Events of the Day:
Finally on the water and all electronics worked. Wind at our stern, 10-20 mph, waves 1-2 ft on Choctawatchee Lake. We cruised at 11mph most of the time except for the 'no wake' or 'idle speed' zones at 7-9 mph.
Miss Marg yelled at a big fishing yacht who 'waked' us, suggesting he had part of his anatomy where it shouldn't be, called him a 'bum opening'.! Only Admirals can do this. Not a lot of boat traffic until we reached Fort Walton.
Several photos: one shows the water/radar towers near the naval air station at Pensacola; the Admiral at the helm with all the gauges, etc. One shows our anchorage at the E. bridge on Choctawachee Lake.
Our anchor is a 55lb Rocna Vulcan [a 'plough' type] and it set almost immediately, in the 10-20 mph winds when we arrived; and that was with only 75 ft of rode [chain and rope] from the bow. We [with the Admirals practical advice] then decided to wait a couple of hours until the wind dies down, [7-10 mph], and consider if we needed a 2nd anchor to reduce the swing, or pull the anchor and go across to the north shore behind the same bridge, with likely better protection from the N/NW wind.
While waiting to see what the wind will do, we are taking some much earned medicinal supplements: scotch for me, gin for Marg. And writing this, sending emails, etc. We have eyeballed some landmarks and our anchor is holding steady. Also have an anchor alarm, based on GPS, and will let us know if we move more than 200. The wind is NW so if we do drag the anchor, we drag away from the bridge and into some safe water. The generator is running well - needs to be to keep the freezers going in particular.
Tomorrow, we leave for Wetappo Creek, the North Prong anchorage, about 66 miles. Alabama lifted its stayathome order for tomorrow, but it looked like everyone on the water thought it was today! For now, continue the distancing while continuing to keep in touch. [PS: the wind hadn't died down by 7:30 so we put out a stern anchor [a Danforth 22 lb] and that reduced the swing.
Comments:
Jack • 01 May, 2020: Under Way!
Jon • 01 May, 2020: How hard is it to get anchors up?
Jim and Susie • 01 May, 2020: So happy you guys are underway! Safe travels.