April 17 - 21 Vero Beach to Melbourne & Melbourne to NASA RR Anchorage

April 17 - Vero Beach to Melbourne

We had an early departure and a couple of high-speed runs to beat the rain.  The only obstacle was the slow speed traffic that is characteristic of the ICW. As Easter approaches coupled with the end of the month, traffic seems to be like the slow lane on I-95. (Is there a slow lane on I-95?) We witnessed some pretty wild passing by other boats and some pretty colorful radio calls.  All was a little surprising considering the simple protocol required to pass another boat.  You merely call them on Channel 16 and request a passing on their port or starboard side.  After which, you minimize your speed to allow for the smallest wake and still maintain adequate speed to pass at a “reasonable” pace.  The boat being passed has the option to slow thus minimizing the need for the passing boat to maintain a higher speed (and wake).  If the boat being passed either elects to maintain speed or fails to acknowledge the call (radio off), they leave themselves to the mercy of the passing boat.  In all cases, the passing boat is still responsible for collision avoidance and the effects of their wake.  Those boats that pass with no radio call and excessive wakes should be relegated to barrel riding over Niagara Falls for a week.

Eau Gallie Yacht Club

We entered port at Eau Gallie Yacht Club to a strong southeasterly wind and a fortifying current.  The dockmaster appeared professional and knowledgeable both during our communications prior to arrival and dockside as he managed Ivory Lady's dock lines.  Unfortunately, CA's desire for a starboard tie for Navigator to expedite a pump-out overrode his superior seamanship knowledge and he attempted to dock down wind and down current.  All might have worked except the knowledgeable dockmaster was on another pier with Ivory Lady and his assistant obviously had little experience and, as we found out later, was clinically deaf.  Following a couple of attempts and some rather loud exchanges between the Captain and the line handlers, Navigator finally got docked only to find out that the pump-out service was only available at another dock!  Needless to say, CA didn’t need a pump-out as badly as he thought.  The morale of the story is pay attention to the wind & current, forget the rest of the distractions and get the boat secured in the most safe and expeditious manner available.  The rest will work itself out.

Eau Gallie Yacht Club is a fabulous club that has great windowed layout, pool, tennis courts and they uphold visiting club protocols.  People are friendly and the Past Commodore and his wife made a point to greet us at dinner.  Food and service was excellent. We planned a 4 night stay to accommodate Easter visits to family and friends.

April 21 - Melbourne to Titusville

More traffic today than before Easter as predicted. However, not all residents of the Indian River Lagoon are snowbirds. A mother osprey had taken up residence on an ICW marker and was not deterred from feeding her young even as we passed so close (without calling her on the radio!). Even though a stiff wind out of the North, we enjoyed a clear, cool and comfortable day for cruising. The Indian River Lagoon is wide, has little or no tide nor tidal current and plenty of room to maneuver when passing. No bridges requiring opening today. After our pump-outs at Eau Gallie YC, it was an uneventful trip to Titusville and the NASA Railroad bridge where we planned to anchor for the night. 

The Kennedy Space center is an imposing sight from our anchorage. We are under the shadow of the Space Shuttle assembly building and launch gantries spiraling above the surrounding flora. Fortunately we are not close enough to see the rust and cobwebs accumulating on one of America’s greatest achievements, victim of politics and lack of true vision.  We sit and wonder how we ever descended to renters of Russian space technology when we Americans pioneered the exploration of space.  Have we finally lost our inspiration and desire to concur the next frontier? 

But we digress. Our anchorage is well protected from the north wind which is abating hourly as predicted, swaying to the rhythm of the sea and breathing the soothing air of the night.  A good night's sleep under the stars and with all hatches open is predicted.