan’ Lass on the radio and John said it would be OK for them to stop here too.

Slip fees are $1.25 per foot. The electric and water is included. The marina also has a reasonable rate for laundry and the bathrooms and showers are clean.

The city of Hollywood has about a 3 mile brick walkway on the ocean. Anna Marie and I set off on foot, across the Hollywood Boulevard Bascule Bridge to find it. The ocean was very rough with the 25+ knot east wind. The beach boasts an active Beach Volley Ball community with about 1/2 dozen courts staked out in the sand. Several games were being hotly contested as we sauntered by.

We took a break to enjoy a $1.50 ice cream cone and another later on for a drink.

Although we didn’t make a lot of progress on the day, we felt good to have gone about 25 miles in the windy conditions and have time to take a long walk.