20100113 Last Day in the Bahamas – News from USA
In preparation to make the long passage across the gulf
stream back into US waters, I checked my voice mail for the first time in 8
weeks. Not too bad. I was especially excited about birthday
wishes from Steven Lowenstein & Johanna Orndorff of Cincinnati, OH. In addition to the happy birthday message
from these good friends, they informed me that my ex-wife’s (Barbara A. Cain,
DDS) current husband, Kevin O’Brien is in the news in Cincinnati. A quick Google search revealed a series of
news articles and websites.
It is well known that my ex-wife and I have an acrimonious
divorce. Kevin was an apparently successful,
stock broker until summer 2008, when he left his employer to start a “Wealth
Management” consulting company. I
thought it was unusual at the time, but to each his own. From the news stories, it appears that Kevin
has been accused of misappropriation of client’s funds and has permanently
relinquished his stock broker’s license.
Last November, he ran and was elected as an Andersen Township Trustee,
with no mention of the alleged impropriety.
Now, the details have become VERY public and there appears to be a vocal
movement to “encourage” Kevin to resign.
For more information see http://www.obrienmustresign.com/
I have been thinking about Kevin & Barb, since I got the
Google results. It is very disturbing to
me. I suspect that the change in income
since 2008 is dramatic, resulting in the sale of their RV (motor home), classic
refurbished Mustang, and classic refurbished 450 SL Mercedes. Even their new home, built just a couple of
years ago, still does not have floor coverings in any but the master
bedroom. Now the publicity and fight to
retain the Township Trustee post has turned into a legal fight. I cannot imagine the conversations around the
dinner table.
We all make our own decisions and create situations that
affect us individually and those around us.
This is a situation to learn from.
I will have lots of time to think
about this during our passage home tomorrow.
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The weather forecast remains favorable for our passage
tomorrow. Cathy and I went out for a
final meal, again enjoying Greek food.
We have been discussing our triumphs and inconveniences experienced
during the past couple of months.
Angel is much more functional and livable now than two
months ago. Stored supplies, clothing
and equipment is conveniently accessible.
Deck leaks, experienced during ocean passages from penetration of the
chain plates to strong attachment points on the hull. The shrouds (wires) that hold up the mast are
attached to these. All chain plates
leak. Ours leak most in ocean spray when
the mast sways and flexes the attachment points. The moisture that comes on board goes through
hanging lockers finds it way downward and stains the teak floor. This is a minor inconvenience. We open the locker doors in port and ventilate
and (to date) have avoided mildew. All
of our clothes stay safe and dry in plastic “Space” bags.
Cathy has re-re-reorganized our kitchen and food. Cathy inventoried all the food, separated
out the duplicates, then kept some of everything in convenient cupboards, which
were placed in deep storage under the V-berth.
She moved our canned butter and cheese from kitchen storage next to the engine,
where these melt due the engine heat. Meals
are easily planned, prepared and cleaned up.
Our tanks easily store and provide 3 weeks of water for our use.
The rebuilt engine has performed beyond expectations. It sips fuel at a rate of ~1 gallon per hour
at 1800 rpm. The 25 gallon tank allows
easily for overnight passages. The
spin-on fuel filter is replaced after each ocean passage, when ocean swells
agitate the fuel in the ancient tank, stirring up sediment which is taken up
into the fuel stream. The good news is
that the sediment is being removed and the filters are inexpensive
insurance. Other systems installed over
the last 3 years, have also worked well.
The new sails, HVAC, icebox refrigeration conversion, conversion of the
alcohol stove to propane, bilge pumps (2), sea water pump for rinsing dirty
dishes, wind generator and 2nd battery bank have served us well.
Some things on Angel will be changed. We will upgrade our 110 V electrical wiring
(original) to marine grade wire and connectors.
We have plans to simplify clothing, tools and food. We carry at least twice as much as we need. I will change our rail storage system to
allow more convenient fender board access to protect the rub rails at fixed
dock slips. (In Staniel Cay, when the
fender slipped away, a dock piling “grabbed” the teak rub rail, removing an 18”
section in an event that sounded like a shotgun blast.) I am a
rope nut and have saved every scrap of somewhere in a locker. These will be retired to some good boy scout
troop for knot practice. Angel’s lines
will be uniform and standardized for quick access. Cathy had a hard time getting onto fixed
docks at low tide. In some instances,
the dock was literally above her head as she stood on the deck of the boat. She valiantly stood on shaky life jacket bags
and propane tanks to get ashore. We have
a policy of “No Swimming at the Dock”, which has not been violated.
Well, tomorrow morning, we will fill Angel with fuel and
head out through the Bell Channel, out of Lucaya, Grand Bahama Island and make
the turn to starboard headed back to the US.
This will be a 15-24 hour passage, depending on wind and weather. We look forward to being home, but dread the
all-nighter to get just to Ft. Pierce, Florida, 104 nautical miles away. Hopefully, fair winds and minimum swell will
help us on our journey.
Wish us luck,
Cathy and Jim
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