Left Seabrook Marina in New Orleans at 3 am. Arriving at the M&R Railroad Bridge and hailing them on the VHF and blowing our horn no response. So much for 24 hour operation, I shined the spotlight at the bridge tenders window and after a few moments magically it opened.
Using the spotlight to watch for debris in the GICW headed south toward the Gulf. It was nice leaving the bayous for open water. Set the autopilot east and enjoyed a wonderful morning. The seas were building and by noon they had reached 3 to 4 ft on the stern quarter. Shortly after noon received a distress call from a sailboat that we passed about an hour before. They had capsized south of Cat Island. At 8 knots it would take us an hour to get there the Coast Guard dispatched a rescue helicopter. Last I heard the sailboat crew was in the water and the Coast Guard was picking them up. I never heard what happened, it was a 40 ft + sailboat.
You have to respect the sea. Seas continuing to build up to about 5 ft now. Thought of heading into Ocean Springs, MS but I figured as I got closer to Dauphin Island, AL the barrier islands would block some of the waves.
About 2 pm autopilot can no longer keep up with the waves, turned it off and here is where the fun begins. Keeping the waves on the stern and riding the waves down. Being careful not to broach. Surfing down the waves I would pick up almost 3 knots. This was a tiring two hours. As we approached Dauphin Island the seas subsided.
The plan was to spend the night in Dauphin Island and make the last 40 miles to The Wharf at Orange Beach. As we got close the tide was approaching low tide and the wind direction meant the wind would be blowing the water out of the marina. That meant I would have to turn beam to the waves and ride it in and hope the water would not be to skinny.
To many if's. Hailed a tow coming out of mobile bay and asked about the condition on Mobile Bay. He told us it was not to bad, a moderate chop. I figured the wind would lay down after the sun went down.
Cruised under the bridge and entered mobile bay wind picking up even more. So much for a break, been up for 13 hours. Clouds closed in so no moon, no starlight, running on GPS only and using the spotlight to illuminate the occasional marker.
Finally crossed Mobile Bay and found the markers into the GICW. Most not lit so spotlight was the only way to see them. Wind still blowing hard. About 9 pm entered the GICW, no wind, water like glass. Passed by Lulu's a restaurant owned by Jimmy Buffets Sister (Lulu). I could see people having dinner watching me go by. At 10 pm I could see the Wharf, by 10:30 backed into the slip and engines off. 16+ hours. I think I bonded with the boat that day. She is a cruiser. Found the only restaurant open had a hamburger and several rum and cokes. it will not be an early day tomorrow.
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