Ship’s Log to Dauphin Island, AL

Date: Dec. 7, 2019                                           

Arrival Time:  1745          

Location:  Dauphin Island, AL

Weather:  Cloudy            

Sea State:  Rough chop, 5 feet  

Destination Tomorrow:  Day off

Engine Hours:  1284                                                                        

Crew:  Art           

Sunset over the Gulf

Comments:  The anchor alarm went crazy at 2015 last night as we drifted 145 feet from where it was set.  We had about 70 feet of chain out in only 7 feet of water knowing there was a northern blowing in overnight.  No, the Mantus was not dragging, but we knew when the front hit with winds shifting from 85 degrees to 350 degrees.  We reset the anchor alarm and went to bed.  It held there throughout the night with winds near 15 and an occasional gust to about 20.  One advantage being anchored, especially with just a bow anchor, is you are usually facing the wind; thus, it was not a bouncy night.  However, it was an eerie feeling knowing that if the anchor gave way we would drift straight out into the gulf.  Now I’m glad I spent the extra money to get the big 45 pounder and 3/8 inch chain. 

PV did well today. Ruth picked a good boat. After eating breakfast, we pulled the outboard off the dinghy, pulled up the anchor around 700 and headed back to Cat Island Pass eventually steering to the east. We were hoping the winds would be more from the NW in consideration of making an over nighter offshore to Pensacola but unfortunately it was from the NE.  We decided to get back into the MS Sound fighting the head winds inside verses offshore.  And what a fight it was.  For the next couple hours after rounding the east coast of Cat Island we found a rough 5-foot chop on the nose. Stretched out 5 foot swells would have been better.  No need to wash the anchor or bow tonight as both regularly dug into the waves. I will need to clean the salt off the dodger windshield though.  The seas started settling around 1030 though the headwinds stayed near 18. At 1300, with the wind about 45 degrees off our port bow we set both sails and shut off the engine.  With the sails our speed increased from 5.7 to 6.5 knots.  It was nice to finally have a true sail and it helped stabilize the boat. We followed the routes we set and made an occasional adjustment.  We finally made it to Dauphin Island around 1630 and dropped anchor about 150 yards off the Gulf side beach, in 17 feet of water.  Art has given me the day off tomorrow, meaning no alarm clock and a little inland dinghy trip to the island.