Peaceful Easy Cruising: Lessons Learned and Safely Sailing from Texas to Maryland

1. Introduction – John DeWitt John is an avid sailor with over 15,000 miles under his keel in the last five years in power and sail boats ranging from 35 to 151 feet. He is a member of Lakewood Yacht Club. John was Waterford Yacht Club’s Yachtsman of the Year in 2004. John owns and operates Global Delivery Service – a yacht delivery company with over 30 captains located near major boating centers throughout the US.832 541 7569Web: www.globaldeliveryservice.com/ E-Mail: gds@marinanet.net

2. Introduction – Della DeWitt Della is a novice sailor but learning fast. She is an Elsevier-MC Strategies sales associate. She sells on-line education to health care professionals. When she is not selling or sailing she is playing her cello in local establishments or weddings. Her tag line is LaBella Cello –“Everything from Billy Joel to Bach.” Della DeWittWeb Site: http://labella-cello.com/E-Mail: info@labella-cello.com LaBella Cello

3. Peaceful Easy Cruising Texas to New England & Back 2006 & 2007IP Cruising Texas to MD 2009 Cruising Lessons Learned, Great & Not so Great Places to Berth/Anchor, Being a Tourist in our Great Country, Block Island after the Tourist Season, The Magic of Chesapeake Bay, Why is it that Auto Pilots Fail at the Worst Time? NOAA Weather, Great Communication Gadgets , Manatees Green Flashes and Other Mythical Stuff. GCIP Association 2 Oct. 2010 Sunset off the Coast of Maryland

4. Seminar Outline • Cruise Overview - John • Preparation - Getting the Dream Underway - John & Della • Ports Along the Way – John • His Lessons Learned - John • Her Lessons Learned – Della • Question and Answer - All Photo: Deep blue water of the Gulf Stream offthe coast of Florida

5. Peaceful Easy – The Boat • 1998 Hunter 450 • LOA: 44.25 ft. ; LWL: 37.5 ft. • Beam: 14 ft.; Draft: 5.5 ft. • Air Draft/Bridge Clearance: 64.5 feet • Speed: Six to seven knots • Range: 700 miles under motor/1400 miles motor sailing • Safety Equipment: PEPIRB, SPOT Satellite Tracker, Offshore 4-Person Life Raft, SSB, Sat Phone, VHF with DSC, Radar, Chart Plotter x 2, Night Vision Goggles, USCG Safety Package • How we do it: Underway offshore for 3 to 4 days. Then anchor or stay at a marina for 3 or 4 days. This allowed us to: change out crew, do boat maintenance, laundry, refuel, re-supply, rest, catch up with our family and friends and see the local area. Peaceful Easy Under Spinnaker

6. Peaceful Easy Cruise Overview • 2006 – Hunter 450 PEF • LYC to Groton, CT 18 May to 25 June; Groton, CT to LYC9 Oct. - 19 Nov. • 4931 Nautical Miles • 2007 – Hunter 450 PEF • LYC to Groton, CT 17 May to 23 June, Groton CT to LYC22 Sep. to 9 Nov. • 5023 Nautical Miles • 2009 – IP 35 E’Toile • LYC to Rock Hall, MD30 May to 27 June • 1900 Nautical miles PEF Crosses the Mississippi& Della Watches for Traffic

7. IP 35 Cruise 2009 Overview Continued A Method of Visual Layout of Your Cruise Schedule for Crew and Shore Party

8. Preparation - Getting Your Dream Underway • Vessel Prep • Don’t wait until she is 100% • Best prep is frequent use • Four page to-do checklist • Take small steps • Murphy lives on boats • Personal Prep • Mail • Medications • Medical and Eye Appts. • Banking and Bills Captain John and First Mate Della Ready to Depart

9. Preparation - Continued • Communications • Keeping in touch was critical. • Researched several options • How we did it: • Cell phone antenna and amplifier • Air card for the lap top • About 40% of marinas & yacht clubs we visited had public access wireless systems. • Used Sat Phone when not in cell phone range. Used it very little. • To keep our friends on shore updated we used a web page where I posted a log of our trip and updated it frequently with our progress and photos. Peaceful Easy Cruises at over 10 Knots In the Gulf Stream

10. Preparation - Continued • Safety • Weather Service • Equipment • 4-person, offshore life raft • EPIRB • SPOT – new Item 2008 • SSB • Sat Phone • VHF with DSC, Fog Horn and Hailer • Radar • Chart Plotter x 2 (onboard Raymarine + laptop with USB GPS antenna) • Offshore Medical Kit • Night Vision Goggles • Crew Briefs and Orientation Waterspout at Boca Chica Key

11. Safety Continued Ditch Bag Stowed in ditch bag First aid kit 4 days rations Can Opener Heavy duty disposable flatware/cups/plates 4 days water Flashlight Small spot light Flares Binoculars Strobe light Kite Inflatable distress flag Hand-held VHF in waterproof case Sunscreen and lip balm Extra batteries in waterproof container Ziplocs Handi-wipes Signal Mirror Whistle Safety knife Space blankets Extra line (parachute cord) Grab as you go EPIRB SPO T Sat Phone Hand held GPS Water Container Launch dinghy - if you have time Preparation - Continued Squall Line

12. Preparation - Continued • Route Planning • Used Maptech • Did the major point to point plot and then reviewed the course line in detail • Planned duck-out points • Planned Week-Long Segments • We would sail for 3 to 4 days and then layover for 3 or 4 days. • During layovers we would drop off or pick up crew; do boat chores & maintenance; visit the local area to include the West Marine; stay in touch with family, friends and business. • If we had a good weather window and did not need to wait for crew we departed early to keep slack in the schedule. • Did Sailing on a Schedule Work?

13. Preparation - Continued • Provisioning • Provisioning is an art • Simplicity is key • One Pot Meals • Snacks are Important • Prepare and Stow to Build in Cockpit • Have a Backup • Don’t Depend on Microwave Foods • Have a Rough Weather Meal(s) in Mind

14. Provisioning List

15. Provisioning List - Continued

16. Provisioning List - Continued

17. Ports/Marinas/Yacht Clubs/Anchorages

18. Ports/Marinas/Yacht Clubs/Anchorages

19. Ports/Marinas/Yacht Clubs/Anchorages

20. Ports/Marinas/Yacht Clubs/Anchorages

21. Ports/Marinas/Yacht Clubs/Anchorages

22. His Lessons Learned • NOAA Weather – not much change --more often wrong than right • USCG radios have improved • Tow Boat US – use them for local knowledge • Crew Orientation -- boat book • Bicycles – great to explore – buy cheap ones – they rust out in a year • Rental Car -- cheaper than taxis • Gulf of Mexico in the fall -- Cold Front every 4 to 7 days. • Reserve marina space in advance • Global Star Sat Phone improved • I don’t have a sailboat – I have a 7 knot trawler with a mast. • Summer in New England is great • Chesapeake Bay in the fall is great Very unlucky Mahi Mahi thatwas soon to be fish sticks

23. Her Lessons Learned • A novice’s Second time offshore overnight • Dealing with the sleep monster • Cruising is serious business • Your first line of defense is you, your boat and crew – don’t count on theUSCG