Tuesday, June 29, 2010

From the Captain's Perspective

Hey All,

Scott is writing his version of the Key West to Kemah trip in his new blog: Sailing Science.

Click on the link and check it out!

over and out

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Day 6 Arrival!

They made it! Nothing broke and nobody died. Bloody Mary's were awaiting, thanks to Jen, as they tied up to the dock.

Final Lat/Long:
Latitude:29.54557
Longitude:-95.02865
GPS location Date/Time:06/26/2010 07:24:29 EDT

By my google map total distance is 769.591 nautical miles.

Can't wait to hear the stories.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Day 5 and Counting

Well they're getting close. The ETA is Saturday now. The opposing current and lack of wind have added a day to their trip.

Here's an email from Scott recieved yesterday:
Morning! Much excitement (and it doesn't take much) this morning. Another pod of dolphins was prancing about the bow and I went and sat there and watched them. Jay was down below downloading emails and Roger was asleep (auto-helm). When Jay came up he started hollering as nearly all the fishing line was racing out to sea. FISH ON!Took forever to reel in 1000 yards of line but worth it as there was a very large fish on the hook. We're having Mahi for lunch AND dinner today. Little wind - motor and main. Should hit the ship channel around 4:00 AM Saturday - Kemah later that morning. See you soon!

For those of you keeping track of the nautical miles I'm listing the lat/long reports from the beginning:

Date Time LAT LONG
6-21-10 08:10:27 24.56284 81.80609
6-21-10 16:17:17 24.47658 82.60577
6-21-10 20:03:06 24.44973 82.95004
6-21-10 22:57:57 24.50378 83.20925
6-22-10 05:07:51 24.82509 83.79071
6-22-10 07:57:00 24.95769 83.9726
6-22-10 17:05:42 25.44269 85.04053
6-22-10 18:35:42 25.53443 85.20159
6-22-10 23:44:41 25.78006 85.65888
6-23-10 08:17:30 26.14867 86.5168
6-23-10 09:45:29 26.19002 86.64132
6-24-10 02:39:41 26.9324 88.35954
6-24-10 06:07:00 27.10781 88.76423
6-24-10 08:57:58 27.23868 89.11275
6-24-10 14:05:00 27.48349 89.75311
6-25-10 02:05:06 28.04003 91.28268

According to my Google Map this is a total distance of 561.855 nautical miles.

Last night as I was just getting to my apartment when my cell phone rang. I look to see that Scott is calling me from his cell. What the What? He tells me that they are sailing through some oil rigs (not through the oil slick) and surprisingly discovered a strong signal of 4 bars. He just got off his watch (helm duty -- don't say duty) and was setting his alarm on his phone before he hit the hay (fell asleep). So that was a wonderful surprise.

'One more day, my johnny, one more day!'


Thursday, June 24, 2010

Day 4

This is Day 4 for the Rum Runner crew but this email I'm sharing with you was written by Scott late in the evening on Day 3. How's that for confusing!

Hey - Just got off watch and about to hit the rack. I'm back on at 2AM. LOts of motor today trying to get out of the opposing current. I think we'll be clear in a few more hours. A pod of about 12 dolphins entertained us today for several minutes including a baby about 2 feet long.

LOoks more and more like a saturday arrival.

Getting very weird to be out of sight of land for this long. Seems like we're not moving since we're always in the middle of the big blue bowl.

love you miss you. Share email with Leah. . . I just can't remember addresses!
s

Current (as in Day 4) Lat/Long:
Latitude:26.9324
Longitude:-88.35954
GPS location Date/Time:06/24/2010 02:39:41 EDT

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Day 3

So I didn't get a lat/long until well after 8 am today. Got a little worried but for no good reason.
Have received several emails from Captain Snappy today -- all for someone else. Well I guess I did have one in there just for me too, contents being: Did you forward my emails? Give a Cub update. So I do serve a purpose.

If you're missing the captain's 'voice' here's part of an email about his trip:
Day three of our passage from KEy West to KEmah, Tx which is in Galveston Bay. We sailed a lot the first day out of KEy West going just south of the dry tortugas before turning and heading wnw to KEmah. Much motoring since then as the wind has been dead on the stern. We've also found a 2-3 knot current against at our present position (26 14 N, 86 47 W)We should pop out of it by day's end. Total trip is around 800 miles. Hoping to make Kemah on Saturday. In the meantime, good crew, good fun, good food and HOT!

So that's today's update. Hope you're keeping safe and dry from the midwest storms.

Sailor Sue

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Key West to Kemah Texas

Just when you thought it was safe to sail ----
Captain Grandpa Scott is on the seas again!!!!!

Our Caribbean cruising friends Jay and Jen from Rum Runner were looking for crew to sail their boat from Key West, FL to their new home in Kemah, TX. We're so glad that we were on their list of possibilities!

Scott was most available since I'm working Full Time (actually I mostly have the summer off but a conference is happening this week so I wasn't available). And we contacted our buddy Roger from Texas who helped Scott and I sail Enee Marie from Long Island to Norfolk way back when. Great news -- Roger was also available for the trip.

After a few tough days* in Key West getting Rum Runner rigged for the trip, the crew was ready to set sail on Monday, June 21st. Jen pre-prepared all meals for the guys so they would eat healthy during their 900 mile 5 day trip. She then acquired crew of her own to help drive Kona the wonder dog from Key West to Kemah where they will await the arrival of Rum Runner. Will there be bagpipes and fireworks?

*Tough Days = closing most of the bars on Duval Street!!!

So here is my attempt to share the route of Rum Runner's journey homeward bound. Roger brought along a device that emails lat/long at the push of a button. So we are getting Rum Runner's position several times a day. Today I also got a phone call from Scott. How great to hear his voice! He said they had rough seas last night (their first night) with little wind but things have calmed down and they have some wind so were sailing 7 knots this afternoon.

Click on the link below and see what happens. What I would like to happen is that you will be directed to a google map that shows Rum Runners' traveled route so far.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=27.027403,-87.749066&z=6&t=h&hl=en

If this link doesn't work for you and you'd like to do your own tracking, here are the lat/long as sent via the "findmespot.com" device:

Date Time LAT LONG
6-21-10 08:10:27 24.56284 81.80609
6-21-10 16:17:17 24.47658 82.60577
6-21-10 20:03:06 24.44973 82.95004
6-21-10 22:57:57 24.50378 83.20925
6-22-10 05:07:51 24.82509 83.79071
6-22-10 07:57:00 24.95769 83.9726
6-22-10 17:05:42 25.44269 85.04053
6-22-10 18:35:42 25.53443 85.20159

I'll update daily so you'll be able to follow along.
Cheers!
Sailor Sue

THIS JUST IN FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO ---

6-22-10 23:44:41 25.78006 85.65888