Setting Out from Milan, TN
I embarked on a 13-hour journey from Milan, TN, to Ruskin, FL. Driving straight through, I discovered that there were no available hotels due to storm damage in South Georgia. Thank goodness for Airbnb—I managed to secure a room for some much-needed rest before starting the classroom portion of the course on Saturday morning.
The Course Begins
All hands on deck.
ASA 106 prepares sailors to muster all the learned skills from previous courses, including navigation (ASA 105), to chart a near-coastal cruising and overnight passage-making route. Sailing at night is a real challenge and taxing on everyone on board, especially the captain. Captain Nordie provided us with a list of standing orders that we had to follow, often entailing waking him up when he was off his standard watch.
Intensive Learning
Housekeeping duties, charting discussions, and systems checks were intensive. As a lake sailor, I rarely use some of these skills. My lake runs north and south, a straightforward task compared to sailing the open seas of the Gulf of Mexico. Captain Nordie and Captain Adriene were very thorough, clearly having spent a lot of time preparing for our seven-day cruise.
Day 2: Setting Sail
I spent the night aboard the sailing vessel Flagship on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, we began more prep work and got to meet the rest of the crew, which consisted of four crew members, Captain Nordie, and First Mate Captain Adriene.
As always, there are challenges when preparing to set sail. We discovered a broken bolt in the raw water system, which was patched up using a series of hose clamps devised by one of the crew members. This required constant checks, adding to our hourly boat check routine. The crew was divided into rotating four-hour watches, meaning we rotated back on every eight hours.
The four-hour watch was challenging. My stomach stayed in knots as I struggled to remain on course while following the chart plotter and keeping my eyes glued to the ship's compass.
In addition to my duties, I dealt with my usual back pain made worse from the 13-hour drive and my unsteady gait from Ménière's disease. Feeling old and like the weakest link in the team, my shipmates were great and helped me stay positive. Despite the tough challenges, I sucked it up and did my best.
There is so much to learn, and most of the knowledge is "perishable"—if you don't use it, you lose it. As Captain Adriene said, “I know you guys are drinking from a fire hose with all that we are throwing at you.” That was an understatement.
Course Plan
Our course plan was a near-coastal route of approximately 220 miles, with an ETA of 11:00 a.m. on November 12, 2024. Our average speed was 5 knots.
Taking in a sunset under passage and my very first “green flash”.
Arriving in Key West via Key West Bight Marina
After almost two days at sea, we arrived around 7:00 a.m. (0700) on Tuesday morning. A slight fog was moving in, and Key West Bight passage into the harbor felt like rush hour in Nashville, TN. It was all hands on deck. Once refueled, we were directed to our slip.
Slips in the Keys are often just posts or pilings. With Captain Adriene at the helm, she had a strong wind and current to contend with as she approached our slip. Navigating through cruise ships and large yachts, she moved effortlessly into the slip. We secured our ship and cleaned up before heading into Key West.
Exploring Key West
We met for breakfast. Meals on the boat were nutritious but the coffee was instant and not very tasty. My first cup of real coffee at Harpoon Harry’s was delicious. After a hearty breakfast, we headed back to the boat for a brief class review, then went exploring around town. Key West is not what it used to be, or maybe I have matured. We walked along Duval Street, visiting galleries and shops.
Tuesday night, Glen (another crew member) and I were given a break from boat life and stayed at a hotel. We rented bikes to get around town, meeting up with the crew later for a feast at the Half Shell Raw Bar, one of my favorite places.
Back in the 80s and 90s, Key West was much different.
Revisiting History
The next day, I revisited Mel Fisher’s Maritime Museum. It wasn’t as I remembered from the 90s but it was still interesting. It was nice to relax, walk around, and soak up some historical material other than what I was studying for my ASA exam.
Feeling relieved as we made it through Longboard Key passage. Two bridges cleared.
Return Trip to Tampa
Thursday morning, we set sail at 0700 for our return leg. We were given a diversion route to plan, and as a crew, we worked out a passage through an unfamiliar route. On Friday, we stopped for the night at The Crow’s Nest Marina, Venice Inlet, FL.
We left very early the next morning, continuing on our diversion passage to Longboat Key passage, which has two bridges and several shoals to avoid along with heavy traffic.
As luck would have it, I was given the first bridge to hail and clear. Going under a drawbridge isn't usually a big deal, but with Captain Nordie as my coach, my nerves were raw. The bridge only raises one side and opens at about a 45-degree angle, offering a very small opening to pass through. It felt like threading a needle. Writing this blog is evidence that I survived. Captain Nordie probably would have made me walk the plank if I had demasted his 40-foot Island Packet while going through a drawbridge.
On long passages, even near coastal ones, you must quickly learn everything about a passage before taking off down an unknown harbor or passage. There are many things to consider that I never have to worry about while lake sailing. This trip, while eye-opening, provided valuable knowledge to become a better sailor.
Safe and Sound
In closing, I hope this inspires you to take a sailing course, stretch your comfort zone, and chart unfamiliar waters. I have enjoyed all my ASA courses, and this one was no exception. However, this course was very taxing and forced me to recall all my previous training on demand. I left feeling humbled yet challenged to improve my seamanship.
After the test on Sunday morning, I departed for my 13-hour drive home. Exhausted but determined, I pressed on to rest in my own bed.
I really appreciate Flagship Sailing School for allowing me to participate in this trip. If you are looking for an ASA Sailing program, please check out Flagship Sailing School in Ruskin, FL.
If you would like to take part in an intro course to sailing, please consider Paris Landing Charters and Sailing School.
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