2) Too darn late.

3) Anchoring

4) Camera Soaked

5) Too Damn Hot!

1 & 2) Dream Chaser and I had planned to leave West Palm Beach early Saturday morning and hoped to launch a day early to play safe and relaxed. HO! Everything takes longer than expected. We left WPB at 5 pm and overnighted on Key Largo. We were lucky to get a room as they are all full on weekends even in "off season." Got to Oceanside about 11 am Sunday. Blazing sun, no clouds, little breeze. TOO DAMN HOT to rig a sailboat, but we did. It was dark by the time we left Oceanside and went to the Wisteria anchorage with Nextboat. We were hot and shot - a poor beginning for the trip.

LESSONS LEARNED:

A) Start TWICE as early as ya think ya should.

B) Rig in early morning or late afternoon and evening - NEVER in the blazing sun. It just isn’t worth it.

3) I almost always put out two anchors. Don’t know why I didn’t at Marquesas. Just the one 9-lb danforth for the two of us rafted together. It held OK through the current reversal at sunset but not during the storm. As we dragged, Luke put out an anchor off his bow and I put out another 9-pounder off my stern but nothing held. I wasn’t very concerned about being grounded as it is much better than being blown loose through the dark night by the storm. As we dragged toward the key my 10 Dollar, million candlepower, made-in-China spotlight burned out. (First time I had it on more than a few seconds.) Harbor Freight replaced it.

LESSONS LEARNED:

A) Never trust Ma Nature. It was pretty and calm when we anchored - later it got ugly. Expect it to get ugly. Anchor well. Batten everything down BEFORE you set out. Carry extra fuel and spare parts. Check and double check. Pray a lot. or get drunk. or both.

B) For a year now I’ve been planning to get a 22-lb Kingston Quickset plow anchor, a bow roller and a windlass. I finally ordered the anchor, chain and swivel. Will get the roller once I can see how the anchor fits and whether I need the longer roller. Will get the windlass after I get the roller installed. This should make singlehanded anchoring much easier and more secure. Maybe I won’t have to go to "Anchor Management Class" after all.

C) Always figured I could blow my ballast to help float free if I grounded and I got a chance to do it and it works. Part of the success is closing down the big valve to let water out but not the air, and keeping crew aft for same reason.

4) Had the digital camera in its bag and that inside a zippered valise. But with 4 folks in an inflatable dinghy the chop came over the bow and the camera still got wet. The repair shop threw it away but they got the photos off the memory card and onto a CD. Doesn’t break my heart as it was an older 1.3 megapixel that I would not willingly replace (cheap me). Now have a new SPLASHPROOF 4.0 megapixel with lots of bells and whistles.

LESSON LEARNED:

Use the right gear. I had a "Dry Bag" on board and didn’t use it that night. Did from then on. Don’t expect to stay dry in a small dinghy.

5) TOO DAMN HOT to break down a sailboat in the blazing sun.

LESSON LEARNED:

See No. 1 above.