Cuba and the Curse of the Gypsy

Our cruise to Cuba has been delayed by weather and a gypsy. The marine weather report below gives you an idea of the wave heights in the Florida Straights. This would also be the sea conditions crossing over the Gulf Stream from Key West to Cuba. We were delayed from departing earlier this week by the gypsy. Captain Gabe bought 300′ of new anchor chain for his boat. When the chain arrived it did not fit on his windlass (device to haul the anchor). He had to remove the gypsy (part of the windlass that engages the chain) and have it rebuilt to fit the new chain.

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The rebuilt gypsy should arrive by Friday but the heavy weather arrives that day also.

FRIDAY NIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS…INCREASING TO 25 TO 30 KNOTS…WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS NEAR 35 KNOTS. SEAS 6 TO 10 FEET…BUILDING TO 10 TO 14 FEET. SCATTERED SHOWERS.

SATURDAY NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS 25 TO 30 KNOTS…WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS NEAR 35 KNOTS. SEAS 10 TO 14 FEET. ISOLATED SHOWERS. SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT EAST WINDS 25 TO 30 KNOTS. SEAS 10 TO 14 FEET. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT EAST WINDS NEAR 25 KNOTS AND GUSTY. SEAS 8 TO 12 FEET. ISOLATED SHOWERS

To pass the time until we can sail to Cuba I went sailing with foredeck Dan (a.k.a. Beachcomber Dan). It was a perfect sailing day on the Indian River.

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Next time I will choose a form fitting extra large orange life jacket. We are sailing on a Flying Scot.

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Captain Gabe has requested we board Pilar on Saturday for a possible run to Marathon on Sunday and then to Key West. The wind, as strong as it is, will be on the beam and then on the quarter. The Florida keys swing west so there will not be any waves on the bow. The largest waves will be in the Florida Straights and we will be in the Hawks Channel. In theory, we should surf all the way to Marathon on a 40,000 pound 50′ surfboard.