| Travels of Dursmirg Vol. 3 Chapter 2 |
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CHAPTER 2 HEADING SOUTH
On this particular trip south down the Florida coast Jane and I had sailed offshore from St. Augustine, around Cape
Canaveral and entered the Indian River via the Cape Canaveral inlet which has a lock.
On our passage south in four-foot seas off the Florida coast in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean I had to make
a trip to our masthead in the bosom’s chair to free a jammed halyard. I would be 54 feet above the water at the top
of the mast. The roll and pitch of the seas turned out to be far more than I had anticipated and it was good that I was
well tied into the bosom’s chair and also to the mast because it was humanly and physically impossible to overcome
the frantic and exaggerated motion at the top of the mast as our boat bobbed through those choppy seas. When I
finally returned to deck level, I looked like I had been worked over and beaten up by thugs with blackjacks from
being beaten up against the rigging.
That night rounding the cape under sail was worth the hassle and one of the nicest times I could ever remember
being out to sea. With an offshore breeze giving us a beam reach, which is the fastest point of sailing, we had a dark
but starlit night that enhanced the phosphorescence of the warm sea waters breaking under the bow and
illuminating the schools of porpoises that frolicked and played in the vessels bow wake and accompanied us
throughout that enchantingly lovely evening.
As the morning dawned the wind piped up and came around to be on our bow. Now we were about to pay for that
lovely nights sail we had just enjoyed as our forward motion ground to an almost imperceptible forward movement
pounding into choppy swells.
The wind kept building and soon piped up to the point that our working jibs frapping was strained beyond its limits.
The sail had to come down before it was torn totally to tatters and became completely beyond repair. As I struggled
with this unwieldy beast bent on self-destruction the seas were crashing over the bow of Dursmirg and the vessel
behaved like a goat butting a wall, only our wall was water and unrelentingly wet.
Little did we know at that time that it would be a day and a half before we would enter the calm and quiet protection
of the Indian River.
I felt my sweet little Jane at my side there on that pitching and diving foredeck resembling a bouncing trampoline in
wild river rapids or even a bucking bronco in a windstorm. She came to assist me even though she had been
attacked by a bout of debilitating seasickness and had a pallor resembling the Gulf of Mexico’s green. This was true
love coupled with unquestioned loyalty for her to make that trip down that sea spray slickened plunging and diving
deck. Even in the best of health what she did would have challenged anyone I have ever known.
This would be a matter of time and a battle of sailor and sea that has been similarly fought over the years. This was
the test of endurance that challenges you the sailor to your limits against the tireless Mother Nature and at one point
I had been at the helm continuously for 27 1/2 hours.
We entered the port of Cape Canaveral at 2000 hours on November 7th 1975. This was my first time to enter this
harbor, I was exhausted and my judgment was at its lowest but the channel was quiet and well illuminated with range
lights. We tied to the municipal pier and collapsed.
Other than the fact that we had some lovely offshore sailing we had paid dearly for the trip with Mother Nature
sending us a message reminding us that we were on a small boat on a big sea and our power was no match for the
elements.
In the end we found that we would have made better time going around this Cape via the Intracoastal Waterway. If
you are in a hurry you should not be a sailor.
Jane and I both love to sail and thoroughly enjoy the openness of offshore sailing but its thrills leave lasting
memories that don’t have to be continuously repeated. I believe that beautiful nights spent sailing under the stars
have a mystical magical quality that somehow transpose you to an out of this world experience that I have never
witnessed anywhere else, ever.
The Indian River is a very unique body of water beginning in the north near Titusville and running south to near Fort
Pierce. Though it is referred to as a river, it in reality is just a elongated bay formed by a barrier island isolating it
from the Atlantic Ocean. Almost 85 miles long and nearly 3 miles wide for most of its distance, it bridges an unusual
place in North America. In the south it is tropical with coconuts and the other associated flora and fauna, and in its
northern limits where it adjoins the Mosquito Lagoon it is temperate and out of the tropical setting.
The Indian River is a wonderful place to sail both north and south with the pleasure of flat-water sailing and no
currents or heavy shipping to guard against.
Along the Indian River there are numerous causeways where bridges tie the mainland to the outer barrier island.
Jane and I have many times in our travels up and down the river found that these causeways are ideal for
anchorages because of the fact that they have dredged channels adjacent to them and they also make excellent
breakwaters that provide protection from waves formed when the persistent storms blow down the coast.
One day as Jane and I were anchored in the lee of one of these causeways and a fall storm was raging we listened
to the radio and the radio announcer said; “now for the marine weather, If you are out in a boat today you are out of
your tree!”
Photo of Dursmirg by the causeway from the Brevard Sentinel, Oct. 31, 1973
Remarks from our Dursmirg’s log book December 6th 1975:
“Departed early, hated to leave our little cove on the Indian River as we had such a good time with Tex and
Shirley Downs who live at Rocky Point.
We visited with many people, Harold and Eleanor Wright, Grant and Debra Ball, Charlie Gulk and Peter
Bailer, Dr, and Esther Locke on Tonga 2, Dr Schnea and Frank on Blue Jay, Doug and Anita stopped on our
boat, plus Bruce and Jean Chadwick on the Charlotte Jean.
We had
Thanksgiving with Connie and Forrest Ball. We had a great time and a lot of mullet and oysters. Bing got two
trout on the 4th. Had a good trip and made 57 miles today. All the bridges opened prompt.
December 7th;
Anchored in 11 ½ feet of clear blue water in West Palm Beach northeast of marker #4 on the Intracoastal
Waterway in Lake Worth. We went for a swim as soon as we anchored…delightful.
December 8th;
We went to Spencer’s Marine and phoned the Turneys plus Doug and Anita. Doug and Anita came out to our
boat at 8 PM and we had a couple of bottles of wine and good conversation.
December 9th;
Bing met Jim Muller and Leigh Durrence at the Amtrak station at West Palm and they got to the boat at 1:15
PM. They were sure excited to be here. At 3 PM Dr. Schnea and Frank Knight on Blue Jay came and
anchored. Bing and Jim went ashore to get some more fishing supplies then we all went to Blue Jay for a
drink, then we all fished. Bing caught a mackerel, Leigh a blue, Jim his hand, the Dr. a pompano and look
down. Then we had a big fish fry and some wine.
December 10th;
Cold, cold morning, Jim was going to sleep on deck last night, but it got too cold. We all got up at 5:45 AM. At
8:30 the Lake Worth Bridge opened part way. (I should write a letter to the State about it.) Many, many more
bridges. 2 with restrictions we didn’t expect. It is 122.5 NM or (nautical miles) from the Indian River to Fort
Lauderdale and we found that we had a 10% error in our VDO Sum-log. Jim is going to try to catch some fish
and he caught a mangrove snapper.
(Note) We discovered that we could have a free fast sailing trip down the east coast of Florida from West Palm
Beach to Miami by being patient in the fall of the year and waiting for one of the frequent cold fronts to arrive.
When these fronts arrive they bring with them strong and persistent northwest winds that are tailored perfectly for
this passage. With the wind “broad on the beam”, the fastest point of sail, we would enjoy a real, “sleigh ride” with
our vessel Dursmirg pushed up to and beyond its hull speed all the way to Miami and without even burning a drop of
Arab oil.
Back to remarks from our ship’s log; December 11th;
We left the State Park anchorage at 6:30 to make all the bridges before the restrictions went on. No
problems with the bridges. We raised sail when we were abeam can #3 in the Port Everglades entrance. At
approximately 8AM Jim caught a 34 inch barracuda on a Sea Witch. Lots of excitement. Leigh got a little sea-
sick but recovered well. Just after the Miami Sea buoy the battery shifted and hit the alternator, but Jim and
Bing fixed it. Bing got a ¾ pound blue runner on his line in the Biscayne Channel but Jim hauled it in
because Bing was very busy steering. We had barracuda and blue runner for lunch. After we anchored at
Sand Key, Bing and Jim went ashore to explore. Leigh is making a dip net.
December 12th;
Bing and I went beach combing on Sand Key in the morning, Jim and Leigh in the afternoon. Norm and
Alene came on their boat in the afternoon and we had supper aboard their boat. The wind blew up hard
from the northeast. December 13th and 14th we stayed aboard…too windy. Norm and Alene came by again
on the 14th. They gave us some roast beef, bread and four cold beers. They headed back to Dinner Key. Too
windy but the 16th it let up and we all went beach combing again. Jim got two snappers with his spear-gun.
December 16th;
We had light southwest winds, many rain squalls threatened but we missed all of them. Anchored at Rhodes
Key and Jim and Bing took the dinghy and went casting…no luck. Later Bing went fishing alone and hooked
a big barracuda that got away. …Spaghetti for supper.
Our plow anchor wouldn’t hold so we used the fisherman which held well but broke lose almost too easy.
December 17th;
Early start again. Jim is trolling with two lines. No fish yet. We anchored at Rodriquez Key. Jim and Bing
went fishing on an old barge and Bing got a barracuda. We all went fishing later. Jim speared a mangrove
snapper…no other luck.
December 18th;
-made good time today. Got 113 gallons of diesel fuel at Pinellas Sea Foods dock and took on water. Damaged
anchor chute and bow pulpit in docking. The Dursmirg just wouldn’t stop. After anchoring Jim and Leigh
took us to the Seven Mile Grill for a good dinner. Jim caught a Spanish mackerel today which I cooked
underway and had it for lunch. We got in just before a Norther hit.
December 19th;
Jim and Leigh left on the bus today at 12:05. We sure enjoyed their company. Dr. and Esther Locke on Tonga
2 came today and we helped them tie up. Also we saw Buck and his Ferro-cement boat is coming along
nicely. It sure got real cold here today.
1973 November 28th
A letter Jane wrote to her parents;
Dear Mom, Dad and Joel,
We finally left the Melbourne area on the 25th. We really enjoyed the stay. Last Saturday some friends of
ours from St. Augustine drove down and met us and we all went to Disneyworld. We spent about twelve
hours there and really had an enjoyable time. There were more adults than kids. You really get a lot of good
entertainment for your money.
We had a real nice Thanksgiving. We didn’t have it on the island as planned because the couple who
sponsored the party didn’t get their boat put in the water as expected, but the owner of the Palm Terrace
Restaurant and Bar closed for the day and we used his place. We had turkey and all the trimmings and a
good time. The temperature was 84 degrees, hard to believe for Thanksgiving.
We arrived in Hollywood, Florida this morning. Hollywood is about ten miles north of Miami. We had a good
trip only a couple of mishaps. One was tough on the nerves. We were heading through a bridge in West
Palm Beach that had opened for us when the steering failed. The current swept us through the bridge
opening sideways. Bing kept us from hitting the sides of the bridge by putting it into forward and reverse.
We held our breaths I’m sure, so did the bridge tender and other boats. We made it through, dropped the
anchor, got out the gas-welding rig, fixed it and were under way again in an hour. What an experience!
Everyone that travels the Intracoastal Waterway lives in fear of a breakdown while going through a bridge-
now I know why…it happens!
The rest of our trip was good. We were hoping to make the trip in the ocean instead of the Intracoastal
Waterway but the wind was 20 knots southeast and that was the way we were heading…we can’t make any
time sailing into the wind.
We were in a push to get to Hollywood as we were to meet a friend and former business associate here who
was to attend a sales meeting. We checked the hotel he was supposed to be at but he didn’t show so we
called him in Saint Paul tonight and his meeting was cancelled due to the great state of the national
economy. We were looking forward to seeing him. I guess we can blame Nixon.
I hope you get enough fuel. Things are really getting tight down here. I doubt that we will be able to get fuel
for our boat later in the year. We need fuel oil to cook but luckily not heating.
I’ve been getting up at 5:30 every morning the last few days we’ve been traveling so we could have
breakfast and be underway before sunrise as the days are short and we made some long runs-so it’s 11PM
and I’m tired so I’ll finish tomorrow.
next chapter
On this particular trip south down the Florida coast Jane and I had sailed offshore from St. Augustine, around Cape
Canaveral and entered the Indian River via the Cape Canaveral inlet which has a lock.
On our passage south in four-foot seas off the Florida coast in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean I had to make
a trip to our masthead in the bosom’s chair to free a jammed halyard. I would be 54 feet above the water at the top
of the mast. The roll and pitch of the seas turned out to be far more than I had anticipated and it was good that I was
well tied into the bosom’s chair and also to the mast because it was humanly and physically impossible to overcome
the frantic and exaggerated motion at the top of the mast as our boat bobbed through those choppy seas. When I
finally returned to deck level, I looked like I had been worked over and beaten up by thugs with blackjacks from
being beaten up against the rigging.
That night rounding the cape under sail was worth the hassle and one of the nicest times I could ever remember
being out to sea. With an offshore breeze giving us a beam reach, which is the fastest point of sailing, we had a dark
but starlit night that enhanced the phosphorescence of the warm sea waters breaking under the bow and
illuminating the schools of porpoises that frolicked and played in the vessels bow wake and accompanied us
throughout that enchantingly lovely evening.
As the morning dawned the wind piped up and came around to be on our bow. Now we were about to pay for that
lovely nights sail we had just enjoyed as our forward motion ground to an almost imperceptible forward movement
pounding into choppy swells.
The wind kept building and soon piped up to the point that our working jibs frapping was strained beyond its limits.
The sail had to come down before it was torn totally to tatters and became completely beyond repair. As I struggled
with this unwieldy beast bent on self-destruction the seas were crashing over the bow of Dursmirg and the vessel
behaved like a goat butting a wall, only our wall was water and unrelentingly wet.
Little did we know at that time that it would be a day and a half before we would enter the calm and quiet protection
of the Indian River.
I felt my sweet little Jane at my side there on that pitching and diving foredeck resembling a bouncing trampoline in
wild river rapids or even a bucking bronco in a windstorm. She came to assist me even though she had been
attacked by a bout of debilitating seasickness and had a pallor resembling the Gulf of Mexico’s green. This was true
love coupled with unquestioned loyalty for her to make that trip down that sea spray slickened plunging and diving
deck. Even in the best of health what she did would have challenged anyone I have ever known.
This would be a matter of time and a battle of sailor and sea that has been similarly fought over the years. This was
the test of endurance that challenges you the sailor to your limits against the tireless Mother Nature and at one point
I had been at the helm continuously for 27 1/2 hours.
We entered the port of Cape Canaveral at 2000 hours on November 7th 1975. This was my first time to enter this
harbor, I was exhausted and my judgment was at its lowest but the channel was quiet and well illuminated with range
lights. We tied to the municipal pier and collapsed.
Other than the fact that we had some lovely offshore sailing we had paid dearly for the trip with Mother Nature
sending us a message reminding us that we were on a small boat on a big sea and our power was no match for the
elements.
In the end we found that we would have made better time going around this Cape via the Intracoastal Waterway. If
you are in a hurry you should not be a sailor.
Jane and I both love to sail and thoroughly enjoy the openness of offshore sailing but its thrills leave lasting
memories that don’t have to be continuously repeated. I believe that beautiful nights spent sailing under the stars
have a mystical magical quality that somehow transpose you to an out of this world experience that I have never
witnessed anywhere else, ever.
The Indian River is a very unique body of water beginning in the north near Titusville and running south to near Fort
Pierce. Though it is referred to as a river, it in reality is just a elongated bay formed by a barrier island isolating it
from the Atlantic Ocean. Almost 85 miles long and nearly 3 miles wide for most of its distance, it bridges an unusual
place in North America. In the south it is tropical with coconuts and the other associated flora and fauna, and in its
northern limits where it adjoins the Mosquito Lagoon it is temperate and out of the tropical setting.
The Indian River is a wonderful place to sail both north and south with the pleasure of flat-water sailing and no
currents or heavy shipping to guard against.
Along the Indian River there are numerous causeways where bridges tie the mainland to the outer barrier island.
Jane and I have many times in our travels up and down the river found that these causeways are ideal for
anchorages because of the fact that they have dredged channels adjacent to them and they also make excellent
breakwaters that provide protection from waves formed when the persistent storms blow down the coast.
One day as Jane and I were anchored in the lee of one of these causeways and a fall storm was raging we listened
to the radio and the radio announcer said; “now for the marine weather, If you are out in a boat today you are out of
your tree!”
Photo of Dursmirg by the causeway from the Brevard Sentinel, Oct. 31, 1973
Remarks from our Dursmirg’s log book December 6th 1975:
“Departed early, hated to leave our little cove on the Indian River as we had such a good time with Tex and
Shirley Downs who live at Rocky Point.
We visited with many people, Harold and Eleanor Wright, Grant and Debra Ball, Charlie Gulk and Peter
Bailer, Dr, and Esther Locke on Tonga 2, Dr Schnea and Frank on Blue Jay, Doug and Anita stopped on our
boat, plus Bruce and Jean Chadwick on the Charlotte Jean.
We had
Thanksgiving with Connie and Forrest Ball. We had a great time and a lot of mullet and oysters. Bing got two
trout on the 4th. Had a good trip and made 57 miles today. All the bridges opened prompt.
December 7th;
Anchored in 11 ½ feet of clear blue water in West Palm Beach northeast of marker #4 on the Intracoastal
Waterway in Lake Worth. We went for a swim as soon as we anchored…delightful.
December 8th;
We went to Spencer’s Marine and phoned the Turneys plus Doug and Anita. Doug and Anita came out to our
boat at 8 PM and we had a couple of bottles of wine and good conversation.
December 9th;
Bing met Jim Muller and Leigh Durrence at the Amtrak station at West Palm and they got to the boat at 1:15
PM. They were sure excited to be here. At 3 PM Dr. Schnea and Frank Knight on Blue Jay came and
anchored. Bing and Jim went ashore to get some more fishing supplies then we all went to Blue Jay for a
drink, then we all fished. Bing caught a mackerel, Leigh a blue, Jim his hand, the Dr. a pompano and look
down. Then we had a big fish fry and some wine.
December 10th;
Cold, cold morning, Jim was going to sleep on deck last night, but it got too cold. We all got up at 5:45 AM. At
8:30 the Lake Worth Bridge opened part way. (I should write a letter to the State about it.) Many, many more
bridges. 2 with restrictions we didn’t expect. It is 122.5 NM or (nautical miles) from the Indian River to Fort
Lauderdale and we found that we had a 10% error in our VDO Sum-log. Jim is going to try to catch some fish
and he caught a mangrove snapper.
(Note) We discovered that we could have a free fast sailing trip down the east coast of Florida from West Palm
Beach to Miami by being patient in the fall of the year and waiting for one of the frequent cold fronts to arrive.
When these fronts arrive they bring with them strong and persistent northwest winds that are tailored perfectly for
this passage. With the wind “broad on the beam”, the fastest point of sail, we would enjoy a real, “sleigh ride” with
our vessel Dursmirg pushed up to and beyond its hull speed all the way to Miami and without even burning a drop of
Arab oil.
Back to remarks from our ship’s log; December 11th;
We left the State Park anchorage at 6:30 to make all the bridges before the restrictions went on. No
problems with the bridges. We raised sail when we were abeam can #3 in the Port Everglades entrance. At
approximately 8AM Jim caught a 34 inch barracuda on a Sea Witch. Lots of excitement. Leigh got a little sea-
sick but recovered well. Just after the Miami Sea buoy the battery shifted and hit the alternator, but Jim and
Bing fixed it. Bing got a ¾ pound blue runner on his line in the Biscayne Channel but Jim hauled it in
because Bing was very busy steering. We had barracuda and blue runner for lunch. After we anchored at
Sand Key, Bing and Jim went ashore to explore. Leigh is making a dip net.
December 12th;
Bing and I went beach combing on Sand Key in the morning, Jim and Leigh in the afternoon. Norm and
Alene came on their boat in the afternoon and we had supper aboard their boat. The wind blew up hard
from the northeast. December 13th and 14th we stayed aboard…too windy. Norm and Alene came by again
on the 14th. They gave us some roast beef, bread and four cold beers. They headed back to Dinner Key. Too
windy but the 16th it let up and we all went beach combing again. Jim got two snappers with his spear-gun.
December 16th;
We had light southwest winds, many rain squalls threatened but we missed all of them. Anchored at Rhodes
Key and Jim and Bing took the dinghy and went casting…no luck. Later Bing went fishing alone and hooked
a big barracuda that got away. …Spaghetti for supper.
Our plow anchor wouldn’t hold so we used the fisherman which held well but broke lose almost too easy.
December 17th;
Early start again. Jim is trolling with two lines. No fish yet. We anchored at Rodriquez Key. Jim and Bing
went fishing on an old barge and Bing got a barracuda. We all went fishing later. Jim speared a mangrove
snapper…no other luck.
December 18th;
-made good time today. Got 113 gallons of diesel fuel at Pinellas Sea Foods dock and took on water. Damaged
anchor chute and bow pulpit in docking. The Dursmirg just wouldn’t stop. After anchoring Jim and Leigh
took us to the Seven Mile Grill for a good dinner. Jim caught a Spanish mackerel today which I cooked
underway and had it for lunch. We got in just before a Norther hit.
December 19th;
Jim and Leigh left on the bus today at 12:05. We sure enjoyed their company. Dr. and Esther Locke on Tonga
2 came today and we helped them tie up. Also we saw Buck and his Ferro-cement boat is coming along
nicely. It sure got real cold here today.
1973 November 28th
A letter Jane wrote to her parents;
Dear Mom, Dad and Joel,
We finally left the Melbourne area on the 25th. We really enjoyed the stay. Last Saturday some friends of
ours from St. Augustine drove down and met us and we all went to Disneyworld. We spent about twelve
hours there and really had an enjoyable time. There were more adults than kids. You really get a lot of good
entertainment for your money.
We had a real nice Thanksgiving. We didn’t have it on the island as planned because the couple who
sponsored the party didn’t get their boat put in the water as expected, but the owner of the Palm Terrace
Restaurant and Bar closed for the day and we used his place. We had turkey and all the trimmings and a
good time. The temperature was 84 degrees, hard to believe for Thanksgiving.
We arrived in Hollywood, Florida this morning. Hollywood is about ten miles north of Miami. We had a good
trip only a couple of mishaps. One was tough on the nerves. We were heading through a bridge in West
Palm Beach that had opened for us when the steering failed. The current swept us through the bridge
opening sideways. Bing kept us from hitting the sides of the bridge by putting it into forward and reverse.
We held our breaths I’m sure, so did the bridge tender and other boats. We made it through, dropped the
anchor, got out the gas-welding rig, fixed it and were under way again in an hour. What an experience!
Everyone that travels the Intracoastal Waterway lives in fear of a breakdown while going through a bridge-
now I know why…it happens!
The rest of our trip was good. We were hoping to make the trip in the ocean instead of the Intracoastal
Waterway but the wind was 20 knots southeast and that was the way we were heading…we can’t make any
time sailing into the wind.
We were in a push to get to Hollywood as we were to meet a friend and former business associate here who
was to attend a sales meeting. We checked the hotel he was supposed to be at but he didn’t show so we
called him in Saint Paul tonight and his meeting was cancelled due to the great state of the national
economy. We were looking forward to seeing him. I guess we can blame Nixon.
I hope you get enough fuel. Things are really getting tight down here. I doubt that we will be able to get fuel
for our boat later in the year. We need fuel oil to cook but luckily not heating.
I’ve been getting up at 5:30 every morning the last few days we’ve been traveling so we could have
breakfast and be underway before sunrise as the days are short and we made some long runs-so it’s 11PM
and I’m tired so I’ll finish tomorrow.
next chapter
