DS II in the Florida 120
Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 10:44 pm
I took my boat on the FL120 cruise from Josephine, AL to Navarre Beach, FL and back last week. Total distance sailed for me was 106 miles, all single handed and motorless. I thought you might enjoy the photos.
Below is my GPS track for the trip. Light blue represents Thursday and Friday; red is Saturday and Sunday. The first two days were upwind, obviously.
Day 1: split tacks. The winds were strong and I spent the whole day reefed and a good part of it under main alone. To cover the 13 miles to our first night's destination required 22 miles of sailing and 95 tacks! Did I mention the current was also against us in the narrow part of the ICW?
Coming in to Navarre on Day 2, I ran aground about a quarter of a mile from the beach after nearly nine hours of sailing. When the board kicked up, the "up" cable got tangled somehow by wrapping around the tang it is attached to. The board would not go up or down so we had to effect repairs on the beach. We hauled the boat down by the jib halyard and had someone hold the mast while I worked. The repairs were successful.
Getting ready to leave Navarre, loaded down like the Grapes of Wrath. I brought too much stuff.
Blasting down Santa Rosa Sound. I really need a boom vang!
Arriving at Sand Island at the mouth of Pensacola Bay. Here you can see where I rigged the boat for rowing. I didn't need to use that option very much last week, but I was glad to have her ready to go for the few times I did. Sailing is a lot more satisfying though.
Overall I'm thrilled with how she performed. The DS also proved to be one of the faster boats on the trip, especially on the upwind legs.
Below is my GPS track for the trip. Light blue represents Thursday and Friday; red is Saturday and Sunday. The first two days were upwind, obviously.
Day 1: split tacks. The winds were strong and I spent the whole day reefed and a good part of it under main alone. To cover the 13 miles to our first night's destination required 22 miles of sailing and 95 tacks! Did I mention the current was also against us in the narrow part of the ICW?
Coming in to Navarre on Day 2, I ran aground about a quarter of a mile from the beach after nearly nine hours of sailing. When the board kicked up, the "up" cable got tangled somehow by wrapping around the tang it is attached to. The board would not go up or down so we had to effect repairs on the beach. We hauled the boat down by the jib halyard and had someone hold the mast while I worked. The repairs were successful.
Getting ready to leave Navarre, loaded down like the Grapes of Wrath. I brought too much stuff.
Blasting down Santa Rosa Sound. I really need a boom vang!
Arriving at Sand Island at the mouth of Pensacola Bay. Here you can see where I rigged the boat for rowing. I didn't need to use that option very much last week, but I was glad to have her ready to go for the few times I did. Sailing is a lot more satisfying though.
Overall I'm thrilled with how she performed. The DS also proved to be one of the faster boats on the trip, especially on the upwind legs.