We arrived in Bermuda on Wednesday at about 1:00 p.m. There was no small commotion. No one could believe that we had made the crossing in a 21 ft. flats boat. Everyone seemed to believe it was the first time anyone had ever done that. We got to meet a bunch of government officials. They turned out to be very helpful.
The crossing actually went quite well taking 51 hours including a lot of down time on the phone. My Brother Bob, who had never been on the boat until we started for Bermuda, was surprised the first time we went over some six footers. He then realized why I was so confident in the boat. That turkey, later told me that he thought I would turn back at the first big waves. The boat handled the waves beautifully. Most of the waves were 3-5 ft in size with occassional larger ones, even up to eight foot. We only had five waves come over the bow and only two as far as the wind shield. Unfortunately the wind was up most of the way 10 - 35 mph and blew alot of water back on us.
It looks like there is a front comming through from N.Y. and we will have to wait here for a day or two to sit out the weather, life is rough, stuck in Bermuda, but somebody has to do it. I want to remind everyone, that I am the builder, and this is not something I would recommend to do at home. If you are ever in Bermuda stop in at Triangle Dive Shops and Blue Hole Water Sports. www.trianglediving.com and www.blueholewater.bm
Monday, September 10, 2007
Heading for New York
We have been here in Bermuda for two days waiting out the front. It appears that we will be able to leave today, Friday, May 4, late afternoon. We added a new wave brake to the front of our console in case we have to go through waves bigger than 10 ft. We have already been through a few 8 ft waves. The wave brake is absolutely perfect in what we wanted. The wonderful folks at Ocean Sales St. Georges Bermuda built it for us. They did an excellent job on short notice. www.oceansails.com If you are ever in Bermuda see Steve, Suzanne, and Rod. The stay has been fun. The people excellent, and very helpful. Everything here is a little expensive. Our Suzuki 115 four stroke has run great.
We have also met two different people in Bermuda who have expressed an interest in investing in Dream Boats, and two seperate individuals who have expressed an interest in opening up dealerships in Bermuda, and one in N.C. Details will have to be worked out.
The people at Bermuda, Radio have agreed to track us back to N.Y. on radar. We will be reporting to them Six hours. The Royal Gazette has updated articles if you want to read them.
Still in Bermuda
Last night we were supposed to leave, pending one last weather report. It showed 18 ft waves 100 miles off of N.Y. That means they would have been 20 -30 ft in the gulf stream. While Bob and I might be a little gutsy we are not crazy. It looks like we are going to have to wait until Tuesday night or Wednesday morning to leave. That should put us in at about noon Friday, in New York Harbor.
While the people in Bermuda have treated us like royalty, we were even given honorary membership in the St. George's Boat and Dingy Club, this trip would not be possible without the four greatest people in my life: Anne, my wife, Phillip, Heath, and Brittany, my children. Anne has gone way beyond any expectations to help me. She even volunteered to accompany me across the Atlantic when my first mate, had to back out due to unforeseen circumstances. That is a pretty brave woman.
As far as we can tell no one has ever made the crossing in a single engine flats boat before. Most of the men, we met in Bermuda says they would not do it. (They have more common sense than I.) Most of them have been across in much larger boats. All kinds of Government officials, even the American Consolate have been trying to talk us out of going on to N.Y. Even the newspaper reported that the Bermuda Radio strongly recommends we abandon the rest of the trip. Some even called Bob and I crazy idiots, I still call it proof. After they realized we were not going to be persuaded to cancel they became very helpful in planning the rest of the trip.
I know in the beginning she was rightfully sceptical as any responsible woman would be when her crazy husband took much needed money and started a boat company. She has put up with me for five years while we struggled to get this started.
Lord Willing we shall arrive in N.Y. Harbor on Friday.
While the people in Bermuda have treated us like royalty, we were even given honorary membership in the St. George's Boat and Dingy Club, this trip would not be possible without the four greatest people in my life: Anne, my wife, Phillip, Heath, and Brittany, my children. Anne has gone way beyond any expectations to help me. She even volunteered to accompany me across the Atlantic when my first mate, had to back out due to unforeseen circumstances. That is a pretty brave woman.
As far as we can tell no one has ever made the crossing in a single engine flats boat before. Most of the men, we met in Bermuda says they would not do it. (They have more common sense than I.) Most of them have been across in much larger boats. All kinds of Government officials, even the American Consolate have been trying to talk us out of going on to N.Y. Even the newspaper reported that the Bermuda Radio strongly recommends we abandon the rest of the trip. Some even called Bob and I crazy idiots, I still call it proof. After they realized we were not going to be persuaded to cancel they became very helpful in planning the rest of the trip.
I know in the beginning she was rightfully sceptical as any responsible woman would be when her crazy husband took much needed money and started a boat company. She has put up with me for five years while we struggled to get this started.
Lord Willing we shall arrive in N.Y. Harbor on Friday.
The Perfect Storm
From North Carolina to Bermuda, (675 miles of open ocean),
From Bermuda to New York Harbor, (775 miles of open ocean).
in an UNESCORTED FLATS BOAT. By definition a flats boat is a single engine,
low profile, open fishing style boat, that can run in less than one foot of water. This Intruder 21 can run in 4 - 6 inches of water.
****NEW READERS SHOULD START AT THE BOTTOM*********
Currently there is a major storm off the coast of N. C. and another forming near N.Y. some people have called them the perfect storm. We are waiting out this situation. I flew back to Florida to take care of some business issues while Bob stayed with the boat, to make some preparations. My temporary cell phone number is 352-346-2365.
From Bermuda to New York Harbor, (775 miles of open ocean).
in an UNESCORTED FLATS BOAT. By definition a flats boat is a single engine,
low profile, open fishing style boat, that can run in less than one foot of water. This Intruder 21 can run in 4 - 6 inches of water.
****NEW READERS SHOULD START AT THE BOTTOM*********
Currently there is a major storm off the coast of N. C. and another forming near N.Y. some people have called them the perfect storm. We are waiting out this situation. I flew back to Florida to take care of some business issues while Bob stayed with the boat, to make some preparations. My temporary cell phone number is 352-346-2365.
I will be flying back to Bermuda on Tuesday, May 8 and planning to slip out the back behind the storm either late Tuesday or early Wednesday to be in New York Harbor about noon Friday.
.
.
From North Carolina to Bermuda
From North Carolina to Bermuda, (675 miles of open ocean),From Bermuda to New York Harbor, (775 miles of open ocean).in an UNESCORTED FLATS BOAT. By definition a flats boat is a single engine,low profile, open fishing style boat, that can run in less than one foot of water. This Intruder 21 can run in 4 - 6 inches of water.
*********New Readers should start at the bottom*********
The US Coast Guard called me today to emphasize that this kind of project should not be done at home. They currently are involved in several search and rescue attempts that were related to the storm mentioned earlier. Thank God the Intruder will not sink. Of the four boats that went down between North Carolina and Bermuda in the last month, only three crews could be saved. One professional crew of three sailers perished.
On the way to New York Harbor
I received 2 satellite phone calls from Ralph today (Tuesday May 9th). They seemed to be doing very well. They were both very excited, and looking forward to the venture. Ralph said that they were expecting 5 - 9 footers today with 2 to 5 footers the rest of the trip, hopefully. They were approximately 70 miles off the coast of Bermuda when the engine oil light came on. They immediately turned the engine off, dropped in their sea anchors, called a boat mechanic, and did some investigating. Ralph said that they now have a tether system (which you can see in the pics) that they devised, so they tied themselves to the boat before leaning over to check out the engine. Come to find out the light came on to notify them to do an oil change, which they had just performed before they left. They were told by the mechanic that there was no problem, so they fired it up and kept on going. Some of the pics show some of Ralph and Bob's new friends, that they met in Bermuda. Their friends have really helped them out a lot, from building a wave brake, and giving advice, to charting their every move by radar. Stay posted right here for the latest up to date info on the trip. I'll be sure to let you know what's happening when I hear from Ralph and Bob next.
Almost to New Jersey
Ralph called just a few minutes ago stating they were 112 miles from New York Harbor and that they would coming ashore sometime this afternoon. I am sure that they will be glad to get their feet on dry land. I know that their family's will be glad to have them home safe & sound.
It has been a long journey and they have accomplished their goal. To prove that the intruder is a sea-worthy flats boat. A boat that can go in shallow water anywhere from six inches of water and also be sea-worthy for those shor trips several miles out.
They stated that the weather was not bad at all and the seas were somewhat calm. They apologize to anyone that may have thought their trip was unsafe. They always felt that their safety was important that is why they watched the weather report and waited a week to come home. They also had brought aboard a satellite phone, an Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB), and they wore a teather that was tied on the boat at times. They both are very good in the water having grown up surfing in Cocoa Beach.
Thank God they are almost there.
It has been a long journey and they have accomplished their goal. To prove that the intruder is a sea-worthy flats boat. A boat that can go in shallow water anywhere from six inches of water and also be sea-worthy for those shor trips several miles out.
They stated that the weather was not bad at all and the seas were somewhat calm. They apologize to anyone that may have thought their trip was unsafe. They always felt that their safety was important that is why they watched the weather report and waited a week to come home. They also had brought aboard a satellite phone, an Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB), and they wore a teather that was tied on the boat at times. They both are very good in the water having grown up surfing in Cocoa Beach.
Thank God they are almost there.
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