NOLA – Seabrook Marina

Date: Dec 5, 2019                                            

Arrival Time: 1500                           

Location:  NOLA

Weather:  Perfect 50 - 65             

Sea State:  ICW                

Destination: Tomorrow, Long shot for Cat Island, Mississippi Sound

Engine Hours:    1266                                                      

Crew:    Art

When you wish upon a star.

Comments:  Today was a long day in which we might have covered 25 miles.  We pulled up both anchors and left Lafitte at 630.  There was a slight fog but we enjoyed a beautiful, cool, smooth cruise through the Barataria Waterway that people pay guides to experience.  There are cabins on both sides with nice boats docked.  There was little traffic almost to the point of being eerie.  Eventually, the cabins turned into industry and work was all around.  We waited for countless bridges and one tug boat in the middle of the channel.  We made two locks.  The Harvey lock was a much better experience than I had in 2012, but the Industrial Canal lock delayed us over 2 hours.  Between the two locks is the Mighty Mississippi.  We traveled down the river aided by a four knot flow. 

Lafitte Anchorage – Barataria

Date: Dec 4, 2019                                            

Time:     Arrival 1300        

Location:  Lafitte  29 44.628 N, 90 8.140 W

Sea State:  ICW

Destination: Tomorrow -Seabrook Harbor and Marine

Engine Hours:    1260                                                      

Crew:    Art

The dink hanging in its cradle at Lafitte

Comments:  Today was pretty uneventful as we are settling into routines.  Art does most of the cooking and I the dishes, which we are better at.  We get up, punch the coffee button, eat breakfast, brush with Uncle Tom’s, check the engine fluids and belts, turn on the Spot, the engine and instruments, check the AIS for traffic, then pull up the anchor or untie the lines and go on our merry way.  I add things to my maintenance list throughout the day and work on them when we arrive. Finally, we do our homework for the following day.  

Houma City Dock (S. Mile 58)

Date: Dec 3, 2019                                            

Time:     Arrived at 1300 

Location:  Houma

Weather:  50-60, nice    

Sea State:  ICW                

Destination: Tomorrow Lafitte

Engine Hours:    1253                                                      

Crew:    Art

Eagles are evasive.  Though distant pic achieved.

Comments:  We had no electricity this morning so I started the little Honda generator and turned on the electric heater.  Art woke up cold, during the night, asking for more blankets.  I had a 20 degree sleeping bag that seemed to work.  I’ve got to keep my Swobbie, chef, line tender, helmsman, etc., comfortable.  We were concerned with our dockage last night, though our lines looked like a spider web.  However, we survived the swift currents and low tides.  There is a requirement to call Local Traffic at Berwick; I suppose because it’s a busy intersection of the Achafalaya and the ICW.  I called them immediately after breakfast and was shocked to hear we would probably be required to take an alternate route, perhaps 20 extra miles, around the Bayou Boufe lock due to some repairs.  He gave directions but all of the bayous are French names and with his swift spoken Cajun accent we couldn’t understand.  He said he would contact me back on Channel 11 shortly to give me permission to pass under the train bridge and more directions.  We immediately started untangling the spider web and prepared to shove off.  We were scrambling, confused and quickly digested our breakfast.  He called back about 10 minutes later and said the lock work was delayed and we would be able to transit through the Bayou Boufe lock.  How lucky is that, once again.  Those prayers from home are being answered.  He gave some other directions, naming locations like the 20 grand and mile 92, and mentioned the dredge boat, etc.

Berwick City Dock

Date: Dec 2, 2019 (Happy Birthday Chris)                                         

Time:     1700                      

Location:  Berwick city dock (ICW mile 96)

Weather: Great, high of 65 degrees, clear           

Sea State:  ICW                

Destination: Houma Tomorrow

Engine Hours:    1247                                                      

Crew:    Art

We made if further than this poor guy.

Comments:  We took on 17.6 gallons of diesel and topped off the water tanks before leaving Shell Morgan (N. Mile 160) at 1845.  Nice people.   The cost was $25 for overnight docking and diesel $2.28/gallon.  I was told the water was 3 feet below normal.  The wind gusted to 20 knots and the tide was against us most of the way to Berwick.  We averaged only about 5.5 knots.  I knew there were eagles during this stretch but I didn’t realize how many.  We saw about 7 during this 56 nautical mile stretch (64 statute miles).  This is really a beautiful stretch of Louisiana.  We crossed the Cote Blanche Island Cable Ferry.  I didn’t know they were still in existence.  I thought the name was interesting – Tripper III.  The intended docking was Morgan City on the Atchafalaya River, but we grounded twice trying to get in, in 4.5 feet of water, so we went across the river to the west bank and found 11 feet of water at the Berwick city dock.  Art was treated to some PAYC championship chili; the same recipe which Captain Greg won with in 2017.  (Sorry ladies, I just have to take a little jab).  After dinner we blew out the sink drain with the shop vac and emptied the trash.  No major maintenance items but I have started a list of minor items.  Houma tomorrow, God willing. 

Shell Morgan, Intracoastal City

Date: Dec 1, 2019                                            

Time:     1500                      

Location:  Shell Morgan, Intracoastal City, La.

Weather: Great, 65 degrees, clear          

Sea State:  ICW                

Destination: Morgan City Tomorrow

Engine Hours:    1236                                                      

Crew:    Art

Comments:  I awoke to Gunshot.  However I was not alarmed as we were anchored near the Mermentau River in a swamp, during duck season.    No clocks were set as we only had about 45 nautical miles to travel today.  I suppose legal shooting time was about 620.  The Mermentau anchorage is a beautiful cypress swamp.  We had coffee and were underway by 700.  When we left the river turning east bound into the ICW, someone named Greg cut the corner a little too soon.  After dropping the dinghy, pushing PV around a little we were again off, around 820.  We saw a beautiful eagle somewhere along the way but I was a little slow with the camera.  Later, while washing my hands I notice the water pressure dropped off and the fresh water pump continuously ran.  The fresh water strainer for the pump had split in half.  Fortunately I had a spare and repairs were made.  Passage was simple today with only one lock.  It was open with no delay.  We tied up at Shell Morgan around 2.  Being Sunday, everything is closed.  Gumbo for dinner. 

Mermentau River

S/V Pura Vida Ship’s Log, Mermentau

  

Date:   Nov 30 (Day 2)                                   

Time:     1900                      

Location:  Mermentau River

Weather: Northern blowing in tonight.  Had SE winds up to 28 knots today          

Sea State:  Intercoastal                 

Destination: East

Engine Hours:    1228                                                      

Crew:    Art

Comments:   Day 1, was short (14 nautical miles), as a jump off point for today.  We hoped to reach the Mermentau River today but didn’t expect to.  Plan B was to anchor about 2 miles north of the ICW, just off the Calcasieu River.  I called the locks about 6 miles away and they said it would be a 2+ hour wait.  Looked like it would be plan b.  We decided to go ahead to the lock, hoping.  Lady luck was with us and the dock master agreed to let us through with a small push boat when the west bound traffic cleared.  We thought it might 30 minutes.  We waited 1 ½ hours to get through the locks.   About 60+ n miles today.  4 bridges, (Elleander, Black bayou pontoon swing bridge, Grand lake pontoon bridge, then another fixed bridge.  Arrived at the Mermentau about 1730.  Art is a great crew, taking care of little brother.  It’s nice to have experience aboard.  Ruth I don’t get the Uncle Tom’s toothpaste.  Why is it black?  And what is this 18 in 1 Hemp Lavender Pure-Castile Soap.  Do we mix it with Rum or Tequila?  Great dinner tonight, courtesy of Bryce.  I raised you right. 

East bound - Bon Voyage

Well it's finally here.  A trip that has been planned for many years.  Pura Vida is cruise ready and well provisioned. Unfortunately, the winds are not in our favor; thus, we'll start the journey in the ICW.  Art (my brother) and I will shove off around noon tomorrow for a short sail to Shell Island.  We'll leave early the following morning in hopes of anchoring Saturday night in the Mermentau River, in Louisiana.  From there we have no schedule.  We'll keep moving east when the conditions are right.  Art will be with me for the first two weeks.  Bryce, my son will join me for the third week.  I'm hoping to be southbound, in Florida during that time.  Ruth, my lovely wife, will join me immediately after Christmas, hopefully in south Florida.

If you would like, select the Spot Tracker in the right column to follow.

About Our Journey toward the Bahamas

Pura Vida will set sail on a long planned journey towards the Bahamas on about November 29, 2019.  There is no agenda or timeline other than to be back in the U.S. by hurricane season, June 1.  The purpose of this blog, as of November 29, 2019, is to keep friends and family informed of our journey and whereabouts and to document the journey for our personal record.  The Spot Tracker listed on the right column will show our current location.  This Blog will publish the Ship's Log with a few comments, and perhaps pictures along the way.  Feel free to comment.

Transiting the 1000 Foot Cut (as submitted for TMCA)

The Sabine lake, located between southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas, has two major entrances. From the south, the lake is accessible from the Sabine Pass channel and under the Route 82 bridge. From the north, the best access for boats with drafts greater than 3 feet is through the 1000 foot cut.  I assume the cut is so named for its length.  My best guess is it is approximately 75 feet wide and 7 to 8 feet deep. Over the years it has been marked by PVC pipes, anchored floats and even floating barrels but because of storms and barge traffic they don't last.

Techno Boats

I remember many offshore fishing trips during the late '80's, in which we would leave from Freeport or Galveston with a compass heading, usually about 110 degrees, fish several rigs throughout the day, then reverse our heading, to go home, by adding or subtracting 180 degrees.  On the return trip we would look for landmarks to guide us safely back to our launch.  Most trips where 30 to 45 miles offshore; thus; out of sight of land, but we were never concerned for returning safely.  I believe I could probably do that now, but I seem to have become reliant on today's technology.

Delivering Le Bateau A' Voile

View from La Bateau A' Voile

Kelvin and Ginny recently sold their 40-foot Irwin, Le Bateau A' Voile,  to a gentleman in Corpus Christi. Part of the deal was to deliver it from Port Arthur to Corpus Christi. Kelvin graciously asked Butch and I to crew.  I jumped at the opportunity.  I've made many trips in the Gulf but never overnight, much less a two-day, two-night trip.  I took this as an opportunity to gain experience and knowledge from two old salts with a ton of experience.

In viewing weather projections, my concern was that we would be motoring the 240 mile trip, because of a lack of wind.  I was half-wrong.  The second half. 

Lighthouse Nostalgia

Sabine Bank Lighthouse

The PAYC 18 mile light race/cruise, scheduled for this past weekend, was canceled because of wind and current conditions.  I was really disappointed because it’s been a few years since the club actually completed this race and even more since I made the trip.  In fact, I last made that trip with my brother Art on his Catalina and don’t even remember if it was in this millennium. Regardless, it’s always nice to get offshore into the Gulf. 

Lighthouse Preserved

The 18 mile light, as we call it, officially named the Sabine Bank Lighthouse was built in 1903, to direct ships through the shallow Sabine Bank.  It is my understanding that very little of its structure still stands offshore; however, parts of it can still be found in the area.  For instance, the original third-order Fresnel lens, manufactured in Paris can be seen at the museum of the Gulf Coast (www.museumofthegulfcoast.org/) in Port Arthur.  Also, the top section of the lighthouse tower and the lantern room (pictured left) have been refurbished and can be seen at Lions Park in Sabine Pass, Texas. 

So what's the allure... Why sailing?

Sabine Lake Red

Many of us throughout life are drawn to various hobbies and toys. I'm no different. I've had my hobbies and toys that have enslaved me. I've always been fond of the water. I've had many power/fishing boats. I've also owned campers, motorcycles, cabin getaways and have had hunting leases. So what is it about sailing that has captured my interest? What is so appealing about moving through the water, without the excitement of speed?  

My friend Butch once told me that many of us have a dream. A dream of sailing off into the blue yonder, going to exotic places, adventuring and exploring.  The feeling of being free with no boundaries; except for those we put on ourselves.  

Where and What?

So where is Pura Vida and what do we do with her?....

Ruth and I spend most weekends, holidays and vacations aboard Pura Vida (PV).  In fact, approximately 47 or 48 weekends per year, the week of Thanksgiving, most of our two weeks we are off during Christmas and usually a couple weeks each summer are spent aboard.  When I say aboard, I mean we sleep on the boat, sometimes in our slip or anchored out or cruising to various anchorages or marinas.   When at home, we usually sail at least once per weekend.

Pura Vida

Making the journey down the ICW near Lafitte, LA, on the maiden voyage to Port Arthur, TX.

Pura Vida is a 36 foot, center cockpit, Beneteau sailing vessel.  I purchased her on August 29, 2012, in New Orleans, the day before Hurricane Isaac blew into the city.  I know.... not too smart to purchase a sailboat when a hurricane is blowing in.  However, I waited as long as possible before signing final papers.   I was in jeopardy of losing my down payment, if I didn't sign on that date. However, I had already secured insurance for $10,000 more than the purchase price.  So, I chanced losing my $7500 down payment, gaining $10K if lost to Isaac or gaining a very nice boat if no damage was done. What would you do?