'Faith'

[frank durant]

A ..harrrrrr Craig...hav ya ever been to sea ?? I'm sure the butterflies are going ;-)...Rose,Faith and you will do fine !!! Enjoy the crossing..the Bahamas awaits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have fun ! I may see you around Green Turtle mid november if you're still in the erea.

[commanderpete]

Great going! Have a fun and safe trip. All the best to Craig, Rose, Faith and Peter (the dog)

[frank durant]

Craig,Rose and crew dog have made it and are playing in the Abacos at this time.Word is " all's well and havin fun" link to his posts http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=72.0

[c_amos]

Faith has made another passage, and has left the Abaco's. Here is a picture of her at Hopetown.



The link Frank posted above has lots of more pictures as well as details of where we have been.

These are GREAT cruising boats!

[commanderpete]

Fantastic Craig. Keep 'em coming

[c_amos]

Faith is back in US waters. Here is the latest post. I wanted to make sure to post here that we ran into Barry aboard the Commander 'Winky' (forgot to ask the hull number, sorry Bill);

Ahoy from Lake Worth, Florida 31 January, 2008

The last couple of days have been something of a blur of passages. We dropped the hook here behind Peanut island in Lake Worth this morning after our second day of all night passages…. Neither Rose nor I were entirely ready to be back.

First, here are some pictures I had taken earlier;

Here are Connie and I surfing SailFar;


This was Thomas Cay, near where we met up with Connie;







Peter was as sad to leave as we were;



While we were in Nassau, we watched a race of the Bahamian boats like the one Connie had crewed on.


We also watched a Haitian sloop sail in. They had no motor, and had to short tack their way up through the crowded harbor. They seemed to have some cargo on deck;



They did not stay long. They were escorted by a police boat back up the harbor, but their head sail had a huge hole in it as they sailed past. I did not know if there was an accident, or if it was an attempt by their crew to get some time ashore.

We left Nassau harbor on Tuesday morning as the sun was coming up. We had watched a small boat sail into the harbor the night before and although it was a ways away we thought it looked like an Alberg design. We decided to sail over to it before we left. As we came near we saw that it was a pretty Pearson Commander, the sister to the Ariel with a smaller cabin and longer cockpit.



We hailed ‘Ahoy Commander’ a head popped up. Before Faith’s stern came into his view he asked if we were aboard Faith. Astonished, I said yes and we learned that the mans name was Barry and he had read about our trip on the PearsonAriel.org owners site and SailFar! He told us that our trip had been an encouragement to him as he bought ‘Winky’ and that he had hoped to run into us in the Bahamas to let us know! Had we not had a long passage to make and an indefinite weather window I would really have liked to stay and talked longer with him. As we sailed away we both were very affected to have run into someone to say something as wonderful to us and we talked about all the people who had encouraged our journey. What a great farewell gift as we sailed away. Barry, fairwinds to you. We look forward to reading all about your trip.


We had planned an ambitious passage schedule but ended up pushing it farther then we had intended. Chris Parker (4045mhz USB, 0630 every day but Sunday) had given us hope for a day of the trades between cold fronts. We sailed the first leg to Chub Cay in the Barry islands (~ 35nm) with perfect winds of ~ 15k from the SE. The wind was holding so we took Peter ashore and were back underway 10 minutes later. We passed from the ‘tongue of the Ocean’ to the Bahamas Banks in the night and the ocean swells were replaced by short chop. We must have passed 40 boats in the night, a few fishing boats but mostly cruisers headed south. We watched the sun come up as we rounded the north end of Bimini and came up into the Harbor which was ~ 90 nm from where we started when we watched the sun come up the day before.

[c_amos]

I went ashore intending to clear out with customs. As I walked down to the office I first learned that there was a long line of people waiting to clear in, and then learned that the forms we received when we cleared in could be mailed back after departure. I was able to confirm this with a few people and decided to just head back. We napped for about 2 hours and just before leaving we met a couple on another boat. We gave them our Batelco ‘sim card’ and they bought our remaining air time exchanged our Bahamian money for US. As Carol and Tom sat in our cockpit and chatted the last couple of minutes before we left I thought how appropriate it was that we should meet some new friends in our last minutes in the Bahamas. Rose and I agree that while the waters and islands are great, the friendship and helpfulness of the Bahamians and other cruisers were the best past of the Bahamas. We did not strike the Bahamian courtesy flag when we left, preferring to fly it until we were back inside US waters.

The sun rose shortly before we reached the inlet at Lake Worth, and dropped anchor in the crowded harbor after another night and another 80nm. We had traveled the last 170 miles in just over 2 days. Peter handled it very well. He seems to know when we are making passages and does not eat or drink as much. We get him to eat with special treats shortly before we get him ashore and get him to hydrate by adding water to his food and even giving him soup once we reach shore. He mostly sleeps below or on the cockpit sole and seems not to mind the passages much at all. Our concerns about bringing him with us were unfounded and the trip was much more fun with him along. He turned 7 on the trip but spending nearly every day running on the beaches seems to have brought out his inner puppy again.

[rant]

The instructions for clearing back into the US say that you must call the 1-800-432-1216 ‘within 15 minutes of arrival’ so after a quick trip ashore we fired up our cell phone and called customs. During that call, and the process that followed I get the distinct impression that no one had ever done this before. It was a long and frustrating phone call as I recited all my and my wife’s personal information to the agent. At the end he said we had to report in person to the closest office within 24 hours. When we went through the questions about declarations we figured out Peter was the only ‘thing’ to declare.

“Is the dog onboard the ship with you now?”

‘Yes’ I answer.

“Is in in a suitable container?” he asks (I could not make this stuff up).

‘What?’

“Is he in a suitable container? You have to present him to the customs officer when you check in.”

‘ok’ (?) !

The cell phone call was dropped several times over the conversation and at least 3 times as I tried to copy the long entry number I would need when I checked in. I called at 0809, and it was after 9 when I finished. I was exhausted and wanted to sleep but decided that I should get the check in completed first. After taking Peter ashore on Peanut Island I began my quest. I had learned that there was a boarder control office in the Ports authority building so I dingied the mile or so over there. I was surprised to learn that there was no dock anywhere near the building in spite of it’s prime location in on the water. The dock next door had official looking boats there, and signs warning that it was not for public use. Every island in the Bahamas we visited has an official public dock in front of the customs office. Apparently not so in the US.

I searched until I found the municipal marina dingy dock. I tied up there and went to the office to speak to the dockmaster. I asked if I could leave my dingy while I cleared in with customs. I was told that there was a $10 charge to use the dingy dock. I asked if there were another dock I could use nearby as I only needed to check in with customs. The man replied that I already owed the $10 since I had tied up there while I asked the question.

The mind is a funny thing. They say that one of the most effective methods of torture is sleep deprivation. I fear that defense would have been lost on the courts had I allowed the response that was welling up so I just offered up a $10 bill and bit my tongue. The man said it was $10.64…. the municipal marina was charging me sales tax on the $10 I owed for tying up my dingy to clear in with US customs…… There was no sticker or anything to say I had paid.

Apparently the section of town the marina and ports authority office are in was a pretty bad part of town. Either that or there was some kind of experiment going on (not the first time that thought crossed my mind) because the series of locked gates and alleys that separated me from the Ports Authority office made the walk well over a mile even though it was next door… I am not exaggerating.

I entered the 5 story building which is all mirrored glass and chrome. The smiling TSA agent required me to empty my pockets, take off my sandals and pass through a metal detector before telling me to go to the second floor. Before I could leave I had to remove my hat so she could see that there was nothing underneath….. a fact I thought I had already established by calling to clear in the first place…..

The small entry to the office had an unmanned desk behind bullet proof glass on the left, and a large pane of mirrored glass on the right. If you looked closely you could see shadows of human forms looming through the one way glass on the other side. The reception office was (by design or flaw I could not know) an interrogation room. There was a young couple sitting in the chairs when I came in. An armed agent came through the locked door to talk to them as I was entering. He asked me ‘what I needed’. I told him I was not sure if I was in the right place and that I needed to check in. He told me to ring the small dinner bell in the slot under the bullet proof glass. I reached through and rung it while he talked to the couple. They spoke for a few minutes and the agent took out his keys and unlocked the door to return to the office. He appeared not to notice that no one had appeared to answer the bell.

I would say that it was about ten minutes later when he returned and spoke with the couple some more. When he finished he turned to me and asked me what I was here for….. I handed him my and my wifes passport and said I had called the 1-800 number and was told I had to check in. He held the two passports in his hand and asked me if there were any crew on the boat. ‘Just my wife and I’ I answered. He asked if she was here. I suppressed the urge to look around the small room and replied that no, she was on the boat. He asked why she was not with me, and I said that in the Bahamas no member of the crew was allowed ashore until the Captain had cleared in… that I assumed it was the same here. He took the passports and again passed through the locked door. I should probably mention that each time he took out a large key ring and searched through a couple keys before finding the right one. He came back out (holding the door with his foot this time) and asked me if I had been given a number when I called. I said yes and gave it to him. The couple and I waited for about 20 minutes and then he came back out. He talked to them again and they left. He unlocked the door and was in the back for another 20 minutes. When he came back with the passports he asked if I had a dog with me. Again suppressing the urge to look around the office I said that he was on the boat. I had decided not to bring him, having no ‘suitable container’. I did bring the USDA health certificate and all his vet records going back to when he was a puppy. He just nodded, and handed me my passports back. He said he had taken care of everything and that I could go. I looked at the passports on the elevator and noticed that they had not been stamped. I briefly considered going back up the interrogation room to ask about this, but decided against it. The passing doubt that has crossed my mind about this since has, for me, brought new meaning to theat old song that pines “no, no, no, ‘It’s no fun being an illegal alien….” I do wonder what indignities the TSA screener might have subjected Peter to had I shown up carrying my 75# lab in a cardboard box. Probably best not to have found out.

I walked back to the marina, dinged out to the boat. It was almost 1pm.

[/rant]

Now, I am better.

I took a nap for a couple of hours. That, and typing this up, has helped. I have been surprised and pleased to hear some nice things about the posts we have made. I hope I have not posted too much, (especially this one). It has been fun to share some of this trip, and I appreciate the opportunity to sit and reflect on things. Thanks to everyone, all the help and encouragement and especially to Kurt for keeping this place going. I have to go now, I think I hear a boat…. Might be boarder patrol….

;D

[mbd]

Peter handled it very well. He seems to know when we are making passages and does not eat or drink as much. We get him to eat with special treats shortly before we get him ashore and get him to hydrate by adding water to his food and even giving him soup once we reach shore.

Thanks again for all the posts Craig! And again, many kudos for getting out there and doing it. Very inspiring!

I have a question on Peter: how did you manage the pooch's potty on board while on long voyages? I've been thinking maybe a small roll of astro-turf that could be washed out over the side after he's done? Seems over optimistic to think he'd hit the target, being a boy and all it seems like it could get pretty messy...

[c_amos]

Mike,

Now, you have done it.. you when and asked about Peter.....

I have a question on Peter: how did you manage the pooch's potty on board while on long voyages? I've been thinking maybe a small roll of astro-turf that could be washed out over the side after he's done? Seems over optimistic to think he'd hit the target, being a boy and all it seems like it could get pretty messy...

Like many other aspects of this cruise, we were told we were nuts to take our 75# lab with us on the Ariel. It worked out wonderfully well.



We were concerned with his health and safety and determined to make plans that got him ashore as needed. Discussions with our vet confirmed that a dog can be injured by 'holding it' too long If you think of the average house dog's life, there is a morning break before folks go to work and then one or two in the evening. We made this our minimum for Peter and kept to it on all but one occasion.

Doing coastal cruising we would make sure to take him ashore first thing in the morning, and then again when ever we would anchor for the evening. We would often go back ashore after dinner or later in the evening as well.

On off shore passages we were fortunate to either leave in the morning and arrive the same evening, or to depart in the late afternoon and sail through the night (when he would normally sleep anyways).

He slept well onboard;



Peter on the passage to West End;



The 'mat on the foredeck' idea seems like it is good for larger boats, but on board an Ariel there is no part of the boat that is not Peter's 'den'. We did not try the mat, or the 'box of sod' as some suggested. We did find out that Peter would go on the foredeck once. He was taking Prednizone for an ear infection which makes a dog drink lots and lots of water (kind of like I drink coffee in the AM). We had only been underway for a couple of hours but he gave me the sign that he needed to go ashore (for him, a paw on the arm, and a soleful look). I was crossing some bay at the time, and land was a few miles distant. He paced the deck, and then paused on the foredeck. In spite of our praise (which seemed to confuse him) he sulked and acted embarrassed afterwards. A couple of buckets of water later the deck was fine, but as we use the deck for water collection I would not want that to be an onging thing.

Having Peter with is made a wonderful trip all the better. Here he is surveying the rocks outside of Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera;



I enjoyed exploring some islands I might not have seen otherwise, and took some walks I might have missed had he stayed home.

One of our beach walks;



Looking at his home, Man O War harbour;




If I were going to make multi-day passages I might not want him with me, but for island hopping or coastal cruising it worked out just fine.

He really enjoyed the trip as well, and the only time he was upset was the night before we had to rent a car and drive him home. Rose's mother passed away while we were near LaBelle FL. The funeral was in Michigan, so we had to rent a car and drive him ~1200 miles round trip home to Pensacola and get clothes for the funeral. (this was how he looked when we told him that the cruise was over for him);

[mbd]

Awwwwww! What a good boy! Thanks for the info Craig. I can only hope that our new addition will become a fraction as sea worthy as Mr. Peter! Dogs rule!

______________________________________________
PS. Sincerest condolences to your family for their loss.

[mbowman]

Thanks for sharing your memories with us! Welcome back to the states. We now have at least 2 Aerials in Alabama now. Mine here in the Birmingham Area and another in the Huntsville Area. And since Pensacola is really LA (thats Lower Alabama) that makes three. Welcome home!

mike
Ariel 233

[c_amos]

Just a note to say that 500 posts later, I still believe that Carl Alberg and even Pearson did a wonderful job with my little ship.

[mbd]

You're preachin' to the choir, my friend!

So Craig, any more big cruises planned for Faith and her crew? It's been about a year now, hasn't it?

[Chance]

Hello,
I read in some other post that you were not satisfied with the Tohatsu outboard that you have and may part with it. Do you still have it, and if so, are you still selling it? I'm interested if so, just let me know.

Thanks.

[c_amos]

I will probably hold on to it until I find another 6/8 HP 2 stroke Yamaha.