Logbook Tales – Cumberland Key to Nassau, Pt 2. The Florida Straits

• By Michael Smart
• July 14, 2014
• 3 Comments

Tuesday December 22rd, 0730 hrs. Heading east, course 060 degrees.

The sun rose two points off the starboard bow, bathing the eastern horizon in glorious, brilliant pink. Joni continues to accompany me during my watches, acclimating herself to the sleep-wake routine of the watches. We had visitors early in the watch, a U.S sub-tender drew close to inspect us. Joni drew hearty cheers and good mornings from the crewmen on deck.

1930 hrs. Nightfall of our second day at sea. Already time aboard has ceased to have meaning except for navigation and watch changes. There are glowing patches on the horizon, like some ungodly form of radiation rising from the sea in the distance.

We’ve been on a starboard tack for a full night and day, finally out of the Gulf Stream, crossing the Florida Straits. The ship’s’ motion is easier through the undulating ocean, a series of gently rolling blue hills, but Charlie is still ensconced below with a bucket by his side. And no one aboard has been able to persuade Gypsy to pee or poop, despite placing paper and old rope around the deck for her.

2200 hrs. The lights of Grand Bahama island are dead ahead. We come about onto the port tack, and head south away from the island. The wind hadn’t shifted as we’d hoped, meaning a beat to windward and numerous tacks to make Nassau. We’d already tacked twice during the day.

Wednesday December 23rd, 0930 hrs.

Heading south on the port tack for the Berry Islands and the Northeast Providence Channel, the mark for our next tack. The wind still hasn’t shifted, and is light across a calm sea, providing Joni a chance to practice steering. Charlie is finally out of his bunk, on his feet, and spending the morning on deck. Gypsy still hasn’t moved her bladder or bowels.

More visitors during the day, this time a pod of dolphins playing across our bow and zipping along Dugong’s sides. Their presence following us, breathtaking; their playful antics, spectacular. But their presence perhaps having the greatest effect on Gypsy, who at 1115 hrs, to the jubilant cheers of all hands, finally peed, for a full three minutes.

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More Logbook Tales – true stories from the author’s flying and sailing logbooks.

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