The journey of a 1000 miles begins with the first hoist…

Canada’s Nathan Baron has set sail this morning to circumnavigate the Bahamas in his 21′ sloop called the “Boys and Girls Club of Canada”. Nathan and the minimus sailing team are working to be Canada’s sole entry in the 2009 4500-mile solo race from France to Brazil starting in September.

The weather looks light but favourable for his crossing of the Gulf Stream.

Forecast as of 10:04 am EST on January 11, 2009
Coastal Waters From Deerfield Beach To Ocean Reef, Fl Out 20 Nm-
Waters From Deerfield Beach To Ocean Reef, Fl Extending From 20 Nm
To The Territorial Waters Of The Bahamas-
Rest Of Today
Southeast winds around 5 knots. Seas 2 feet or less.

Tonight

Southeast winds around 5 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Intracoastal waters smooth. Slight chance of showers.

Monday

Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Intracoastal waters a light chop. Slight chance of showers.

Monday Night

Northeast winds around 10 knots becoming southeast. Seas 2 feet or less. Intracoastal waters a light chop. Slight chance of showers.

Tuesday

South winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 feet or less building to 2 to 4 feet. Intracoastal waters a moderate chop. Chance of showers.

Actually, it’s more like it touches bottom.

Latest new from our fearless solo sailor…
Hello Friends,

Right off the bat, I want to thank James Brown. James has been following the emails and called me up the other day to say “Just go check into a hotel somewhere, you need your rest before you go”. He then called the hotel and got a preferred rate and chatted with the Hampton Inn’s General Manager, Israell?????. It makes a huge difference having a bed to go home to at night. I met Israel this morning and he was extremely gracious, offering to take care of any of my needs. I’m so grateful to both Israel and the staff at the hotel who are putting up with my flaky sailor ways.

Got the boat in the water first thing this morning, just after high tide. A little sketchy as the water wasn’t really that deep where the forklift was to drop us in the water. I quickly moved the boat out of the mud an into a better slip. It’s low tide now and I am really close to touching bottom. I am really looking forward to the water coming up a little, I’ll feel a bit more relaxed then.

The weather outlook is changing a bit. Right now the GFS model shows that Sunday will be the better day to depart, but I will have to talk with Chris Parker tonight and see what he thinks. The dock talk on the Gulfstream ranges from downright scary to “awe it’s not that bad.”. I can’t help but be really nervous about the first sixty miles of sailing. One thing sailors are really good at is telling scary stories and everyone seems to want to tell me those stories right now…
Broken gear

Had the usual last minute things go wrong. I stepped on the mast head wand in cabin today and broke off all of the cups. This is the instrument that goes at the top of the mast and gives us wind direction and and speed. A pretty vital piece of gear. So I spent a bunch of time mixing epoxy and trying to get it all glued back together. Still working on that one. I also have to drop a new halyard now that the boat is back in the water. Hopefully I can combine all this into one trip up the mast.

I also got the new logos on the boat for the Limestone Learning Foundation LLF this morning. This is the charitable arm of the Limestone School Board, and I am very please with how they look. I haven’t had a chance to talk much about the LLF. The work that the foundation does to support learning opportunities for kids dovetails beautifully with the Boys and Girls Club and I am just so happy to be able to support and encourage kids in any way I can. Thanks to Kathy Crothers-Leverrette who has been so enthusiast in getting this communitty partnership going. /i’m looking forward to sharing these experiences with the folks at the LLF.
Thinking of the kids
I’ve been thinking a lot about the Boys and Girls Club and the LIT group while I am down here. Besides the nice weather there is something for almost everyone. I was thinking today about Liam would really dig all of the history down here. We don’t learn enough American history in Canada, and I bet he would like to see the mix of old and new down here. I was also thinking of Caitlan who would just love Cocoanut Grove. There is a restaurant here that has an artists loft on the second floor where the artists work and can sell there work right there in the restaurant. (Maybe a business idea for Kingston…)

I was also reminded of Rookie by one of the fork lift operators, Tony. He’s a little guy with a lot of spunk who is constantly giving orders to the rest of the crew. It’s a lively bunch that run the marina and Tony sees to make sure that everything is running smoothly. A great reminder that you can work hard and still have fun. I love hanging out in boat yards as they are almost always an eclectic group of cultures and languages, and you are just as likely to hear someone cursing in Spanish as you are English or french.

So we are getting very close to the off. I’m a bit nervous about everything but feeling pretty good about the boat and the preparation for the trip. The last minute frustrations are always there, but they always will be. You just have to deal with things as they come and hope that your luck will hold out. I still have my fingers crossed…
NB

Saturday alright for fighting the Gulf Stream…Seas may be steep but wind on the beam or aft.

Splicing and Thawing and Preparing

Spoke with Chris Parker about the weather and a good window to leave. Chris is an expert in Bahamas weather and writes for ocean navigator. Looks like Saturday or Monday are the twp possibilities. Don Kerstens was very kind to donate the money to take advantage of
Chris’s amazing weather knowledge. I feel much better being able to get such good advice from him.

The boat is almost ready to go. we put the mast up yesterday and got the deck and below cleaned up. Sails are bent, and I just have a few tweaks and repairs to make before we are ready for the off. Had to splice a new bobstay and do a few things that I had to wait to thaw before I could do.

Provisions are aboard and the layout down below is all set up for departure. (Things tend to change a lot once we start sailing.

I keep getting lots of question about the boys and girls clubs of canada, and I always smile when people are so interested about how the kids at the club are involved. I take pride in telling people about the fundraising, learning about the ocean and what it means to be a leader. I hope the kids at the club are following along on this adventure. (To Brandy and the LIT Group: Leave a comment on this site, and I will will do my best to answer.)

The Hampton Inn are helping us out with a better rate for my stay at the hotel. James Brown called them up to tell them what I am up to and they have graciously offered a reduced rate and flexibility with my departure date. Hotels are not used to weather windows… (Ironically, the Hampton Inn is the choice of many a sailor down here. Great hotel and the most reasonable rates in Coconut Grove.)

The team at home have been very busy helping to get communications out to folks as well as thinking about the quickly approaching trip to Europe. The classe Mini have recently published the calendar for the coming racing season and it is really important that I get my choice of races submitted before I go. WE are also getting further into the logistics for getting the boat to Europe.

So things are truckin right along. We are a little behind our scheduled departure date ,but that was pretty much to be expected. I’m glad that the boat is starting to look like a proper sailboat again and that things moving along. I just can’t wait to get out there and get sailing!

More soon,

Nathan

Favourable winds for Saturday?
Here’s the latest forecast. North and East winds - BAD. Southerly flow - Good.

GULF STREAM HAZARDS
SEAS NEAR 6 FEET POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE WEST WALL OF THE GULF STREAM AS OF
JAN 07, 2009 AT 1200 UTC…

7 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHEAST OF FOWEY ROCKS.

SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION

TODAY
NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. NEAR SHORE…SEAS 2 FEET OR
LESS. IN THE GULF STREAM…SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET SUBSIDING TO 2 TO
4 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

TONIGHT
NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS NEAR
SHORE AND UP TO 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE GULF STREAM. INTRACOASTAL WATERS
A LIGHT CHOP.

FRIDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. NEAR SHORE…SEAS 2 TO
3 FEET. IN THE GULF STREAM…SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET SUBSIDING TO 2 TO
4 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

FRIDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS.
INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

SATURDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. NEAR SHORE…SEAS 2 FEET
OR LESS. WELL OFFSHORE…SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS BUILDING TO 2 TO
4 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

SUNDAY
WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS NEAR SHORE
AND UP TO 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE GULF STREAM. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A
LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

SUNDAY NIGHT
NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET.
INTRACOASTAL WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.

MONDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTHEAST AROUND
5 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.
SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SHOWERS.

If you were planning a passage from Miami to Bimini or Cat Cay across the Gulf Stream in the 24 to 72 hours when would you go? Have a look at a couple of these weather sites and do some armchair sailing.

Good Morning Friends,

Just wanted to touch base with all of you and let you know my status.

I’ve got a busy day today to getting ready to step the mast and launch. The boat will be launched on the high tide around 3:30.

I’m doing pretty well. Dirty and tired but alright. The marina I’m at is not really set up for me and there are no real showers or anything so that is a mission for later today. I feel a large contrast between myself and all the pretty people in Coconut Grove.

I’m at burger king right now bumming a hotel internet connection, so my communication may be sporadic. I’ll just be working on the boat for most of the day.

I’m trying not to use too much data on my phone in the US because it is very expensive. I am reading incoming mail but am trying to keep my usage down. Watching the weather.

THanks again for all of your help and enthusiasm. I wouldn’t be here without you.

Warm regards,

n

From MST 680

” alt=”Nathan’s proposed course around the Bahamas” />

Nathan and the his boat, Boys and Girls Club of Canada complete the first of 2 ‘road’ legs of his Bahamas qualifying trip. Now Nathan will prepare his boat, watch the weather and determine the most favourable window for setting off. Of primary concern is getting across the Gulf stream to Bimini. Although a relatively short passage, if the wind is uncooperative, i.e. blowing with any strength from 340 to 90 degrees true, the passage can turn treacherous as the wind whips up a steep, boat-breaking, bone-jarring chop against the strong Gulf stream current. Keep your eye on the weather. Nathan is! More soon…

Nope. Apparently they loaded the powerboat with a forklift.
Recently Updated

” alt=”This is for real. On the way to Miami.” />

Nathan save $$$$… sleeps in boat in parking lot
Nathan is finally on his way to Miami - well sort of. He is sleeping in his boat for a second night in the parking lot of a Wal Mart in Scranton Pennsylvania.

There were some last minute hick-ups in the travel plans and suddenly Nathan had no vehicle and no driver. Ever resourceful, Nathan shared his problem with his team and our community in the hopes that someone would have some ideas. Not long after he put out the calls, several options emerged. This is a critical skill for anyone who takes on a big project with more enthusiasm than money. Well done Nathan!

Ultimately, David Wilby of Pride Marine came to the rescue and was able to drive Nathan and his boat to Pennsylvania last night where Nathan meets his next ride all the way to Miami with his friend Caj (still researching a last name).

The story doe not end here. Unfortunately Caj was held up and Nathan is now spending another night on the boat. In good spirits, Nathan’s explained over the phone to his wife Alison that “it will be better tonight. It should stay above zero degrees inside the cabin tonight”. Apparently, last night was a full-on “mini” winter camping experience. Thank goodness the Starbuck’s across the street opened at 7:30 am! Who knew winter camping and an early morning Starbuck’s run would ever be part of the same story.

The thing I like best about this little story is how this project has inspired our community to help in whatever ways they can - some with money, some with time, some with ocean sailing experience, some with powerful tow vehicles, etc. The best part is that none of these specific forms of community support could ever have been predicted in advance when Nathan first shared his dream with us, but somehow it all works out and we are making it happen. Marvelous!

The next leg of the Journey should be straight forward - drive to Miami and set up the boat.

We will let you know when he arrives and can share stories of warm breezes and palm trees.