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Subject: TWL: St Pete
From: Jean&Michael (jdmw@XXX.XXX)
Date: Fri Mar 01 2002 - 14:16:46 EST
Ahoy Listees- We made the trip from Mobile to St Pete, Fl in just over 500
statute miles, and are now totaling about 1,500 miles since leaving
Louisville, Ky last Oct. Our first night out was spent at the Pensacola YC
on my 50th b'day, Feb 1. Got the one complimentary night there, then moved
the on over to meet and stay with the infamous listee, Bob Austin and his
attractive wife, Marie. They showed us some wonderful southern hospitality-
once again- thanks Bob.
Next, 2 nights at the Pensacola Marina, where my Sis and hubby joined us.
Took the Naval Air tour, which was great. Then east to Destin, Panama City
and Apalacicola. Cold, wet and windy. The primary racor on each engine
decided to start plugging up, so ran on one engine in the ditch while
changing the filter on the other.
Moved up the Gulf crossing by 2 days as there was a weather window. Left
Apalacicola in the dark at 4:30 AM and cleared Government Cut about a hour
later. In the Gulf we were moving about 15 MPH at 2600 rpm with the wind
directly on the stern. Our exhaust was passing us a little faster than I
walk, so guestimated the wind at 20 MPH and waves at 3-5 feet. That was OK
for about half an hour until we set our heading for Tarpon Springs at 129
degrees, which brought the wind and waves around to the stern starboard
quarter. What a ride for the next 8 hours surfing along. Once saw just over
23 MPH on the GPS! My poor sis did follow after her fathers lead, barfing
most of the
morning. Around 1 PM things had calmed down, sun was out, and we
reached the buoy off Tarpon about 5 PM. Up Anaclote River to Maverick Marina
for a couple of nights, then Clearwater Muni and finally home to St Pete in
a covered slip downtown.
Speaking of the GPS, we have a Garmin 126 on the bridge and a Garmin 12
handheld at the lower station. The 126 has a built in antenna, is e/z to
read
and operate, was inexpensive, and is right-on accurate.
Michael Wilkie
MV Dancin' Dolphin
Grass Valley, CA
Moored at St Pete Muni, Fl
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