This year's New Year's Eve Cruise is at Lake Boca
Because of the tide times, we decided to spend the night at Lake Sylvia after an easy motor from the Dock.
The following morning, we left the lake early, it was low tide and we nudged the bottom despite hugging the East side of the canal. As we headed out of the lake, there was a Forty something sailboat listing heavily, they had an 8' draft and were way to close to the canal center line even at high tide. They acknowledged that they had about a 5 hour wait. Hope they got off easily without any damage.
We motored up the ICW, making all of the bridges, we did cut it too close to the inside bend before the Hillsboro Inlet Bridge and came to a smooth, sandy bottom, stop. It was a none event, we had turned towards the deeper part and easily motored off. Gotta pay attention
Diversion was already at Lake Boca when we arrived, not many other boats, so we had the pic of anchoring spots. We backed down hard knowing the weather might kickup over the weekend.
As the afternoon wore on, more of the club boats arrived and we prepared for the Champagne Party that evening aboard Into the Blue and Chesshire.
We took a dish of appetizers made at the last minute from what we had onboard. Cocktail sticks, Cheese, Grapes, Slice of Ham on a piece of Cucumber. Worked out great, they disappeared.
We took a dink ride over to the park and Peggy practiced her Dinghy exit plan - success, her workouts are having a very positive effect, we even went for a 20 minute walk to the bridge and around the park. We also dumped our trash. There's Water at the park if we had water containers to fill.
Sunday We had the chance to chat with Halabaloo and some friends of Jeff Miskin's but everyone else abandoned the lake by Sunday afternoon. By Monday we were one of the few boats left on the lake despite it being New Year's Eve and the promise of a great fireworks display close to the lake.
So we left the lake Monday morning and took the inside route back to the slip. We were home with time to prep dinner of Crab Cakes (Thanks Shawn!)
The following morning, we left the lake early, it was low tide and we nudged the bottom despite hugging the East side of the canal. As we headed out of the lake, there was a Forty something sailboat listing heavily, they had an 8' draft and were way to close to the canal center line even at high tide. They acknowledged that they had about a 5 hour wait. Hope they got off easily without any damage.
We motored up the ICW, making all of the bridges, we did cut it too close to the inside bend before the Hillsboro Inlet Bridge and came to a smooth, sandy bottom, stop. It was a none event, we had turned towards the deeper part and easily motored off. Gotta pay attention
Diversion was already at Lake Boca when we arrived, not many other boats, so we had the pic of anchoring spots. We backed down hard knowing the weather might kickup over the weekend.
As the afternoon wore on, more of the club boats arrived and we prepared for the Champagne Party that evening aboard Into the Blue and Chesshire.
We took a dish of appetizers made at the last minute from what we had onboard. Cocktail sticks, Cheese, Grapes, Slice of Ham on a piece of Cucumber. Worked out great, they disappeared.
We took a dink ride over to the park and Peggy practiced her Dinghy exit plan - success, her workouts are having a very positive effect, we even went for a 20 minute walk to the bridge and around the park. We also dumped our trash. There's Water at the park if we had water containers to fill.
Sunday We had the chance to chat with Halabaloo and some friends of Jeff Miskin's but everyone else abandoned the lake by Sunday afternoon. By Monday we were one of the few boats left on the lake despite it being New Year's Eve and the promise of a great fireworks display close to the lake.
So we left the lake Monday morning and took the inside route back to the slip. We were home with time to prep dinner of Crab Cakes (Thanks Shawn!)
A fun weekend, even if we didn't get to sail. But I'd rather be on the boat under motor than mowing the lawn!
Looking forward to getting out there, hope to see you on the water.
Next Club trip is the Chili Cookoff on Feb 9th.
Meanwhile, we're still prepping for our trip to the Abacos in March/April.
Shopping list includes:
- AIS Transponder (replacing our AIS recever)
- New Fishing Gear: Rod, Gaff, Lures, Fillet Knife.
- New Cabin lighting to replace those that have failed in the past few months. (Galley lamp, Reading lamp, Aft Berth lamp).
- Holding tank Beckson access plate (I know, never want to use it but need to clean the tank)
- Add rail tubes Port and Stbd sides for Fuel & Water tanks.
- Purchase 4 x 6 Gallon Water tanks
- Make Covers for new Water tanks and remaining Fuel Tanks.
- Top up Propane tanks (1 is already full)
- Clear up the Tool storage area to enable Non-perishable food storage.
- Gearbox Oil Change
- Clean out Water tanks & replace all water filters (3 on the boat 1 on the boat refill assembly)
- A few other things that might get done - crack the list above first.
Sailing - It's fun even when it's just time preparing.
See you on the water.