Florida Sea Base News

It was a great day at the Florida Sea Base.  I started out the day in sweatpants and a jacket.  By 1000 I was in shorts and a long sleeved shirt.  By lunch the sleeves were rolled up.

We did not have any new crews arrive at Florida Sea Base today, but we did have 5 Coral Reef Sailing crews return to base for their “fun day”.  This kept the Coral Reef staff and galley staff pretty busy.  All of the Divemasters were out diving with their crews.  Milly has a crew of 6.  Half are certified and half are completing their Open Water Diver certification with her.  They were on a boat to themselves with Capt. Dennis Wyatt and knocked out 3 dives today.  The other Scuba Adventure crews went out on BSA Adventure with Capt. Carol Chapman and First Mate Rick Kuras.  They did 2 dives and then went back out for a night dive with Capt. Rich Beliveau relieving Capt. Carol.

I know I have mentioned this several times this spring, but we have a GREAT staff.  I continue to be impressed with their cohesion and scouting spirit.

Capt. Alex Bergstedt helped me put the motor on my (relatively) new dinghy and get it launched today.  I have a little 2 stroke Mercury 15 horsepower motor.  It hasn’t been run in over 10 years.  So I put it in the shop a few weeks ago and had them install a carburetor kit and change the lower unit oil.  Capt. Alex pulled the starter cord once and she fired up.  We drove her around for 15 or 20 minutes and she ran fine.  15 horsepower is just barely enough to get my rigid inflatable dinghy on plane.  But plane she did and all is well.

I believe Capt. Rich has finished hiring all of the summer sailing staff.  I have one scuba opening left and several applications.  I will fill that position in the next day or two.

Tomorrow Capt. Rich, Rob Kolb (our immediate supervisor) and I are going to the Naval Air Station in Key West.  Years ago, the Sea Exploring crews used to dock on Navy property where the old submarine basin used to be.  That dock was given to the City of Key West and turned in to a cruise ship pier.  So we were booted out.  We are now trying to get approval to dock at a different part of the Naval Air Station.  Rob Kolb has been working with one of the Florida Sea Base Committee members, Dan McCarty, Admiral, US Navy, Retired, for the past few months.  I think the mission tomorrow is to visit the site where we would be allowed to dock and work out security issues.

That’s all for today.  I’ll let you know what happens in Key West tomorrow.

I was wrong.  The blue creatures floating around the harbor at the Florida Sea Base (and elsewhere) yesterday were NOT juvenile Portuguese Man-of-Wars; they are Sail Jellyfish.  I apologize for the misinformation.  According to Milly McCoy and other sources, the Sail Jellyfish do not sting.  This photo is from http://www.johnharveyphoto.com/PortRenfrew/SailJellyfishLg.jpg.

The Scuba Adventure crews went to Key West today.  It was – of course – a very nice afternoon.  Hopefully the weather will hold for the next few days.  Two of the Coral Reef Sailing crews returned to the base today for their mid-week “fun day” of small boat sailing, kayaking, volleyball, tubing and movie watching.

Rafael Arrom and his ranger staff (Capt. Martin Ivy and Divemaster Joe Schreiner) repaired our gasoline pump today.  It has been wounded for a couple of weeks but we are in the gas pumping business again.  The Florida Sea Base has its own gasoline and diesel tanks for fueling the boats and Sea Base vehicles.

That’s about all for today.  It’s been a relatively quiet, successful day.  I am looking forward to getting some serious sleep tonight.

Yesterday was very nice and summer like.  Today another front blew through the Florida Sea Base and we are getting our tails kicked AGAIN.  I have put out extra lines to starboard, tightened the spring lines to hold me farther off the dock and I’m having a fit trying to type with the boat kicking around like she is.  The front came through at about 1330 local time.  There will be very – if any – sleep aboard S/V Escape tonight.  MAYBE the wind will clock more to the north sooner than forecasted  Those of us on the dock can only hope.

The weather also blew in hundreds of juvenile Portuguese Man-of-Wars.

Several juvenile Man-of-Wars between S/V Escape and S/V Endeavour.

A large School (?) of Man-of-War off the bow of S/V Vivid.

We have boats on the water but they have all found safe anchorages for the night.  They are actually better off than we are on the dock.  Being at anchor keeps the vessel pointed into the wind and it rides much smoother that way.  We are getting hammered broadside and it is hard on the pilings, hard on the boats and hard on the inhabitants.

The scuba crews made a valiant effort to go diving this afternoon at Alligator Reef.  However, once on site, the conditions were too rough and the dive was cancelled.  The crews will probably go to Key West tomorrow and the wind should be much calmer by Wednesday.

The wind is howling and the boat is creaking in protest.  Nyquil and ear plugs are in order for this evening.

I’m going to try to insert a 10 second video of the wind howling through the palm trees at the Florida Sea Base.  I’ve never done this before so we will see what happens.  Try clicking on the link and let me know if it doesn’t work.

P3290497

The Florida Sea Base staff members who were struck by food poisoning (from an off base restaurant) were back on their feet today, a little wobbly but they toughed it out.  It was a busy day for check ins: 5 Coral Reef Sailing crews, 1 Sea Exploring crew, and 4 Scuba Adventure crews.  I don’t have an official body count, but it should be very close to 92 participants.  The Ship’s Store was packed with customers right after dinner.

The mast step collar is complete aboard S/V Escape.  I don’t have to worry about the main mast falling off for many more years.

Our high temperature for today was 84 degrees.  It should be cooler the rest of the week.  The water in our harbor was 79 degrees.  The ocean side will still be cooler because it takes longer to warm up than the shallow Florida Bay side of the Keys.  Maybe spring is finally here.  Our daily high should be around 80 with lows around 70 this time of year.

We had a nice dinner tonight; teriyaki pork chops, green beans, corn, salad and chocolate cake.

Wednesday is the last day of lobster season.  The sailing participants are allowed to lobster using mask, snorkels an fins.  The scuba crews are not allowed to lobster using scuba equipment – we had to many near death experiences from unexperienced divers getting lost, separated from their buddies and running out of air at depth.  Besides, most of the div sites where we take the scuba divers are Special Protected Areas and lobstering is prohibited year ’round.

I give up for tonight.  I’m dragging.  More tomorrow!

I apologize for not posting yesterday.  We started out the day with news that several of the Florida Sea Base staff members were bed ridden.  They had gone to a sushi bar the night before and apparently ate some bad sushi.  [As far as I am concerned the only good sushi is cooked sushi which isn't sushi any more.]  Then we had the remains of yesterday’s diesel spill (spilled by a 3rd party, not Sea Base) to contend with.  Capt. Rich, Mike Zotti, Henry Watson and I performed a beach clean-up that resolved much of the issue, especially in our swim test area.

After that I took a few minutes to install the starter in S/V Escape and Capt. Alex helped me with two other projects on board.

We had three Coral Reef Sailing crews, one Sea Exploring crew and one Scuba Liveaboard crew check in.  Saturday was Ellen’s day off so Kathleen Harvey, who normally works in Admin, did the honors.  One of the Coral Reef crews arrived late so they will have a very busy morning completing the check-in process and getting off the dock.

The reason I didn’t post anything yesterday is because of a wedding.  Capt. Harrison “Hammer” Kinnard and Julie Gunderson got married yesterday afternoon.  Several of the Florida Sea Base captains and staff left here at 1530 and drove to the Naval Air Station at Boca Chica (about 10 miles east of Key West) for the ceremony.  Capt. Rich was the best man.  We got back to base around 2130 and I was too pooped to write a post.  Sorry.  Here are a few photos from the wedding.

Bride Julie Gunderson being escorted by Capt. John Watson of the schooner Yankee.

The wedding party.

How often does a guy get married barefooted? Welcome to the Keys!

Today was our first check-in / check-out day in almost a week.  The Scuba Liveaboard crew returned from their adventure today.  One Coral Reef Sailing crew and one Sea Exploring crew arrived to being their adventures today.  Tomorrow and Sunday business really picks up.

Capt. Ron Kullick arrived today aboard S/V Sudden Impulse.  He will receive a Coral Reef Sailing crew in a day or two.  Capt. Russell Dockery aboard S/V Rosa del Mar is also due to arrive today.  The T-dock is FULL.  After some of the boats get their kids and set sail we can have other boats arrive at the dock to prepare for their crews.  If gets crazy around here sometimes.

At about 16:00 we had a large diesel spill was into our harbor.  The wind is blowing hard from the west.  There is a little key a few hundred yards off the T-dock we call “Bird Island”.  This key is used for storing lobster traps by some of the local commercial lobster fishermen.  My guess is they have some 55 gallon barrels of diesel stored on the key.  One of them may have fallen over or a hole could have rusted through.  I really don’t know what the cause is, but the effect are a swim area inundated with diesel and a lot of headaches on the dock from captains breathing the diesel fumes.  The authorities were notified but they will wait until the diesel evaporates rather than trying to remove it from the water.

We’re having a front move through.  We’ve been flirting with the chance of serious rain all day.  We still may get a hard shower but it looks like it will probably go around us.  We’re still getting the hard west wind as I mentioned earlier.

It’s time for dinner.  I’ll be back tomorrow.

The Florida Sea Base now has a Poop Deck.  But let me digress for a few minutes.  If you are familiar with the Florida Sea Base you know we use a lot of nautical terms in describing our facility.  The groups of Scouts who come to the Florida Sea Base are called CREWS, regardless of whether they belong to a Boy Scout Troop or Venture Scout Crew.  The dining all is called the GALLEY.  We have our meals at the QUARTERDECK.  The staff lounge is the MARINER’S LOUNGE.  The trading post is the SHIP’S STORE.  And now we have a POOP DECK.

Last year, with significant help from Capt. Mike Lucivero, Capt. Scott Penfield and Gail Penfield (among others) a new sewage pump-out system was installed on the T-Dock.  This device includes a large shore based holding tank, a wireless controlled pump and a reeled hose that connects the boats to a series of hydrants installed along the dock.  The hose reel was constantly being left on the dock where it sometimes impeded traffic.  When Rick and Cheryl Kuras arrived I told them I would like a small deck built attached to the T-Dock so the reel could be stowed out of the way.  So the deck was built and what else could it be called except the Poop Deck?  I’ve attached a photo.  Hopefully we will have signage soon.  Thanks Rick and Cheryl!!!  [So what is a poop deck Capt. Steve?  I'm glad you asked.  It is an English term.  A long time ago, "pooped" meant doused or soaked.  The part of a ship that received the most spray and breaking was was called the poop deck.  It had nothing to do with bathrooms or human waste products.]

The POOP DECK

Most of the staff was busy again today with the Joshua Expedition participants.  Tomorrow we get Boy Scout units again for Coral Reef Sailing and Sea Exploring.  Plus the Scuba Liveaboard crew will be returning from their week at sea.  We are about to hit our peak of the spring season.  As Morton Salt used to advertise, “When it rains – it pours”.

Staff members Dominic, Sarah and Judy completed their PADI Open Water Diver certification today with Capt. Alex Bergstedt.  Congratulations!!!

Tomorrow we are back in the Boy Scout business.  That’s what we do best and I know the staff are excited to have Scouts back on the base.

I forgot to officially welcome Scuba Instructor Mark Gilbert to the Florida Sea Base.  Mark is retired and lives in Kansas.  he is here for a two week tour to help us through the busy weeks of our spring scuba season.  It’s good to have Mark back.  He went through some medical issues just a few months ago and we weren’t sure if he would make it back.  Thanks for your dedication Mark.

The world famous Capt. James Dennis Wyatt (author of The Bald Man in the Sea) is back with us at the Florida Sea Base.  Ellen (his wife and my office Manager) and I are both super happy to see him.  Ellen and Dennis crack me up.  They are a wonderful couple and a great comedy team.  Capt. Dennis helped me with two chores this morning.  We treated the bimini on S/V Escape with a waterproofing solution and we cleaned, prepped and painted the starter.  I hope to reinstall the starter tomorrow.  It is going to be a serious challenge.

Capt. Alex Bergstedt completed Open Water Training Dives 1, 2, and 3 with staff members Dom, Sarah and Judy today.  Capt. Rich drove the boat and Meghann was the mate.  Several of the other staff members went along for the ride.

The base was busy this morning with a Joshua Expedition crew departing (breakfast was at 0700) and a new Joshua group arriving before dinner.

Cheryl and Rick Kuras changed oil and did some other maintenance work on the Florida Sea Base vans today.  As I mentioned yesterday, they are great folks.

A new staff clothes dryer was installed today by Ranger Joe Schreiner.  Capt. Martin Ivy was the first to get to test it out.  We have two washers and two dryers for the staff to use.  They get used VERY heavily.  During the summer, we will have over 80 staff members using these machines for twelve weeks.  They break down frequently and get worn out quickly.  There are a lot of dirty clothes in a subtropical environment in the summer.

Yesterday I told you about a new Coral Reef Mate joining the staff, Henry Watson.  I was not aware that a second Coral Reef Mate John (I’m having a brain fart and can’t remember his last name) from Houston, Texas also arrived.  Anyway, welcome aboard John and Henry.  Oh yeah, Zotti. Mike Zotti.  Sorry for the temporary lapse Mike.

Coral Reef Sailing Captain Brian Stolzenberger (S/V Misty Shoals) arrived at the Florida Sea Base at about 20:00 this evening.  More news tomorrow.

Another day with no new crews arriving at the Florida Sea Base.  This is not unusual for the spring season, but it sort of throws of the rhythm of the whole place.  We do have youth groups from Joshua Expeditions on base.  They’re a Christian travel group.  This bunch leaves tomorrow morning and a new group arrives tomorrow afternoon.

Seth Little, Christy Clemenson and Logan Harvey helped me get my dinghy out of the dinghy rack and onto the beach today.  I’ve owned it for about 9 months but it hasn’t been in the water yet.  It’s a RIB or “rigid inflatable”.  The tubes were a little low on air so I took care of that, got the oars stowed inside and the registration decal affixed.  I hope to make time to get the motor mounted and maybe take it for a spin in the next day or two.  I also pulled the starter off S/V Escape so I could look for a spare.  In order to purchase a spare, you have to know how many teeth are on the starter where it connects to the flywheel on the motor.  The only way to do that is to remove the starter and count the teeth.  My starter has 12 teeth.  That is now duly recorded in my Ship’s Log.

Capt. Mike, the Boat Whisperer, fixed a hydraulic leak on the steering system on BSA Explorer.  Maria, Clyde, Logan, Seth and some of the other staff members worked on remodeling the Ship’s Store.  Jake and Andy were busy in the Galley today and Sarah received a Commissary order from Gordon Food Service (GFS).  Kathleen was working away in Admin.  Meghann, Beth, Dominic and some others went out on the snorkel boat with the Joshua kids.  Capt. Rich was at the helm.  Capt. Alex Bergstedt had a working day off.  He went to the eye doctor in Homestead, then drove to Dusky Marine in Dania Beach and picked up an outboard motor for the base and then visited with his brother, Andy, in Fort Lauderdale.

Which reminds that I forgot to mention yesterday that Rick and Cheryl Kuras have arrived to give two weeks of service to the Florida Sea Base.  They are the parents of former Florida Sea Base staff member of the year (2007), Laura Kuras.  Laura is a graduate of the Florida Sea Base Divemaster Academy.  She went on to become a PADI Scuba Instructor and is an incredible young lady.  Unfortunately she won’t be working with us this summer; she is trying hard to complete her degree.

Capt. Dennis Wyatt probably arrived sometime this afternoon.  I haven’t seen him yet but I know Ellen was very excited all day that she would be seeing her hubby soon.  And a new Coral Reef Sailing Mate arrived today.  His name is Henry Watson.  I talked with him for about 30 seconds so there’s not much to tell you at this point.

The weather was nice today – just a little cool.  We are running about 10 degrees below normal.  I heard on the radio today that we can expect a few more cold fronts before spring really kicks in.  COME ON SPRING!!!

The Sea Exploring crew that arrived yesterday had flags, breakfast, loaded provision and were on their way by 0900.  Chief Warrant Officer Fisk arrived shortly thereafter to conduct the annual US Coast Guard safety inspections on our large dive boats.  Everything went very well but we were missing “smoke” flares on two of the boats.  We have never been required to have smoke flares before.  We will have smoke flares aboard tomorrow and all will be well.  This is the first inspection we have had with Mr. Fisk and each inspector seems to have their own special requirements.  Now that we know th Mr. Fisk requires us to have smoke flares aboard the vessels we will not be without in the future.  BSA Tarpon, BSA Explorer and BSA Adventure are ready to go for another year.

The Boat Whispere finished the mast step on S/V Escape today.  All that is left is to wait about three days and then paint it.  I can do that part.  Capt. Mike is an engeneering genius.

I want to say THANK YOU to Capt. Carol Chapman for working so hard on prepping the boats for today’s inspection.  Seth Little was also a big helper.  And Capt. Alex played the role of First Mate on today’s three sea tests.  Several other staff members were involved – thank you everyone.  It is so great that we have such a team unity at the base this spring.  Go Team.