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Sailing Oceanghost
  • SV Oceanghost
  • SV Oceanghost

Sailing Oceanghost

A 687-day adventure by SV Oceanghost Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 26, 2015
    SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    27°30'41" N 82°34'28" W

    September 25, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    After purchasing the vessel in Palmetto Florida I spent a week getting her ready for her first shake down cruise across the Gulf of Mexico to Panama City Beach Florida. With Hurricane Erika in the South Caribean we hope the next 250 nautical miles are uneventful and nothing breaks. Cross your fingers..Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    27°34'1" N 82°45'12" W

    December 21, 2015 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    We are now south of Egmont Key and everything is going great, very busy trying to figure out what the boat likes to do and what she don't like to do. Boats do have their own personality you know. So far she is sailing nicely close hauled at 6 knots. I was told this boat was slow. Im slowly changing my mind. The weather is fair with a chance of thunderstorms in the forecast the next few days. tropical storm/hurricane is slowly making its way northeast through the caribean. Time to get back out on deck.Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    27°36'20" N 82°56'9" W

    December 21, 2015, Gulf of Mexico ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    So far so good, we had a pod of dolphins escort us to the Gulf of Mexico and and onto our compass course of 310 True. The auto pilot is steering the boat while we tidy up everything and cook some dinner. The weather is fair, winds are out of the southwest at 8 knots. NOAA is broadcasting over the VHF that a large cell producing 35 knot gusts and building in just North of us. Its projected path seems to be moving more Northeast so looks like we are going to miss that one...Moral is great and my boat is so happy to spread her wings again..She is finally back in her element!!Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    28°1'25" N 84°0'5" W

    December 21, 2015, Gulf of Mexico ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    While resting in the cockpit listening to the dolphins coming up for fresh air there was a loud crunching sound and the boats auto pilot alarm sounds. After squeezing down in the port side lazarette, i determine that the auto pilot is toast. It want hold a course and makes a terrible sound when powered up. I turned the auto pilot head unit off and now we are hand steering the boat on a compass course. We quickly made a 2 hour schedule for sleeping and steering. i agreed to do the cooking on my shift. if this is all that happens on the shakedown cruise then I'm happy...Moral is still good. Captain Ron has been quoted more than once. "If anything is going to happen boss, it will happen out there". This quote is all to true. Ive never been sailing without something breaking...Weather is still great and we are making time at 7.5 knots under sail. This boat is fast little devil to be as heavy as she is. So far I'm more than happy.Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    28°37'23" N 84°19'32" W

    December 21, 2015, Gulf of Mexico ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Well, if the autopilot was not enough. Now the nut on the stuffing box has backed off and rattling around the shaft. Water is pouring into the boats bilge and the bilge pumps are happy pumping out the access water. Im back down in the port side lazerette battling the heat from the engine and the sun beaming down on us. It appears the jam nut was not tight and the packing nut came loose. I luckily have a pipe wrench on board and got it tight and adjusted to 1-2 drops per minute to keep the shaft cool. No more water coming in and we are moving forward again. Happy Days. I am a firm believer of carrying more tools than i will never need..See you at the next waypoint.Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    29°2'13" N 85°3'22" W

    December 21, 2015, Gulf of Mexico ⋅ 🌙 29 °C

    We are still moving reefed main and a furled in headsail. The wind has picked up and so has the seas. Quartering seas hitting our beam/stern area are getting old. Every 2-3 minutes one hits us and tosses everything around including the helmsnan. We are managing though, the boat is doing magnificent! We are cruising at 8.5 knots, the clipper style bow is cutting through the waves like a butter knife. its dark and we are having a blast. We are very tired though to say the least. Im still worried about Erika and if she is in the Gulf of Mexico yet. Did i mention the satellite phone is not working. It appears its an antenna problem. Ive had this phone for 6 years so i really can't complain if it craps out now. Its been a good one. The only weather forcast we have is what we can see. I printed off a weather report for 7 days before i left. Its been wrong so far so we don't even look at it anymore. On a separate note we are getting close to home!!Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    29°35'16" N 85°27'26" W

    December 21, 2015, Gulf of Mexico ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    Ahhh, calm seas finally. We are approaching the St. Joe area and we are excited. We start cracking beers and prepare for some rest and more hand steering. Yes, auto-pilot is still broken. Im pretty smoked but still try to keep a smile on my face. Im still having a great time though, i would not trade the trip so far for anything. Great crew and adventure is what i live for. Nothing has broken for a few hours but I'm waiting for it to happen. We are becalmed right now and getting some rest.Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    29°53'52" N 85°38'18" W

    December 21, 2015, Gulf of Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    What a beautiful day!! The sun is out and this truly feels like paradise!! Did i mention we are still doing 2 hour shifts hand steering. Now we are doing it with a little buzz from the coronas we have been drinking. I finally got a whole 2 hours of sleep and a fresh water shower. I feel like i have been reborn. The boat is doing great still, I'm laying on the deck looking around predicting what may break next. 7 more hours and we will be pushing through the channel at Panama City Beach.Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    30°6'58" N 85°44'19" W

    December 21, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Land Ho!! We are at the mid channel marker to PCB and we have cell service. We are now contacting you guys to inform you we are safe. Thanks for all the nice comments and welcome homes. We will be here for a week or so before headed out to Destin Florida. The morning is perfect..Perfect weather and calm seas. We lowered the sails due to the winds hitting us on the nose, so we are motoring to the marina.Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    30°11'1" N 85°43'59" W

    December 21, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    We are officially safe in the slip at Sun Harbor Marina Panama City Beach. Shore power is plugged in and I'm getting ready for a needed nap. My Dad and many friends are there to greet the crew. Such a nice warm welcome. Stay tuned, because next week we will sail to Destin Florida for a huge festival with thousands of people, boats, and beer.Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    30°10'46" N 86°0'38" W

    December 21, 2015, Gulf of Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Beautiful sail so far, however the winds are light so we are using the motor for a little extra push. U.S. Coast Guard is boarding other vessels, glad we slipped by..haha. Moral is high, beer is cold and the weather is great. See you at the next way point.Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    30°17'28" N 86°25'2" W

    December 21, 2015, Gulf of Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Well, we just encountered our first big squall with winds close to 40 knots. While trying to reduce sail to heave too the slug came out of the track because the stopper broke that keeps the mainsail in the track. All this happened in the height of the storm. The boat done well lying a-hull. We where tossed around a bit and one of the crew members got seasick. However she is a trooper and came right back out on deck after it passed laughing. During the squall the self tailing winch failed and the rope turned loose. The boom jibed but didn't damage or hurt anything. We quickly centered the boom and secured it on a cleat. On my list is a larger winch that can handle the load of high winds for the main sheet. The one we have is very small and inadequate for the job it has to do. After the storm we heard on the radio that two vessels had been severely damaged offshore and required assistance. No lat/long was ever broadcasted and we could not reach them on the radio.Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    30°22'51" N 86°30'33" W

    December 21, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We are now entering the channel to Destin Harbor. The Channel is very tricky with shoals and incorrect chart depths. The paper Gov charts/Navionics/and my GPS are incorrect. We got in safely without running aground however be aware when you traverse through. We are excited to be here and we are looking forward to the fun to come.Read more

  • SV OceanghostSailing OceanghostSV Oceanghost

    30°23'29" N 86°30'24" W

    December 21, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We are safe at anchorage!! We have temporary fixed the sail catch and have the main sail back in its track. Everyone is getting ready for a big dinner and some sun- downers. Its been great fun and we are ready to party and meet new people.Read more

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