Tantara May Log

Tantara Log May, 2006

This Log entry is compiled from an email sent by Steve Lamb 5/25/2006.

We have finally cast off ...

Last month I flew to Tortola, BVI. I hired a captain, and the two of us sailed my new boat to Fort Lauderdale (almost 1000 miles). Then I flew back to Colorado where my family was waiting for me. We drove back to Fort Lauderdale and began provisioning and preparing to cruise up the East coast of the US, and possibly into Canada, this summer. Next winter we will head back to the islands (Bahamas and Caribbean). After that we will see what we are ready to tackle, maybe an ocean crossing.

Today, Thursday, May 26, 2006, is our sixth day on the water sailing on Tantara, our Lagoon 380 catamaran. So far we have been to the following ports:

Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, FL on a dock behind a private residence in Coral Ridge in a small canal just off the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). We launched late in the morning because the canopy over the cockpit was not completed earlier.

Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, FL -- moored just off the ICW in Lake Worth in front of the condo of friends where we were staying for the previous week. We arrived on Saturday night after dark. Cleaned up the condo, swam in the pool, and showered on Sunday, and headed out on Monday.

Fort Pierce, FL anchored in a small cove surrounded by modest homes. Left early on Tuesday.

Port Canaveral, FL Anchored just off the port channel Tuesday evening near a bridge and a public park.

St Mary's inlet, Fernandina, FL Anchored in the confluence of two rivers. This was the first overnight passage. We left Port Canaveral early on Wednesday, and arrived in the afternoon on Thursday. Boat and crew performed very well. We found stiff currents in the anchorage, but it is reasonably secure. Fernandina is the first stop where we are spending any time after West Palm Beach. Today we washed laundry in the Laundromat, had a great meal at a garden cafe restaurant, and we are emailing you from the library. Fernandina is a great little town. The only complaint so far is the smell from the paper or pulp factories when downwind.

Highlights so far include:

Sea turtle
Dolphins
Manatee
Sting rays
Rocket launch from Cape Canaveral (we heard and felt the boom and rumble, and saw the trail from several miles north in the Atlantic)
One great day of sailing, and several calm days of motor sailing
Flying fish
Iguana
Six inch lizards with strange curved tails
Jelly fish
Enjoying Tantara and cruising

Follow the links to the left to return to other Lamb Sundries or Tantara links, or choose NEXT below to page through Tantara's Logs.