Short Haul

All through the ICW I was struggling to keep up with Jack Tar and Eye Candy because of the growth on the bottom of the hull.  I had tried to clean it on a number of occasions but it soon grew back again and I lost almost a knot in speed.  It was time to do a short haul onto the hard to clean off the weed and apply a fresh coat of antifoul but the cost to stay on the hard in this area is just too high. 
I found a marina who would haul me out on one day and drop me back in the water the next so I left Norfolk and Portsmouth after lunch and steamed down the channel flanked by more and more US warships even the nuclear powered aircraft carrier Enterprise.  The amount of hardware in this area is just amazing.  I don't know if all are operational but they must keep many people occupied and on the payroll.

I approached Little Creek entrance to be confronted by a boom, flashing red lights and a vessel with a machine gun on the bow.  Keep out, this is the harbour of some extra landing or amphibious force's vessels.  I turned to starboard and found Cobbs Marina. Be careful of the shallow spot going into the slips but I backed out and tied to the end of the jetty.
The next day I went to the office to sign in and wait to be hauled which took place just after 10.  The evidence of Malua's slowness was there to see. Thick green growth with many patches of barnacles.  I used the scraper while the power wash did its magic.  By the time Malua was blocked I had removed all the dark blue antifouling which seemed to come off far to easily.  I gave the hull a good scrape and a hand sand - it was ready to paint but I still had to remove the dark stain of the water of the ICW.  I had been told of this product The Works from the 1 dollar shop.  Let me tell you it works wonders with just one wipe on a soft cloth. I had the topsides clean and washed to meet my deadline of 4pm giving me 3 hours before dark to apply the Micron Extra dark blue.

One gallon and 2 1/2 hours latter I had completed all but one side of the keel.  I had a spare tin of the French antifoul so I was able to complete the job before it got cold and dark.  The autoprop was the next task.  I cleaned that down to the bronze with wet and dry paper.  I gave it a good grease in the bearings.  That was all I could complete in one day.  A hot shower, some food and off to bed.
Next morning I covered the prop with my Aussie lanolin but the 220 volt heat gun hardly gave out any heat so the lanolin only just melted to form a coating.  I was in the office at 9:30 when they opened.  The total cost was $700 which included the $300 for the gallon of antifouling - normal cost $240 but that is the price one pays for them to get it at such short notice.  I was in the slings and back in the water by 10:00 - a 24 hour turnaround for a complete antifoul and clean topside...not bad.
I exited this navy harbour and turned towards Yorktown only to find JT and EC had the same idea. We met for a drink but I fear for the last time as we all have different plans.
A magical moment on Malua.

Welcome to America

Malua is at 24:37.18N 80:20.95W in the Gulf Stream at noon on 30/4/2013
The trip from Cuba to Florida was forecast to be an easy run with the wind from aft of the beam.  I cleared customs and immigration and took on 150 CUC of diesel - the last of my money.  Then set off out the marina entrance after Balvenie who had left an hour before.
The wind was quite north as I moved into the strong northern flowing Gulf Stream.  With the wind against the current the swell banks up into a close chop difficult to sail into however Malua had one reef and a full genoa to help power through the waves.  After about 8 hour of sailing I found myself up-wind of Balvenie and well ahead however the storm clouds and squalls where gathering in the south west.  Before I knew it Balvenie had lost their wind and were forced to tack west.  I kept going north wards towards the Florida coast. At about midnight I came close to a freighter so I tacked to the west.  I could see a red mast-head light but could not tell how far off it was, so I switched on the radar.  It was well inside one mile.  Just then Amanda came on the radio asking if I would go below them or should they change course.  I was on port so I dipped below them passing astern within  200 m.  Not bad sailing that two boat should be that close after 14 hours.
From that point on our paths diverged.  I went west towards the Gulf stream while they kept close to the coast.  While I did not see any ships I had to slow down to take some cat naps and to tack more north.  By daybreak Balvenie was well ahead with Eye Candy leading the pack.  I missed the squalls and lightening which drenched their boats but fell into a no wind hole that continues right to my destination.

I had not purchased the C-Map charts for the USA so my charts ran out just 3 miles off the coast.  My backup helped me as I motored into an easy entrance early in the morning - 4:30 am.  I dropped the anchor near Eye Candy and Balvenie.
We now had to call the Customs and Boarder protection to get an arrival number.  I did that using my travelsimm.  $45 later I got the entry number.  The three Aussie (NZ is part of Oz) boats went ashore to face the friendly face of our first bureaucrat.  As we walked in I knew that this was not going to be easy.  The fellow behind the bullet proof partition must have thought his office space had been invaded by aliens which of course we are in the American's eyes.  He gave the three vessels a hard time always stopping to deal with a locals as soon as they entered the office.  Each vessel has their own story which I will leave them to tell but a sorry story about the difficulties of getting a cruising permit.

I was sent directly back to Malua to get some additional original documentation.  When I presented it to the Customs officer who then scrutinized it as if it was a forgery.  Not a word passed between us as he held it up to the light, turned it over, round and back again.  He was too stupid to put one on top of the other to see the difference.  I was then put through the 3 rd degree as to my movements in the last 3 months.  After a further half hour I was presented with my cruising permit ( the first I received in Puerto Rico so this was just a second with different dates).  I also requested a new stamp in my passport to reflect that I had just arrived.  A note to the authorities: That officer needs training on how to deal with the public and Customs needs to limit the discretion that these officers have in granting cruising permits.

Welcome to America, the land of the free and coalition partners in the fight against terrorists who are not Australians on cruising boats.
Not a magical moment for Malua.