Florida Sea Base News

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Mrs. Captain Carol Beliveau is now Mrs. Captain Almost-a-Doctor Carol Beliveau.  After two years of mind numbing studying, millions of hours of practicals, and FINALLY mastering the phrase, “take two asprin and call me in the morning” Carol graduated from RN school Saturday in Key West.  Now Captain Rich can retire; lucky dog!

FSB COMMITTEE MEETING CONCLUDES

The FSB Advisory Committee reconvened at 08:00 Saturday.  Each subcommittee made a report.  The bottom line is the Florida Sea Base is alive and well.  We will have an exceptional year in 2013.  This was a bit of concern because our attendance dropped 18% in 2010 due to the National Jamboree.  However, any impacts from the 2013 National Jamboree will be negligible and possibly nonexistent.

POST MEETING

The meeting concluded at 10:30.  Several committee members and I drove off base for lunch and to survey a potential future FSB project.  When I returned to the base there were two Scouts, their mom and grandmother wanting a tour of the base.  I spent 15 or 20 minutes showing them around and telling them of the programs offered at the Florida Sea Base, Brinton Center, Bahamas Base and 2014 US Virgin Island Base.  I left there and began making my way to Escape.  But under the Quarterdeck sat five members of the Sea Base Alumni and Friends Association; President Dan Gill, FSB Liaison Nancy Wells, Foggy Dosser, XXX, and YYY.  There were having a serious business meeting which I unintentionally crashed.

SUNDAY

I hope to take part of the day off, maybe take a nap.  I have chores to do on Escape and in the office.  I also need to go shopping.  We’ll see how it plays out.

Capt. Steve Willis
Professional Scuba Bum™
Aboard S/V Escape

It has been nice not worrying about tropical weather development since T/S Bonnie, sort of like a mental nap.  But nap time is over, the tropical weather is back in the news with two systems worth watching.  They are still a long ways off and may not effect us at all.  But we will be watching them closely.

Credit - National Hurricane Center

At this point, the closer system is forecasted as having less chance of development and has not been formally classified as a tropical wave.

Yesterday was very quiet here both weather-wise and programatically.  So I took a little time to clean the hoses and tubing in the salon air conditioner on Escape and Capt. Rich went lobstering for dinner at Capt. Carol’s request.

DON’T TELL ANYONE, BUT TODAY IS CAPT. CAROL’S BIRTHDAY.  SHE SEEMS TO BE VERY SHY OF THIS REALITY.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROL.  NOW GET BACK TO WORK!

I’m running short on time this morning.  I did not receive any updates from the Jambo staff so I’m sure they are very busy and having a great time.

Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape

I’m still under the weather and not getting much done.  I walked across the highway and bought some extra transmission fluid, did my laundry and worked a little on preparations for the Divemaster Academy.  I also spent some time cleaning the bilge on S/V Escape.  Before I forget, I would like to make a plug for Capt. Carol Chapman’s website, http://www.sailblogs.com/member/svsiennebelle.  Capt. Carol just returned from the Bahamas with her husband, Capt. Rich Beliveau.  Capt. Carol writes good stuff so check it out if you have a minute.

Upper Keys Marine Construction is in our harbor repairing the seawall.  I’m not sure if the photos do it justice, but much of the wall is literally caving in.  We have been trying to get this repaired for about two years.  It had become a serious safety concern.  With the addition of the third Newton, it is more important than ever that this wall be as sturdy as possible.

Upper Keys Marine Construction Repairing the Seawall at Sea Base

The Seawall has been undercut and is collapsing.