Saturday, March 26, 2005

Ritz Carlton mangement

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Saturday, March, 26, 2005, 23:00 UTC
Little Bahama banks

03/26/05
Ritz Carlton day charter on the bay
What a PERFECTLY WONDERFUL DAY!!
Thank you.

The captain, the weather, the food
I am so grateful to have experienced the Stray Cat.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Pat

MMMMEEEEOWWW! Screamed the Stray Cat as she ventured gracefully across the pristine Atlantic. What a PPUUURRRR-fect time we had with the keeper of the litter, Captain Mark! His charming personality and kindness made the voyage adventurous and enjoyable. I will continue to suggest The Stray Cat to my family, friends and clients. Many thanks for a wonderful and memorable experience.

Don-

NNNN
/EX

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Monday, March 14, 2005

Ft.Lauderdale to the Abaco's

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Monday, March, 14, 2005, 07:29 UTC
Key Largo

March 14th
Today I will be joining Mike Jones his wife and two sons for an instructional passage aboard their Noseman forty. We will meet in Ft. Lauderdale and sail diagonally up the Gulf Stream rounding the West End of Grand Bahama Island.
Over the next five days I will teach the fine art of navigation, sail trim and so much more to help them on their way to a happy new life style, "the live aboard cruising style".
We will sail to the Abaco islands over the next five or six days where I will depart from Marsh Harbor by air to return to Stray Cat in Coconut Grove.
Capt. Mark

NNNN
/EX

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Friday, March 11, 2005

Stranded in Bimini

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Thursday, March, 10, 2005, 12:23 UTC
Bimini Bahamas

As luck would have it, inclement weather prevented us from sailing on Tuesday. Instead, we stayed at the dock in Bimini. All was not lost though. While some ventured off to the beach, Tom, Shine, Marc, Christian, and Andrew headed out in the rough waters in the dinghy. Two valuable lessons were learned: 1) Don't stick 5 college guys with no clue of how control a dinghy in the water. 2) Don't stick 5 college guys with no clue of how to control a dinghy in the water during a storm. During the first trip out, we got completely soaked and swamped by waves. We ended up bailing with a gatorade bottle. On the second attempt, Dan, Shine, and Christian got stranded and had to be rescued by a boat fortunate enough to pass by. Later on, Dan and Shine got stranded AGAIN on a sandbar, but this time it was Shine who had to jump out and personally tow the boat off of the sandbar. On top of that, Andrew and Paul took out the Kayak and passed through an oil slick, messing up the kayak. It's a wonder Capt. Mark hasn't killed us yet. Later on, Marc, Shine, Tom, Andrew, and Christian went to a shipwreck right on the rocky shore of Bimini and climbed through it. It was quite an adventure, except when Tom was crossing the bow and nearly got swept off by a giant wave that crashed over the ship. Later that evening, after Christian lost a bet playing cards, the guys made him fulfill his obligation by delivering a crowd-pleasing rendition of "I'm a Little Teapot" complete with choreography infront of complete strangers at a bar. Though it took ten minutes of whining before he did it, it took no time at all to strip down and go running into the ocean to skinny dip in front of the same strangers once he was promised a beer. Wednesday provided little relief from the bad weather. However, we did manage to sail to a shipwreck. This was particularly enjoyable since we actually got to SAIL the boat and work the sails, even though there were torrents of rain coming down. Mike, Tom, and Shine were the first to brave the wrecked ship and climb up to the top, jumping thirty feet to the blue waters below. It was a also a great place to go snorkeling. On the way back, Christian made the first catch of the week, reeling in a nice sized Spanish Mackerel for food. The victory was bittersweet though, as another lost bet resulted in him being forced to eat an eye. This was followed by projectile vomiting off of the bow. Note to self: I need to stop making these sort of bets! The rest of the evening involved card games on the boat while anchored in Bimini Harbor, as the weather was REALLY bad. Hopefully things will start to clear up soon.

-Guest Christian
NNNN
/EX

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Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Day 1 Bahama's

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Tuesday, March, 08, 2005, 11:06 UTC
Bimini Blue Water

Crossing the Atlantic to get to Bimini was an amazing adventure. Possibly the most magical thing of all was watching the usually murky waters off of the US coast change to a deep blue and then the crystal clear blue so typical of the Bahamas. However, the trip over didn't bless everyone. Dan came down with seasickness, but fortunately felt much better by time we arrived in Bimini. While most of us lay out on the deck or trampoline soaking up some rays, the real men (Shine and Christian) attempted to catch fish for dinner. However, only one fish took bite on Christian's pole, but broke free before he could reel it in. This may have been due to a standing bet that the first person who catches a fish must eat its eye. After arrival in Bimini, we walked around the town, sampling their local beer (Kalik) and enjoying the white sand beaches. It was burgers on the grill for dinner followed by late night card games. Currently, winds are coming from the west at around 20 knots, generating swells up to 12 feet in the ocean. The sky is mostly cloudy, but should clear as the day progresses. Air temperature is at 78 degrees.
NNNN
/EX

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Monday, March 07, 2005

Miami To Bimini

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Monday, March, 07, 2005, 11:51 UTC
Gulf stream

The eight of us arrived in Coconut grove last night to pleasantly warm air and water temperatures compared to State College, PA. It was a nice trip down, and of course, everyone is very much excited to begin our first voyage sailing in the Bahamas. After provisioning the boat with the bare necessities for eight guys (meat, more meat, and beer), we battoned down the boat and spent the night playing cards on our new home for the next week. Spring Break 2005 is now underway as we set sail for Bimini in the Bahamas Air temperature is a warm 76 degrees with water temperature at 75. The sky is one-eighth covered witth clouds. Winds are coming from the southwest at 10mph and the seas are generally calm with 2-3 foot swells.

Guest Christian Squillante, David "Sunshine" Hall, Andrew Layer, Michael Uhl, Paul Dum, Tom Gallagher, Marc Repnyek, Dan Lin
NNNN
/EX

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Friday, February 18, 2005

Ship's log

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Friday, February, 18, 2005, 09:46 UTC
Coconut Grove Fl.

Friday, 2/18 9:18am
Cool morning with light haze buring off fast. great nights sleep on brand new mattres!
Arrived last night to continuing rum drinks after long day at the Miami Boat Show, drooling over new cats I can't afford. Great experience in "feeling" sizes, configurations, and fit & finish on various manufacturers. Suz and I sailed with Mark last fall and met a kindred soul. We have enjoyed keeping in touch. Before long he will assist us in the big buy and adventures awaiting. Back to the boat show now to continue narrowing down our choices.
Adios, Ricardo
guest
NNNN
/EX

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Thursday, February 17, 2005

ships log

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Thursday, February, 17, 2005, 17:07 UTC
Gulf Stream.

Feb 17,2005......return trip, Bimini to Miami....we set sail/motor (the wind was still sleeping) at approx. 8:30 Am . Captain Mark put us on course to the Maimi shores under a clear blue sky at about 6.0 knots....should arrive about 4:30....so far so good with a "gentle to the novice sailor stomach' Atlantic. The auto pilot is now renamed either Mark,Tim, Mike or Lucina! We're trying to catch a fish or two, however all fisherman Tim has done so far is seaweed ......maybe vegetarian is the way to go for the trip back. Not many ships on the horizon.....according to Captain Mark, it's Thursday and a front is coming in....... but the Stray Cat sails on. Not a cloud in the sky......just the endless sea, touching the endless sky,...all against the gentle rhythm of the Beatles and Barry
Manilow. Our approach to the shores of miami have begun....back to the real world.....I think?! It's been a grand trip...a few cloud puffs here and there, calm waters. and all smiles from everyone. If you sailors out there happen to see a rowdy little boater with our fishing line, he did a fancy two-step behind us without so much as a backward glance and almost took our reel as well......he probably also took Tim's catch of the day as well. So much for courteous boaters...maybe he was to close to Miami to know any better?! What do you think/!?! New's FLASH.........last moment excitment....we just went over a crab pot and it got tangled in the propellar fortunately that engine was not running, however Captain Mark had to "dress up" in his wet suit and cut us loose....we're free and on the move again. As earlier mentioned it's been a terrific adventure....Captain Mark is the "Cat"s Meow" of the Stray Cat!!!!!!! For anyone out there looking for a special trip that you want to enjoy again and again......Captain Mark and the Stray Cat are THE WAY TO GO!!!!!!! I'm sorry to say our trip has come to a close.....it's one of the few times that you don't want the answer to "are we almost there" to be yes!!! Till next time on the Stray Cat....Happy Trails from Captain Mark, Lucinda, Mike and Tim
NNNN
/EX

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ship's log

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Thursday, February, 17, 2005, 12:01 UTC
Coconut Grove Fl.

Feb. 16, 2005......Day two of "the Bimini trip".....just as anticipated the day broke with lazy morning clouds and the water waking to the glass-like clearness that you see in a postcard......coffee was the first order of the day....then the men began some maintiance duties, each one from Captain Mark, to Tim, and Mike disappearing into the engine room to make friends with the auto pilot that choose to take a little break for the trip to Bimini......after about 2 hours of bonding with the nuts and bolts of it, it still decided to let the crew be the pilot.....Capt. Mark will have that project to work on when we return to Miami......so Back to the lovely day ahead on the island. Tim, Mike, and I went ashore.....a laid- back culture....much of the town stores were closed for an afternoon nap. We checked out the Earnest Hemingway house and museum.....now also a tavern nlooked to be in his 40's and early 50's in most of the photos almost all of them with a Marlin fish by his side. The island itself is very narrow and we walked over the hill and are captivated by the amazing blue green waters of the Atlantic....gorgeous!!! The people all seem to be in their own world of rules and no rules.....no worries.....I wonder which shop sales that lifestyle ......the States could sure use a big dose of that potion!!!!! Back to the Stray Cat and Captain Mark, turned Captain Mechanic......Mike and I began the supper preparations....fresh dolphin from yesterday's catch....rice,more veggies and a Key lime pie finale, accompanied by excellant fellowship. We all retired about 11:30 with memories made of a delightful day in Bimini. Until tomorrow.......
NNNN
/EX

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ships log

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Thursday, February, 17, 2005, 11:15 UTC
Coconut Grove Fl.

Tuesday Feb. 15,2005 Cap. Mark put us on course to Bimini at approx. 2:30 for the 6 hour trip.....an exciting adventure to cross the "high seas"arriving our destination by the light of the stary sky. leaving miami...we had the wind on our nose at about 10 knots....we caught a dolpin about 8 mies out and it weighed about 25 lbs...at about mid gulf stream the winds grew to approx. 25 knots and the seas to "roughly!!!" SIX feet.....our sea legs begin to grow. Cap. Mark prepares a delightful meal of grilled chicken, veggies, and potatoes....However only the Captain and one guest, Tim, had the sailor stomach to enjoy the culinery skills due to the choppy waters. We put anchor in Bimini at 11:30, everyone crashed and slept great on CALM, CALM, CALM waters. YEah, head on pillow, looking forward to tomorrow and and the crystal blue waters and friendly smiles of Bimini. End of first day. Ship's guest, Lucinda Chisman
NNNN
/EX

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