Watching TS ERIKA

Watching TS ERIKA

Tropical Storm Erika continues to move toward the Leeward Islands. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Guadeloupe. Interests in the Dominican Republic should monitor the progress of Erika. A Tropical Storm Watch may be required for a portion of the Dominican Republic later today.

Erica is centered about 285 miles east-southeast of Antigua, moving toward the west near 17 mph. A west to west-northwest motion is expected over the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the center of Erika will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands tonight, move near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Thursday, and be near or just north of north coast of the Dominican Republic on Friday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph. Little change in strength during the next 48 hours is forecast. Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the warning area in the Leeward Islands tonight, and reach the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area tonight and early Thursday. Tropical storm conditions could reach portions of the Dominican Republic on Friday. Erika is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches with maximum amounts of 8 inches across portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico through Friday morning.

Get the latest on this tropical cyclone by visiting the NHC website at www.hurricanes.gov

SVSeaDragon and crew are watching this one VERY closely! We are taking every precaution necessary to protect ourselves and our vessel, tying on extra fenders, doubling up on lines and securing things topside. We do need some extra supplies and we are very low on funds right now, so if anyone would like to donate we would appreciate it.
Also, We are in one of the best hurricane safe marinas but if it looks too bad we will evac.
We will keep everyone updated.

Keeping the Dinghy Clean

This is what happens when you leave your dinghy in the water too long.


We had been keeping a dinghy in our slip for the last 3 months until our mates came back from NY to retrieve it. We agreed to watch over it while their boat was being hauled out on land and worked on.
Algae, seaweed,  tube worms, and barnacles all attach to the bottom and become one big growth that is just nasty.

We pulled it out of the water and this is what the bottom looked like.

Warning! Graphic Images: Don't let your bottom get this dirty! :)

Sunday Funday on Disappearing Island

I just had my first experience with a SUP ( stand up paddle board ). Another couple on our dock took me and Kim out on their boat down to the inlet for a little island time. This island called, Disappearing Island, is really just a gathering place to hang out and socialize with other boaters. Every day at low tide the water is so low the island appears and it is one large sandbar everyone parks their boats up close and enjoys soaking up some sun and fun! At high tide the island slowly disappears and the party is over. There are many activities that happen on the island.  Some people set up volleyball nets, play frisbee, kayak, or just float around on their inflatables.  A lot of people bring their coolers and barbeques along but there is a boat that comes by that sells snacks, refreshments and ice cream, ice and even bait for fishing.

Ponce Inlet Light House, Florida

A group playing volleyball

Friends hanging out on the sandy beach near the mangroves

Boaters enjoying the island life

A ketch style catamaran anchored near Ponce Inlet

This is my first time on a SUP.  This one is made by Hobie, and is inflatable.
I enjoyed it very much and hope to get one soon! I am going to check West Marine to see when they are going on sale next!

Once you are on you steady yourself with a wide stance and bend your knees a little it is easy to navigate the waterways, the paddle is concave and you swipe it in deep down the board lengthwise.
I paddled my way through one of the tributaries on the backside of the island and turned around remembering I had to actually paddle against the current. My legs certainly got a workout after that! This is a great way to keep in shape and work into your fitness routine. Plus you can see a lot of cool wildlife as you are coasting by near the mangroves.  Overall I had a great experience and even some thought I was a pro as I passed by them,  they were asking me lots of questions  and I had to tell them I was a newbie. I am glad they were so impressed with my newly learned skills however.
Watch the video below to see how I got started.

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Sea Dragon is 1 Yr Old!

Well, that time finally came! We have owned SV SeaDragon for one year. We actually moved aboard in September 2014 but signed the paperwork and took over ownership in July 2014. This is an exciting time! I have never been more happy to own a boat and call it home. I imagine us cruising for years to come making passages to islands and exploring many places I could only once dream about before. I feel so tied down, forgive the pun but it is true, we are still tied up here at the dock. It is a struggle right now with our finances trying to catch up on previous debts and  new ones that keep growing. I do want to  have a goal of cruising within 1 year. At least make it down to the Florida Keys by next Spring. There are lots of things we want to do but money is the issue right now. I know we can do this and we will continue trying! We made it thus far without killing each other! :)


We both are trying to find steady work here locally but it  has been taking some time to find something. I enjoy blogging and writing about our lives but that is not enough until the traffic to the sites increase. Our advertisers will only hold out for so long before they will suspend the relationship. Please let me know what you would like to see on this blog. Would you like to see more posts on saving money, cooking, nature, or maintenance on the boat? I try to include a little bit of everything each week!


I am going to start a meal and budget planning guide soon and will post it here on the blog when it is completed. Also the boys are finishing up on their classes and will have more free time to go out on some more adventures and field trips.

....

Helping my Mate Sell her 30' S2 9.2C Sailboat

Hi everyone!  
My dock mate and good friend Gladys is selling her sailboat.

Description: 30' S2 9.2C Sailboat (Daytona Beach)
http://daytona.craigslist.org/boa/5127706790.html

It is a very sturdy and smooth sailboat and perfect for someone who wants to learn to sail, restore a classic, and easy to single hand and navigate around the coastal waters. 

She has been well maintained and deserves a someone who will take care of her as much as her current owner has, is that you?
This is perfect for a beginner sailor or a couple that want a live aboard and or day/weekend sail.

 If you would kindly share this with your friends someone may be interested. 

She is move in ready and priced to sell!  
All reasonable offers will be considered.

Please click the link for more info. 

Thank you!

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This post is brought to you by: Ebooks.com
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Learn to Sail | A list of my favorite ebooks

As a new sailor I try to learn everything I can hands on, reading, asking lots of questions on the sailing groups/forums and learning from others with experience.
It wasn't that long ago that I didn't know a thing about sailing except that it moves when the wind blows. Now I know a little more each and every day thanks to some great advice, getting out there and trying something I have never done before, reading and learning the basics! At 40, I believe we are never too old to stop learning and start a new chapter in our lives. I say..... If you have ever thought about it, don't stop, just go for it!

I have put together a list of books that I found pretty helpful.

This first one is a an official text book for ASA!

American Sailing Association Sailing Made Easy Sailing Made Easy is a highly visual, easy-to-read teaching tool for would-be sailors with little or no prior exposure to the sport. Sailing Made Easy is the new official textbook for the ASAs Basic Keelboat Sailing Standard course, ASA 101.Setting a new standard for sailing education materials, Sailing Made Easy was written by a team of expert sailing instructors with more than 150 years of combined sailing experience. It was co-edited by Peter Isler, world famous Americas Cup winning navigator and commentator, and Jeremy McGreary, a 30-year veteran sailing writer and editor. The text closely mirrors the customary sequence in which beginning students are introduced to the theory of sailing, the boat in which they will learn, and the skills they will acquire.With its high-quality, detailed illustrations and easy-to-understand sailing lexicon, we expect Sailing Made Easy to help more people discover the joys of sailing, said Charlie Nobles, executive director of the ASA. As the leading authority on U.S. sailing instruction, we believe that this is the source book for anyone who is serious about this exciting sport and lifestyle American Sailing Association Sailing Made Easy

Cool Video from our Marina!

This is an aerial video (captured by a drone)of our marina where we are currently.
Halifax Harbor Marina 
is located in Daytona Beach, Florida


See if you can spot SV SeaDragon!!

We love this marina! It has superb amenities and top notch service!

If you happen to be cruising in this area stop by.

You can find it by water  here:

MM: ICW St. Mile 830.5 at ICW Marker 39A

LAT/LON: 29.204024, -81.012205