Trip Report # 13:  Return to the U.S.A.

Filed from Cape Canaveral

26  32.84  N   077  03.56  W

May 1 , 2006

Photo:  Sunset in Marsh Harbor

    After Tim & Becky left on Sunday, the 23rd of April, we went back to the boat and turned our minds toward getting the boat ready to leave on Monday or Tuesday.  We got a call from George and Nancy, on Trumpeter, who informed us that they were anchored in front of the boat on our port bow.  We had not noticed them the night before when we anchored in Marsh Harbor, as we were busy getting ready to go in to town for dinner.  Unfortunately, they were just about to leave and we at least got to wave to them.  We hope to see them when they pass through Oriental on their way home.

Photo:  George & Nancy on Trumpeter leave Marsh Harbor

    We were surprised to find that the laundry in Marsh Harbor and the grocery store, Price Right, were open, which was very helpful to us.  After doing our chores, we put the dinghy on deck and checked in with Herb on Southbound II for the weather forecast.  He was watching a cold front in North Carolina, along which some low pressure systems were forming in a string-of-pearls pattern, which could give us problems.  We decided to leave right away and try to get somewhere along the east coast, at least near to Beaufort, before the front became a problem.

    On Monday morning, we left out of the north Man-O-War channel at first light and continued on, motor sailing all day in light winds.  Along the shore on the Atlantic side of the Abaco islands, we picked up a 1-1 1/2 knot frustrating adverse current, which persisted from the area around Powell Cay to the Matanilla Shoal.  We were trying to keep our speed up to 6 knots, but because of the current, we were only able to average 4 1/2 knots - very frustrating, when we were trying to beat the weather.

    Herb informed us that the cold front would indeed be a problem for us if we continued north.  He was concerned that the wind could become gale force and even storm force.  We thought we might be able to get to Jacksonville, but he advised that we get across the gulf stream, heading directly west, before we got the predicted northerly wind shift.

    We finally passed Matanilla Shoal before midnight and started to pick up a neutral and even a half knot favorable current.  We were also able to sail, with the wind from the southwest at 15-20 knots.  Once in the gulf stream, we got a 2 knot favorable current.  About 10:30 am on Tuesday, we got a wind shift to the northwest, light at first and then picking up to about 15 knots, with steep wind driven waves appearing very quickly. The wind steadied and then diminished toward late afternoon and switched back into the southeast.

    Herb seemed happy to hear us say that we were approaching Cape Canaveral and would tuck in there.  We sailed into the channel at Cape Canaveral and tied up to a T-dock at Cape Marina just at dark.

    The next morning, we found that Cape Marina was full.  They did not have a slip for us, but recommended other marinas nearby.  We also found that the rate for the T-dock was $100/night - Mama Mia!  We paid our money and left for a slip at Scorpion Newport - also expensive, but one of the few slips available in the area, as there was a fishing tournament being held through the week and the marinas were just chock full of big sports fishing boats.

    Tom checked in with the US Customs Office, a long walk from Cape Marina. The process took a while, because we were informed that we first had to purchase a Customs Border decal, which we did not know.  The Customs Office does not sell these and they must be purchased on line.  Tom walked back to the boat where we had a rather weak wi-fi connection.  The government site is not exactly user friendly, but we were finally able to purchase our decal and provide the Customs Office with the number. It was required that every member of the crew be present at the Customs Office, something we were also not aware of, so both of us went back to the office, and this time we took a cab. Once we had all the pieces together, it went smoothly and only took a few minutes, but we can't help but wonder what cruisers from other countries do when faced with this fairly complex process.  

    We will leave Starboard Home here in Cape Canaveral and let all the fronts and low pressure systems pass over, while we drive home.  Peg will be on her way to Albuquerque to care for her grand daughter, Anastasia, and our friend, Keith, will come back to Cape Canaveral with Tom to sail Starboard Home back to Oriental.

                        73s, 88s, love & hugs -

                        Peg & Tom Maynard

                        s/v Starboard Home

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