Taking Bella Mia Home
Ryan handed me a piece of green paper. There's a very convincing smile on this young yacht broker's face. "Congratulations! You are a boat owner now. Good Luck!" I am still in some kind of Deja Vu. Did I just bought a 30 foot sailboat half a state away from home? Ryan patted me on my shoulder and said goodbye. I finally got back to reality: I did not only just bought a boat, I also have to sail it back home the next day with two friends.
Most people who know about my journey wished me luck, as I really need a lot of them. Well, let's face the fact. Two of my Italian friends, Ilario and Lillo, are just as green as me when it comes to sailing. None of us has sailed more than 4 hours straight, and none has ever commanded a sailboat. There's 160 miles of waterway for us to cover, although doesn't sound a lot for car drivers, it's actually more than tripled the distance from Miami to Bahamas. There are more than a dozen drawbridges on the way from Jacksonville to Merritt Island which has to be radioed to be opened at exactly the same time our boat arrives before them, and guess what, we never operate a VHS radio before. The list just goes on and on......
Just couple of days before my trip, Blake, one of the "old salt" in my company, looked at me with amazement and gave it to me straight, "Suny, I don't believe you can make it this weekend. Give it a few more weeks, and find an experienced sailor to go with you. You are not ready." I guess his air of arrogant irritated a lot, and I replied without hesitation: "I don't believe I will be more readied a few weeks later than now. The only way I can be readied is actually go ahead and do it. I will be just fine."
Will I be just fine? This thought is still on my mind the night before we embarked on the journey down south. Three of us cramped into the little cabin of Bella Mia which is still docked at a marina in Jacksonville. By 7 pm, night fall slipped in. The familiar constellation of Orion is hanging low above the tree top on the east. It's a cold night for a person used to balmy Florida weather. Ilario brought a pack of cold beer. It did not make us very warm either. However we did feel the prospect of the journey a bit brighter. We didn't say to each other, but I bet, everyone of us wished the day will break sooner so we can get on the water.The day broke exactly at 6:45am. I was wide awake by then. It still chilly outside, the little cabin we had in Bella Mia actually felt pretty warm and cozy. I can see the sparks in my crews eyes. "Let's do it!" with that we cast the line and Bella Mia quietly slipped out of the dock. The 18 hp Yanmar made sweet humming sound as we left the morning harbor. Bella Mia slide effortlessly on the water, left just tiny bit of wake after her.Bella Mia
This is what Bella Mia would look like from sky.
As a skipper, I am never happier when the wind filled the sails.
Movie: Sail! My sweet baby
Bridges
Somebody needs to be on the VHF radio to call the bridge open. The normal protocol is calling on Channel 9: "(Lion) Bridge, (Lion) Bridge, this is south bond sailing vessel Bella Mia, request bridge opening, over". The bridge tenders will normally respond by asking your home port and destination. One time, a female bridge tender even asked my phone number...... just kidding. I would be the first one to be freaked out.
Movie 1: Sail under the Bridge
Movie 2: Morning Bridge
Movie 3: Bridge Open for Bella MiaThe Crew
For the first two days of the journey, I have Lillo and Ilario crew the boat. Both of them are my sailing buddies.
The View
Movie1: Bird Island
Movie 2: Dolphins
Movie 3: Daytona Beach
Boats on the River
Movie 1: Yes, pass me by, pass me by.....