Wolperts Blog

Plan 3 times, cruise Once, great day

In contracting the saying goes measure twice cut once.  In boating, especially in solo excursions on the ocean the saying should be plan 3 times and cruise once.

I made the crossing today across the Gulf Stream from Palm Beach to West End Grand Bahama.  I was lucky with the weather as the winds were low so the overall ocean conditions were very good.  Today's trek was about 70 miles and I did it in about 4 hours including breaks for snacks, restroom (they were everywhere :-)) etc.

In thinking through today I would say that the planning for today, while not physically as challenging, was more work than the ride itself.  Countless hours went into planning routes, having backup systems for backup systems, having several plans of what to do in the case of an emergency.  And fortunately all that planning paid off and sans the minor mishaps below everything went perfectly.

I arrived in the Bahamas around 11.  I had to sport a yellow quarantine flag which I was never able to find so I tied an old yellow t-shirt that Carrington let me have to the ski.  I pulled up to the customs dock.  You should have seen the look on the immigration officers.  They asked be at least 2-3 times the name of my vessel before they realized "it doesn't have no name man 'cause its just a wave runner".  They called many over on VHF channel 10 to greet me and to talk to the crazy guy who brought his wave runner from Palm Beach.  Everyone was very pleasant and gracious

I will be posting some photos and videos soon.  In the meantime here are the highlights

Number of times something went wrong while out in the ocean crossing the gulf stream: 0

Bonehead maneuver....Knocking the GoPro camera and its suction mount off of the waverunner as I was pulling up to the dock at customs

Undoing the bonehead maneuver.  Diving down into the channel, was only about 15 ft, and retrieving said go pro camera

Grossest Moment.  Walking out of my hotel room and wondering why the guy driving by me was watering the lawn by driving a truck with a tank on the back spraying water into the air.  Then as I took a few steps into the cloud realizing that it was bug spray not water.  eeeccchhhhh

Most Embarrassing Moment-on behalf of Americans.  The Bahamian people have all been wonderful.  They are helpful polite and respectful.  Some of them will stay near the docks and offer a hand to an incoming vessel in exchange for a tip.  On one occasion I walked by an "ugly american" standing on the back of his multi million dollar yacht aruging with the local gentleman that had just carried his bags ashore that $3/bag was simply too expensive.  To the Bahamian people, I apologize on his behalf

Bahama Hero of the Day.  Carrington from Greater Yamaha in Palm Beach.  He met me at his store this morning at 5:30 to drive me over to the launch ramp.  He has gone above an beyond in helping me with this trip

safely at West End Grand Bahama! Going to rest, will post more later

Departing ramp. Updates will slow down but spot tracking on

Up before the sun. 3 hrs sleep. Ready to go

I am ready!

Kinkos laminating fl registration. Still no yellow quaranteen flag...

At greater yamaha with carrington. He is custom welding a gas rack

Radio shack. Memory for helmet cam and batteries

On Plane-Agenda for the first few days

on the plane as i write this.  i am very excited.  i am also nervous.  but mostly in a good way.  based on conditions in the ocean, air, me :-) etc the schedule will not be exact.  Here is the outline for the next few days keeping in mind it is best to depart from FL into the GulfStream for the crossing as early in the am as possible

 

Sat 5/30

arrive MIA at 8p

Rent Car at Hertz

Drive to Palm Beach Fl

Stay in Palm Beach

Check on weather

 

Sun 5/31

Day in Palm Beach preparing supplies and wave runner for trip

Check Weather

Need to pick up a few things including a square yellow quarantine flag that must be raised when i first pull into immigration in the bahamas, 3, 2 gallon gas containers(easier to use out in the ocean than a 5 gallon container), etc

Meet with Carrington at Greater Yamaha late morning.  Fully load and prepare ski.  All equipment Gas etc

Spend a few hours with Capt Dave of Starboard Yachts reviewing all of my routes and fuel stops for the entire trip-still a little concerned about fuel between West End Grand Bahama and Spanish Cay (90 miles)

Reread guide  to Abacos, re-review MapSource way points routes etc.  Make sure all GPS units updated with the latest update

Get some rest

Check Weather

 

Mon 6/1

Check Weather

recalibrate gps compasses

Meet Carrington from Greater Yamaha at the launch ramp at 6a.  Please note Carrington lives 30 minutes from the shop and the launch ramp and offered to drive the ski over and help me launch it at 6a.  He has been amazingly helpful

Hopefully depart Palm Beach Harbour by 6:30 at the latest all loaded up.  The equipment will be spread something like this

 

    Mounted on the ski Primary GPS unit, Spot personal satellite tracking system.  Attached to my body, second gps unit, Epirb, satellite phone, marine radio and rhapsody sansa player. 

 

In this way even if I am fully seperated from the ski I will have a satellite tracking unit, phone, radio, etc etc

 

The ride from Palm Beach to West End Grand Bahama is about 60 miles.  If conditions are really good this could be a very straightforward ride and take 3 hours.  If conditions are not so good could take 4-6 hours and be much harder on my body (I will be on the 5th day of my steroid treatments Monday so they should have kicked in by then and helped my neck and arm)

I should be able to see FL behind me for about 10-15 miles.  West End is not visible until you are about 8 miles away.  This means I will have about 35 miles with no land in sight. 

 

In GPS you must trust.  Anyone who has done significant boating or flying knows IN GPS U MUST TRUST.  There are numerous situations when your eyes and your brain want to tell you to go in a specific direction.  NEVER let that override what the GPS is telling you.  The GPS is not tired.  It is not excited.  It is not nervous.  I has no emotions.  I just knows where it is and which way to go to get where you are going.  Don't worry about the fact you cant see any land.  Don't meander looking for land.  Trust the GPS

 

My guess is that I will be pretty tense for the first 30-40 miles.  It is ocean that I have never been in before.  The ocean is unpredictable even if you are familiar with it.  I will have more than half of the ride ahead of me.  I will be on high alert watching everything around me intensely and listening to everything intensely (the sound of the engine, the water, noises in the distance etc).  Once I reach about 35-40 miles I believe I will relax quite a bit.  I will be coming to the end of the main current of the gulf stream, i will have less than half of the trip to go, i will have become comfortable in the waters there (lets hope) and i should relax pretty well from there

 

When I arrive in Grand Bahama I have to clear customs.  As I pull into the harbor I must raise the yellow quarantine flag and pull up to customs.  Secure my craft and proceed directly into customs with my passport, vessel registration etc etc and purchase a cruising permit for the Bahamas ($150 for up to 30 days).  Once I do this I will be good to go.  I am going to spend the first night at the Old Bahama Bay which is right there at west end. 

 

I have no other hotel reservations for the entire trip as I cant be sure where I might end up on any particular day.  This is one of the wonderful parts of the adventure.  If I love somewhere I am I can stay a little longer.  If I don't like it I can just stay one night, or even ride through.

 

I have contacted and know all the possible places where I will stay and get fuel.  The hotels are not full and they told me to call them the day before and they should have room.  If one place is full I will try the next. 

 

The plan for 6/2 is to go from West End Grand Bahama to Spanish Cay.  This will be the longest day miles wise (about 90) but not across the gulf stream so should be pretty smooth and beautiful waters. Gas will be the big focus this day

At lax airport. About to board flight to mia. Early for my flight!!