Hi to everyone on the list, I shared the following with a few friends on the list who want to be copied on emails to family while we cruise, but there was a learning experience available so I thought others here might find it interesting.
WE ARE CURRENTLY CROSSING FLORIDA TO WEST We came through the St Lucie locks a little while ago and now are a couple of hours from the low 49 foot RR bridge, with a mast we think is right up there with the antennas... but Lake Okeechobee is down so maybe we can get through the bridge. Its pretty still so we may approach it in reverse and see if we can fit before anything else. WE ANCHORED NEXT TO ICW FOR THE STORM Tuesday night anchored just North of Jupiter, just off the ICW where a heavy storm was forecast to come through. It was getting late in the afternoon and our friends we were traveling with (Norm and Pam in CHANCE, the boat I owned 10 yrs ago after I first started subscribing to the list) agreed we had made a long haul. The heavy storm squall line came threw between 10:30 and midnight and winds up to 50 in 1st gusts. It was a terrific storm but none of the lightning got us this time, unlike the Spring. WE ALMOST WRECKED ANGEL LOUISE ON A BRIDGE - Bridge tenders often want you to get too close (especially when current is pushing you towards them). The bridge tender just south of Jupiter Federal made us wait thirty minutes to the next half hour opening when he said we were too far back...(we weren't too far back as it takes three minutes for most of them to open). Anyway, just as we arrived at Jupiter Federal I was too close and almost lost the boat under the bridge - the U.S. #1 Federal Bridge! What a scare! Tide was full speed going out toward the ocean. Though operator said they were opening for us and did all but lift - he delayed opening the bridge. I Was upstream, going downstream toward bridge to the East in the direction of the ocean, way too fast due to heavy current but did not realize it would get worse... This time I got too close, while expecting the opening as promised, and it did not open. I tried to turn right and do a 180 degree turn back to head back upstream. As i tried to turn back I realized tide was way too fast and strong had me and was going to sweep us into and under the bridge as I was 1/2 way into the180 degree turn. If I continued the turn I was just going to go out of the channel (to the right) that goes thru the draw bridge and would be swept under the bridge. I was behind the power curve and had the taste of ashes in my mouth realizing the danger - but at last second the bridge started to open. It was only partly opened and I was approaching broadside fast with my left side leading and front too close to the right fender boards channel as we proceeded ... fearing I would hit the right side with the left bow. So, as we were swept towards the huge bridge with the left side of the boat toward the right side of the bridge boards I put the twin 37 hp Yanmars in full reverse (left transmission has not been working well and is due for an overhaul) and went full power all reverse in an attempt to back up to the small opening & liting part that would open first. Angel Louise responded just cleared the center opening (crosswise) far enough into the mid-channel. I did not know if I would make it, but apparently did. My Co-Capt Sue ran to the bow of our 41 foot Catamaran with a big fender as she realized our distress to shield us from the fender boards if we got swept into it by the strong current. We whizzed just inches from them, the current probably pushing us away from them a little. We were swept all the way under the bridge (Port side leading )still turned 90 degrees to our right side! If the above is all jumbled together - so was the event. A guardian Angel was fortunately looking after Angel Louise and we were pushed through fast without hitting anything... gaining control upon exit and turning left. Whew! As I left the other side, I got on the radio and said with a smile in my voice,"ANGEL LOUISE IS CLEAR." The young bridge tender said he was sorry - that this was the first time he had opened the bridge. Hope the exciting experience is not repeated by me or anyone on this list as it is a little too much excitement. After telling the event to a friend with twenty years cruising experience he advised he had actually approached and gone through a bridge backwards when there was a flood current as you have more control if everything goes to hell. Norm on Bandersnatch shared some of his vast experience too, but I will not copy that but hope he will. I have probably gone through hundreds of draw bridges all up and down the East Coast, but this will remain my most memorable. Wish someone had a Youtube video of it.. It would be a hit. SUE AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL (& SAFE) DAY! Ed & Sue Kelly aboard USSV Angel Louise DC Based SKYPE Phone # (202) 657-6357 please leave message for us You can see map and travel progress at http://tinyurl.com/EdandSue daily short posts on the web of experiences at http://twitter.com/@captedkelly
_______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list Liveaboard@liveaboardonline.com To adjust your membership settings over the web http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to liveaboard-j...@liveaboardonline.com To unsubscribe send an email to liveaboard-le...@liveaboardonline.com The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/liveaboard@liveaboardnow.org The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
