The Space Coast

MM 878

Since we were only about 30 miles from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) last night, and there was a 5am launch today, we got up to observe an amazing launch. I know that people who live here tire of these, but they are mesmerizing to Don and me. The first image is from a live video we watched, the second photo was taken from the transom of Allure.




We got underway in the morning for a 47 mile trip to Titusville Fl, just north of KSC. Winds gusted to 28 knots at one point and there were whitecaps on the ICW.  Don’t think this is a lazy channel that hugs the coast of the US. The wind was too close to sail, but you feel that force even when motoring. Allure handled it well the entire day.

Also, there was good news: AIS got out of its funk and decided to transmit today. Electronics, oy.

We picked up a mooring ball at Titusville Municipal Marina in time to dinghy into town for a walk around. 

Launched the dinghy from the deck of the boat where it is secured while underway, and loaded up. At the last minute, Don suggested we grab the paddles to « just in case. »  Perhaps it jinxed us, because  we pushed off from the transom and there was no electric motor sound, followed by “I need the oars.” With the wind blowing at 15 knots at that time, we were quickly drifting away from the boat! Don rowed us back, disassembled the Torqeedo, and it ran…. until we launched again and it died. A call to Torqeedo tech support (thanks, Anthony!) confirmed an error message that the motor may need repair.  We are on Day 2 of a 1000+ mile trip. This requires some thought.

Dinner on the boat was followed by a glorious sunset (I promise there will not be sunset pictures every day!).



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