We launched officially from Calusa Island Marina in Goodland, Florida on Friday, March 15, and headed south to the Ten Thousand Islands to begin our shakedown cruise. This evening we are anchored in Long Key Bight, about 10 miles from Marathon in the Florida Keys, getting ready to make our Gulf Stream crossing tomorrow morning to the Islands of the Bahamas.
A shakedown cruise gives the crew a chance to test the boat (and each other) and make needed adjustments before heading out to sea for extended time. We've had two weeks to find out what works and what doesn't.
Cool things we've seen and experienced along the way: an incredible first passage of 110 miles to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas using "Big Blue", our new Code 0 furling sail, maintaining 8 plus knots, and joined by dozens of dolphins along the way. Watching (and listening) to tens of thousands of sooty terns, joined by black and brown noddies, with hundreds of Magnificent Frigatebirds diving on the nesting colonies on Bush Key next to the Fort. Amazingly, Bush Key is the only known nesting grounds in North America for these birds. Saving a loggerhead turtle from drowning: it's neck wrapped in a crab trap line, Brenda saw the turtle struggling to surface and breathe; we were able to snag the line and cut the animal free.
What didn't work: Our anchor windlass motor, needed to weigh our big Rocna anchor and half inch chain, began to quit on us. Our sat phone modem decided to join the windlass on the "gone bad" list, as did our dinghy outboard carburetor. Two weeks later, after getting an assist from family (thanks Cathy and crew!) to order a new windlass motor, we successfully replaced it and it works like a champ! We also have a new sat phone modem, and installed a new carburetor on the outboard. Not bad for a couple of new retirees.
So now we have have checked the weather, staged Pandion for the crossing to the Bahamas, and hope that we get some sleep tonight. It is an amazing experience to live your dream.
A shakedown cruise gives the crew a chance to test the boat (and each other) and make needed adjustments before heading out to sea for extended time. We've had two weeks to find out what works and what doesn't.
Cool things we've seen and experienced along the way: an incredible first passage of 110 miles to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas using "Big Blue", our new Code 0 furling sail, maintaining 8 plus knots, and joined by dozens of dolphins along the way. Watching (and listening) to tens of thousands of sooty terns, joined by black and brown noddies, with hundreds of Magnificent Frigatebirds diving on the nesting colonies on Bush Key next to the Fort. Amazingly, Bush Key is the only known nesting grounds in North America for these birds. Saving a loggerhead turtle from drowning: it's neck wrapped in a crab trap line, Brenda saw the turtle struggling to surface and breathe; we were able to snag the line and cut the animal free.
What didn't work: Our anchor windlass motor, needed to weigh our big Rocna anchor and half inch chain, began to quit on us. Our sat phone modem decided to join the windlass on the "gone bad" list, as did our dinghy outboard carburetor. Two weeks later, after getting an assist from family (thanks Cathy and crew!) to order a new windlass motor, we successfully replaced it and it works like a champ! We also have a new sat phone modem, and installed a new carburetor on the outboard. Not bad for a couple of new retirees.
So now we have have checked the weather, staged Pandion for the crossing to the Bahamas, and hope that we get some sleep tonight. It is an amazing experience to live your dream.
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| View of Bush Key from Fort Jefferson. Pandion is anchored in the lagoon. |
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