Storm Chasers!

I was going to say that we out-ran a storm today. But, at 8 mph, we didn’t outrun ANYTHING!!! Heck, butterflies pass us up, dragonflies pass us up, and just about anything/everything can pass us up!

The more accurate thing to say, is that we LUCKILY missed the storms today!

When we woke, I checked the weather radar (as I always do.) I noticed two storm cells just south of Destin, out in the Gulf. What looked odd to me, was that one of the storm cells was moving west-to-east; while the other cell was moving east-to-west (one above the other.) This looked like a set-up to become a MUCH LARGER (rotational) storm – like a mini-tropical storm. The forecast showed that the storms would be growing in intensity, and moving to the east-northeast (towards Gulf Shores and Mobile.)

We were underway by 9am (after getting fuel for the backup generator, and a couple of bags of ice for the cooler.) It was again an hour later than I had wanted to depart (I see a pattern forming…)

As we cleared out of Destin Harbor, and returned to the inner-bay and intercoastal waterway, the VHF radios began to spring to life, as the skies darkened.

Charter fishing operators were calling out to their fleet in the Gulf, warning them of the pending storms. There was also comments about the charter sailboat (that was still venturing out into the threatening conditions.) “I guess the call of the mighty dollar is stronger than the storm,” one person commented – implying that no one should be putting tourists/passengers at-risk like this.

Shortly thereafter, the Coast Guard issued an alert for a boat that had apparently capsized (e.g. “boat has overturned, white hull, with one man aboard.”) You know its NOT good news when the Coast Guard is using the color of your boat’s BOTTOM to find you – as opposed to the color of your topsides…

We were VERY fortunate, however. We literally threaded the needle of the storm itself (to our South/right/starboard,) and a feeder band (to our left/north/port side.) At times, it was literally raining on BOTH sides of us – not even a mile away. Yet, there was a little, dry corridor, just for us. The rain was SO intense to our north/left, that it looked like a waterfall from the sky. It created a complete “white-out” of the shoreline. I could see the distinct line in the water – between the rain, and the dry. It grew closer, and closer for awhile. Fortunately, it seemed to be stationary at the waterline (to the south.) The storm grew deeper inland, and spread out a bit from east to west. But, it never grew any further southward – and just held a constant line of rain about a half-mile off our rail.

Just as the waters of the bay were getting a bit choppy from all of the winds, we then escaped to the safety of the next “ditch” of manmade waterway between Destin and the Panama City. We spent the next few hours “driving the ditch.”

This area of the ditch is essentially deserted. The banks are sand walls, about 10-15 feet high. So, you REALLY feel like you are in a – well, ditch that was carved through the Florida glades.

We saw a fan boat full of tourists cruising through the glades. Other than that, just a ski boat, a few fishermen, a couple of jet skis, and one other cruiser. After about five hours of this, we popped out on the other side, into the Panama City area. It was Saturday evening, and TONS of boats were returning to the city from the gulf. The sun was getting low over our stern, as we searched for a place to anchor. We wanted to make it to the 300 mile-marker today (72 miles for the day.) The sun had just set, when we attempted our first anchor-set.

We tried about three or four times to get our anger to grab – to no avail. We thought the third time was going to be a charm – because a pod of dolphins had arrived and were swimming all around our boat – the welcome wagon!  Unfortunately, the bottom was too hard/packed, and we couldn’t get out anchor to take a bite into it.

So, we motored to the opposite bank of this small bay, to what appeared to be a sandy section. This time, on the first attempt, the anchor bit-in – success. No dolphins, but a tight hold is what we REALLY needed.

It was completely dark by the time we set the anchor. We had contemplated motoring about 20 more miles upstream to the next harbor. But, at our speed, and in the dark, that would have been AT LEAST another three-hours of cruising. It just wasn’t worth the risk.

So far, this has been our BEST anchorage yet! The water is perfectly calm, and peaceful. This is also the first time that we will only be setting ONE anchor. In the rivers, I set the “main” (big) anchor from the bow (upstream.) We then let out a TON of anchor line as we drift backwards (downstream.) Then, I toss the stern (smaller) anchor off the back of the boat. We then winch-in the front anchor, until the back anchor “sets.” Thus, we then have the boat centered between a bow anchor, and a stern anchor. This keeps the boat from “swimming” from side-to-side in the current.

The current ensures that there is always a solid pressure against the anchor, in the same, constant direction. So, it pretty much ensures that once your anchor is set – it will STAY set!

Here in the coastal waters, the “current” changes directions several times per day (as the tides come in and out.) So, boats need the ability to “swing” a full 360 degrees at anchor. Some people will put two anchors off the bow in these conditions (at a 30-degree angle from one another.) Thus, as the boat swings, there is always at least one anchor still biting into the ground. Whereas, when you only set one anchor, you run the risk of floating directly over it. Then, your boat pulls in a reverse-direction on your anchor – essentially freeing it.

While this CAN occur, the odds are pretty slim… Usually, the boat will “swing” at the length of the rope. Thus, it’s always taunt, and simply resets itself. Ditto when your boat floats over your anchor. Once you get to the other side, and the line grows taunt (even if it pulls your anchor out,) it will USUALLY reset itself. Granted, during some of these situations, the anchor actually becomes “fouled” in its own anchor line, which can prevent it from resetting itself.

Anyway, this gave me the chance to test a new feature of my GPS navigation software. It has the ability to set “boundaries” with alarms. So, I simply drew a circle around our current position, and then set it as a “boundary,” and then turned the alarm on. This way, if we drag our anchor in ANY direction outside of the boundary, our alarm will alert us!

Sometimes I curse technology, other times I love it!

There are millions of stars above us tonight. The weather is cool (thanks to the storms today.) There are no bugs, and we still feel like the only people in the bay. Our boat hasn’t been rocked ONCE by wakes from passing boats tonight (nearly four hours now…) This is a WORLD of difference, compared to anchoring just of the channel from passing barges.

If all goes well, we will cross into the Eastern Time Zone Sunday, and complete 80 miles -- and arrive at our “wait point” for a fair-weather crossing. We may not have to wait too long. The forecast for Monday is looking pretty sweet at the moment! I will want to double-check my forecast with that of the locals and harbormaster before we depart. But, it’s looking good for now.