****
As I was looking back through our log book at the entries for our last days in the Bahamas before we crossed the Gulf Stream and headed back to the States at the end of the season, one thing stuck out at me - squalls.
Then I remembered that famous line from the classic cult movie, Captain Ron:
He looked up from his computer and shrugged his shoulders. Then he went back to what he was doing. I'm guessing he was probably on some sailing and cruising forum chatting with other folks about how much they love the movie Captain Ron.
For those of you who haven't heard of Captain Ron, I'm guessing you don't have a boat and aren't into sailing. Because, at least here in the States, you're not allowed to buy a boat and sail in US territorial waters unless you've watched Captain Ron at least ten times.
Knowing navigational rules, sure that's kind of important, but being able to quote Captain Ron, that's the golden ticket to becoming a full-fledged sailor.
As an aside...you realize that you folks who haven't seen Captain Ron are the only ones who are going to read this blog going forward. All the boat-loving sailing types are going to shun me now. They'd probably be understanding if I said that I ate stir-fried kittens for breakfast, but not loving Captain Ron, well, that's enough to get you marooned on a deserted island somewhere.
When we were visiting our friends in Atlanta during our Hurricane Irma evacuation, everyone got all excited about watching Captain Ron one night. Everyone except me, that is.
While they chuckled away during the movie, I messed around on my computer looking for support groups for folks who aren't obsessed with Captain Ron. There aren't any by the way. There are, however, support groups for folks who eat bugs, mothers of alien hybrid children and people who yell at inanimate objects. You'll be reassured to know that I don't feel the need to join any of these groups.
So, anyway, back to squalls. We had a number of them. There you are, happily sailing along when >>Bam!<< the wind kicks up, it starts chucking down rain, visibility goes down and you see lightening circling around you, threatening to strike your mast and sink your boat. Lightening can be kind of evil that way.
Most of the squalls were minor annoyances. As Captain Ron says, they did in fact come on us fast and leave us fast. Some had heavy enough rain that we were able to strip down and take a shower on deck. (I know that might sound weird to some of you, but, hey, when you don't carry a lot of water on board and your last shower was a couple of days ago, the chance for a fresh water rinse courtesy of Mother Nature, is always welcome.)
Then there was the squall that had us bobbing around for an hour trying to wait it out rather than sail through its ominous clouds, thunder and lightening strikes. That one was annoying. But it eventually passed too.
Oh, well, that's part and parcel of sailing. Sometimes the weather is with you, other times, it isn't. As Captain Ron says:
See, there I go again, quoting Captain Ron. Where's a support group when you need one?
Then I remembered that famous line from the classic cult movie, Captain Ron:
"It's just a squall. They come on ya fast and they leave ya fast."A few seconds later, I looked at Scott and screamed:
"What have you done to me? I'm quoting lines from Captain Ron to myself! What kind of monster have you turned me into?"
He looked up from his computer and shrugged his shoulders. Then he went back to what he was doing. I'm guessing he was probably on some sailing and cruising forum chatting with other folks about how much they love the movie Captain Ron.
For those of you who haven't heard of Captain Ron, I'm guessing you don't have a boat and aren't into sailing. Because, at least here in the States, you're not allowed to buy a boat and sail in US territorial waters unless you've watched Captain Ron at least ten times.
Knowing navigational rules, sure that's kind of important, but being able to quote Captain Ron, that's the golden ticket to becoming a full-fledged sailor.
As an aside...you realize that you folks who haven't seen Captain Ron are the only ones who are going to read this blog going forward. All the boat-loving sailing types are going to shun me now. They'd probably be understanding if I said that I ate stir-fried kittens for breakfast, but not loving Captain Ron, well, that's enough to get you marooned on a deserted island somewhere.
When we were visiting our friends in Atlanta during our Hurricane Irma evacuation, everyone got all excited about watching Captain Ron one night. Everyone except me, that is.
While they chuckled away during the movie, I messed around on my computer looking for support groups for folks who aren't obsessed with Captain Ron. There aren't any by the way. There are, however, support groups for folks who eat bugs, mothers of alien hybrid children and people who yell at inanimate objects. You'll be reassured to know that I don't feel the need to join any of these groups.
So, anyway, back to squalls. We had a number of them. There you are, happily sailing along when >>Bam!<< the wind kicks up, it starts chucking down rain, visibility goes down and you see lightening circling around you, threatening to strike your mast and sink your boat. Lightening can be kind of evil that way.
Most of the squalls were minor annoyances. As Captain Ron says, they did in fact come on us fast and leave us fast. Some had heavy enough rain that we were able to strip down and take a shower on deck. (I know that might sound weird to some of you, but, hey, when you don't carry a lot of water on board and your last shower was a couple of days ago, the chance for a fresh water rinse courtesy of Mother Nature, is always welcome.)
Then there was the squall that had us bobbing around for an hour trying to wait it out rather than sail through its ominous clouds, thunder and lightening strikes. That one was annoying. But it eventually passed too.
Oh, well, that's part and parcel of sailing. Sometimes the weather is with you, other times, it isn't. As Captain Ron says:
If anything is going to happen, it's going to happen out there.
See, there I go again, quoting Captain Ron. Where's a support group when you need one?
****
Cruising Log | Thursday, 20 July 2017 - Friday, 28 July 2017
20 JULY
Anchor up at Marsh Harbour at 9:30 AM. Two fun-filled squalls. Calm conditions thru the Whale Cay Cut. Had to wait for the tide to go into White Sound at Green Turtle Cay. Anchor down at 2:45 PM.
Nautical Miles = 22. Engine = 5 hrs 15 mins. Spending = $9.97
21 JULY
Got 5 gallons diesel and 5 gallons water at Green Turtle Club Marina. Anchor up at 9:45 AM. Depths in channel out of White Sound lower than expected. Catamaran came into channel as we were making our way out. Wish they would have forewarned folks on the VHF and waited until we got out. Tight maneuvering, skinny water, fortunately no grounding occurred. Three fun-filled squalls. Squall #1 okay. Had to wait for Squall #2 to move on. Squall #3 brought lots of heavy rain and an opportunity to take a rain shower on deck. Anchor down at 3:15 PM at Allans-Pensacola Cay. Only one of two boats anchored there.
Nautical Miles = 23. Engine = 5 hrs 30 mins. Spending = $25.24 (diesel and water).
22 JULY
Anchor up 8:45 AM. Anchor down 6:00 PM at Great Sale Cay. One fun-filled squall. More rain showers on deck. Lifeline broke, same place as before.
Nautical Miles = 35. Engine = 7 hrs 45 mins. Spending = Nil.
23 JULY
Fixed lifeline. Cleaned off knot meter. Made bread and put soup in Wonderbag to cook while en route. Anchor up at 9:45 AM. Sailed without chartplotter for fun. Never know when it might stop working (like that time we were trying to get out of Georgetown). No squalls - hallelujah. Anchor down at 7:00 PM near Sandy Cay on the banks. Got really rolly overnight.
Nautical Miles = 43. Engine = 9 hrs 15 mins. Spending = Nil.
24 JULY
Scott got up at 2:30 AM to prep engine and boat for Gulf Stream crossing. Ellen got up at 5:30 AM to make passage food. Anchor up at 6:30 AM. The crew is feeling cranky and tired. Fought the tide getting out of the banks. Not a great day for sailing. Should have been great, but it wasn't. Wind was either non-existent or on our nose for the most part. Boo. Challenges with tide getting into Lake Worth inlet. Went to our usual spot to anchor but folks were there. Didn't they know we were coming? Ended up anchoring further south in Lake Worth. Finally got anchor down at 8:00 PM. Cleared in with Customs & Border Patrol over the phone and then off to bed.
Nautical Miles = 64. Engine = 13 hrs 45 mins. Spending = Nil.
25 JULY - 26 JULY
Very hot overnight. Moved up to North Lake Worth. Stopped at fuel dock at Riviera Beach Marina. Very hot during the day. Went to Publix (close by anchorage). Very cold inside. Air conditioning is awesome. Lazed about and complained about the heat.
Nautical Miles = 6. Engine = 2 hours (including oil change). Spending = $99.10 (groceries & diesel)
27 JULY
Anchor up at 8:50 AM. Anchor down in Pendarvis Cove (near Stuart) at 3:00 PM. It's still hot. Nautical Miles = 28. Engine = 6 hrs 10 mins. Spending - Nil.
28 JULY
Anchor up at 9:00 AM. Back at Indiantown Marina that afternoon and into our old slip. It's still hot. #1 priority after docking - plugging into shore power and getting the portable A/C unit turned on.
Ever seen Captain Ron? If so, what did you think? What are your favorite movie quotes? What movies have you seen more than once?
Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - we'd love for you to pop by and say hi!
Ha ha. Reminds me of a time when we were camping in France. The french campers began digging trenches around their tents one afternoon even though it was hot, sunny and seemed fine. I persuaded my hubby to do the same, even though we only had a beach spade, and we were glad he did when the wind suddenly picked up out of nowhere bringing huge clouds, torrential rain and the worst lightning storm I've ever experienced. But hey ho we survived, as did the tent. The tree at the bottom of the campsite and the scaffolding around the bar area? Another story!
ReplyDeleteSmart idea to dig a trench, although it must have taken for every with a beach spade.
DeleteI like most Kurt Russell movies. That is not one of them. Good thing I don't have a boat.
ReplyDeleteYep, they wouldn't let you into the club :-)
DeleteWow. Captain Ron is a religion! My nieces and nephew will join your club. They wanted to watch Matt's favorite movie, he obliged, they wanted to be anywhere else but trapped on a boat watching the worst movie ever made with their lame old relatives.
ReplyDeleteThe rest is just so typical of the sailing community....wrong forecast, tired, people taking your favorite spot, beastly catamarans being selfish, always hot. Kinda makes you want to live in a box on land!
I wonder what my nieces would do if I had them watch it. Probably the same reaction.
DeleteThanks for the chuckle this morning! I think the appeal of Cap'n Ron is that most sailors can relate to the occasional absurdity of it all and, in the end, the family still decides to turn the boat around and sail away.
ReplyDeleteGlad I could bring a smile to your face :-) Nice to hear from you. Hope all is well with you guys.
DeleteYes, I've seen Captain Ron. It's a fun movie.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day and weekend. ☺
It is a fun movie, but it becomes less fun for me the more I see it, which is a lot now :-)
DeleteDavid and I are moviephiles and have a long list of favourites that we watch over and over again. Captain Ron is one of them, but it's not something we can do very often (once every 2 to 3 years). We do quote it sometimes (let's kick the tires and light the fires), but my favourite quote has to be from a BBC series. If you can guess it, I'll be seriously impressed. Here's the quote: We didn't burn him!
ReplyDeleteOoh...I don't know that quote. What series is it?
DeleteIt's from The League of Gentlemen, a dark comedy set in a fictional village that people can't seem to escape. It's not for everyone, but you guys might enjoy it.
DeleteWe'll have to check it out.
DeleteI can't quote from Captain Ron, so I must not have seen it enough yet! I love it though, and Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation, and Young Frankenstein/Blazing Saddles..... I could watch them over and over.... Goofy, but not Jerry Lewis/3 Stooges goofy.
ReplyDeleteI like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein but the Vacation movies are probably more in the Captain Ron camp for me. Fine the first couple of times, but after that, not so much.
DeleteOk, I get it now, when you say - "oh, yeah, Scott loves that movie.." it is code for "Oh God, please don't subject me to this again!" My very favorite part of CR is the first docking scene where he is tearing down through the marina, heading straight for the party ashore, then swings the boat around at the very last minute and glides right up to the dock. I want to be able to do that. I mean really I do, but Greg would have a heart attack.
ReplyDeleteI remember a squall in the Abacos once, our first year of sailing. Our friends, Debbie and Karen, were visiting us on the boat. We were heading to Marsh Harbor when it started to rain and visibility pretty much vanished. I was scared (not being able to see and all, near a busy harbor), but Debbie and Karen were having a big time - they thought it was fun. But of course, they should have pretty much been terrified the whole visit, but weren't - bet I could have scared them with a little Capt Ron docking action, though!
I can totally see you docking a boat like that. You and Scott can try that on your boat while Greg and I stay on our boat and get ready to dial the insurance company :-)
DeleteHave Debbie and Karen seen Captain Ron? If not, you should definitely have a party night and have them watch it. Might put a new perspective on their sailing adventures with you.
You said there were gorillas! Not guerillas ...
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure that's not the exact quote, but it goes something like that.
I really like Captain Ron and I've only sailed a few times - a few day sails, and a three-day weekend sail - nothing serious like what you do. I'm impressed that you weathered all of those squalls - oh that was just cliche, wasn't it? :)
I know the scene you're talking about :-)
DeleteI love your humor and am also glad that you are safe after the hurricanes!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Yvonne!
DeleteI managed to watch that movie once, but just barely. Not my kinda movie. When our kids were growing up, they were huge fans of Mel Brooks movies, so we watched some of them enough times that we can all still cite some of the lines from them.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice when you can find movies the whole family can enjoy and watch together.
DeleteI saw it once. It came on me fast and left just as fast. I'll join your group.
ReplyDeleteYay! Another member! I was worried meetings were going to be really lonely and awkward without anyone else to talk to.
DeleteGuess it's time I introduced myself to Captain Ron.
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to hear what you think about it.
Delete