Total Trip: 630 miles, 169 gals gas, Starting at Elbow Cay, Abaco, Down Eleuthera, over to Exuma, down to Staniel, up to Nassau, then Chub Cay and on to Bimini, finally over to Boynton Beach

After spending 2 weeks in the Abacos partying with RTIA (Regatta Time) and attending a great AlburyFest party on Guana Cay, Barb & I headed for Eleuthera in our 20’ Albury Brothers. Departing Tilloo Cut 7/14/08 at 10:30 am, the winds were blowing 15-20 SW and the seas were 4’ to 6’ building to 6’ to 8’ on the on the starboard quarter. It was a wild crossing. I felt he boat handled very well under the sea and wave conditions with the 175hp Suzuki giving me the power to excel or pull off, depending upon the wave conditions. Barb said she felt like a cork bobbing on the waves because we were riding over the waves instead of slamming thru them. We finally arrived in Spanish Wells at 5pm happy to be in calm water. I secured the boat with my white canvas cover just before the all night thunder storm blew in so we had a dry evening and a good night’s rest at anchor. (Crossing was 69 miles, 6 1/2 hrs, 30 gals gas)

After breakfast with fresh brewed coffee and bahama coconut bread, we traveled Devils Backbone to Harbour Island. Barb needing rest and a real shower and wanting to do some sightseeing, we put our boat in the family owned Harbour Island Marina, ($50/day), rented a golf cart ($50) and found a nice motel room ($90). After spending the day touring the island, and flying my kite on the pink sand beaches, we had a great supper at Harbour Lodge. Arthur’s bakery for breakfast is a must. Sweet Coconut Cinnamon rolls and fresh egg sandwiches got us ready to head out of town.

We cruised down the inside of Eleuthera, past the glass window and were able to get up close because of your small boat. Stopping at Governors Harbor for the evening, I joined the local kids sailing races with my sailing kayak. We had a hot meal on the Albury thanks to April’s gift certificate for teaching her to operate her 23’ Albury. The “Jet Boil” boils water in less than 2 min. Barb came up with a different concoction every time.

After a pleasant night camped on the boat and watching the stars, we headed for Cape Eleuthera for fuel and ice. With winds still blowing from the South and the seas turned up against us, we canceled plans to go down to Georgetown and headed for Normans Cay, Exuma. I’ll put Gerorgetown on the list for next summer and will be looking for other Albury’s to join us. Now in calm waters on the Exuma banks, we cruised down to Shroud Cay where I spent the day sail kayaking thru the canals that run across the island, challenging high speed zodiacs and jet skis from four big yachts anchored out in deeper water... Then at high tide I took Barb thru on the Albury. Part of the park, this is our favorite Cay.

After two days in heaven, we decided to travel on down to Staniel Cay by way of Halls Pond and Warwick Wells. We found a slip at Staniel Yacht club for the Albury ($40/day) and an apt for us ($150/night) for a couple of days. We saw 2 more Albury’s in the marina, both 23’s w/ T tops. The yacht club harbor was well protected by 6-8 resident nurse sharks and sting rays that were rewarded with the catch of the day. Spent our time walking the island and kayaking to Thunderball cave.

I finally pulled Barb away from land once more to head back north. Cruising slowly along the banks and enjoying the many islands, we made it to Bell Island for the evening. Celebrated m y 67th birthday (July 23rd) with my wife of 42 years camped out under the star-filled sky. Heaven on earth, this is paradise.

Moved on to Highborne then Allens Cay to play with the Iguanas the next day. This Jet Boil is great, mashed potatoes and tuna fish for supper and hot oatmeal for breakfast.

Then on to Nassau for a few days. Stayed at Paradise Harbor Club and Marina for two nights. Great accommodations and food. During the day we toured Atlantis and the straw market.

Found gas at $5.70/gal so filled up and headed for Bimini by way of Chub Cay for lunch. Then on to Gun Cay and Honeymoon Harbor. Found the anchorage filled with boats, but luckily they were all day- partiers, and left by 7 pm. Thus, anchorage to ourselves.

We enjoyed breakfast at the Big Game Club and after checking out Bimini we headed west to Boynton Beach. Perfect crossing with SW winds at our stern. Cruising at 29 mph we were in the inlet in 2 ½ hrs. We did 241.5 miles using 61 gals gas.(Tank holds 77 gal) (Nassau to Boynton Beach)

An Albury Classic Adventure in Bahamas

The Albury Classic delivery from Abaco Oct 31-Nov 3, 2011

After going to Fanasy Fest in Key west Saturday night parade and playing fri.,sat,, sun. with my Albury 20, I trailered her back Sun. eve to miss keys Sunday exodus traffic. COME MONDAY, I flew over to Marsh Harbor to take 2:30 pm ferry to Man O War and pick up for delivery a new Classic Albury 23 to Palm beach. Upon touch down we taxied around til findin a solid ground to let ramp down as the place was flooded. As you exited, you took your shoes off and waded thru 3-6 inches of water to reach terminal for immigation & customs, then get a taxi to ferry at Crossing bch as I found why they called this town Marsh Harbor. Every street was flooded right into 2-4 ft into houses, shops, and busineses. My taxi driver, Denis explained that drains were too small and clogged .
Arrivin at ferry dock for 2:30 boat, taxi drivers were calling to hold ferry as they slowly drove thru flooded streets, thus we left closer to 3 pm for MOW. Upon arrivin at Albury Bros boat builders, they told me that it had been rainin since Sunday til noon monday so that the Classic boat was still stored out on it's mooring in harbor. It needed gas and bimini, and  gas dock closed at 3pm, but Willard Abury had them open so I could fill the 103 gal. tank.  After installin bimini, I took off for Hopetown to pick up used sail from Mark, Owner of Cruise Abaco.   Yes, thru ellavickes.com. You can get old or used racin sails picked up in US by UPS free to be Recycled into gear bags, shower custains etc., check out their collection of recycled sailcloth.

Mark ownes Cruise Abaco.  You can charter Bareboat or captained charters, monohulls, power, & sailin cats on Lubbers Quarters, Contact cruiseabaco.com.

Then I was on to Guana Cay to check how some sea oats and coconut palms I planted in March 2011, survived the august tropical storms that destroyed Abacos. Findin that sea oats growin tall on dune, however the coconut palms seemed to be walkin away. After being chased out by mosquitoes, I got out of Guana fast as darkness was approaching.

Headin outside Whale Cay, because I did not have a GPS track inside, and seas were flat, the miles to Green Turtle Cay went quick to Brendal's moorin bouy in White sound for bug free calm nite. Wakin up next morn Winds were up from NNE, makin for pleasant day hangin out til front passed thru by thursday for crossin to US.  Weather Report
           Tue:  NE winds 15-20 with 5-7ft seas
           Wed:  NE winds 16-21 wuth 5-7ft seas
           Thur:  ENE wings 11-14 with 3-5ft seas
While in GTC I dried out Mark's sail so as to have sleepin pad and collected used mainsail from Brendal's dive center. Yes, he takes people evenin sailin with his Hunter 29 ft monohull after doin divin trips all day. To find out about  a great fun experience, visit breandal.com a Bahamas tourism cacique award winner, Abaco est. 1985 with 25 yrs. teachin experience.

Made the  crossing, thur am.   Leavin GTC I had 15 plus kts of wind on stbd quarter making for a wet ride coming in on the drivers side.  (plugged the gap with the t-shirt for the first hour.)

Once I rounded Angelfish pt, it was mostly down wind all the way home.  Coming out at westend was flat despite all the weather reports.  Once I hit the stream I did pick up 3-4 ft swells which the Albury classic handled well with the bimini and windshield.  I was dry all the way home.  Arrived at Boynton Beach  in 7 1/4 hrs.

After living 3 days and 4 night on the Albury Classic, I must say i love sittin behind that dry windshield and all the cavernous space in the cockpit.

The End of another FUN adventure

Bahamas July 2010 - 30 days on Albury 23333

Leaving Boyton Bch inlet at 6:30 am on June 26 , I crossed to Green Turtle Cay by 2pm to spent a peaceful night anchored out on Gilliam Bay. Free by myself for 4 days, I travelled to Nippers for sunday pig roast meeting up with my friend Teague, golf course Mgr at Baker's Bay. Met a stranded couple who missed last ferry to Marsh Hbr so I decided a boat night trip would be fun, and I took them 7 miles to boat harbour then myself 5 miles over to Tahiti bch for night anchorage, to play on my favorite bch next day kite flying and sail kayaking. With Cracker's P's close by for lunch and Hopetown harbor to sail kayak in, along with a Man O War harbor sail, I found peaceful anchorage backside of Whale Cay , to be close for scuba diving off Baker's Bay on tueday. Beautiful weather gave nice diving and time to visit Milo on Guana cay before showering with my gal. of fresh water rinse and turning in early on my bch off Whale cay, being that I would be picking up Barb flying into treasure Cay next day. Barb does RTIA race Committee while I sailed 5 races on Mike & Brenda's Majic, a cal 27. Staying at South Bch Apt. as our base for first part of regattae & Stranded Naked party, we had free dockage for 23 on private in town dock. After guana race we moved to Hopetown Harbor picking up Lodge, again free dockage and beatiful poolside room for last three races and great parties til july 11th. Off to Pete's pub in little harbor by way of Pelican cays for diving along the way. With flat water we ventured to Cherokee for night anchorage in our secluded cove. Getting up at dawn for a flat crossing to Nassau for refueling then onto Allen's cay, Exumas arriving early afternoon in north harbor with 5 other boat that night. Winds picking up, we headed for Little San Sal which is a cruise ship destination private island, but we had it all to ourselves for afternoon hiking, snorklin, playin with permission from island mgt.Next am, with cruise ship in, we headed for Cat island going down lee side to Hawk's Nest marina for fuel, anchoring up their calm creek for 2 days waiting out tropical wave winds & seas. With winds under 20 kts, seas 6 to 8 ft, we crossed 39 miles to Long island and 2 days of R & R at Stella Maris marina resort. Renting a car for touring North to columbus marker on sat. then South to clarencetown & Dean's world's deepest blue hole. Being sunday we counted churches seeing 35 in 35 miles with only 4 being in session,(must be from walking to church days of olde). Now monday with another T Wave on us we went downwind to Georgetown, Exuma, for lunch at Peace & plenty, shopping at emmas supermarket, and $ 284. of gifts across fron P & P. Running in protected waters north out of Gtown we finally had 8 miles of running perpendicular in 8 to 10 ft seas til we could get to Exuma's leeside and a peaceful anchorage on Darby island. Playing on the beach til pm hi tide , Staniel Cay yacht Club was our happy hour lunch destination. This place and going north by Samson cay was crowded with big yachts plus 52 ft searays and families, we left for Shroud cay, my favorite island in this Exuma chain. However, weather was a 40+kt T wave with night rain, thanks to my white plastic cover held in place by our dock lines, our dodger stayed dry all nite.Shroud has a lagoon creek that goes from lee to windward, ocean side, great for sail kayaking to driftwood pt on ocean for great overveiws. For sure a great downwind/wave crossin to Nassau for my 69th birthday celebration at Columbus Tavern at Paradise Harbor marina hotel was plan on friday, with a crossing of 133 miles to honeymoon harbor and Bimini on saturaday. Supper at newly redone (over 2 mil) Big Game Club, brought us back for breakfast before crossing 75 miles in 2 1/2 hrs. to Boynton bch inlet and home on traliler.

Stats: 1445 miles in 30 days - 444 gal gas (Avg. 3.25 mpg)
14 nites in lodging, 16 nites under doger, cold beer, wine, meat, cheese etc due to Engel 22 qt. ref/freezer (2.3 amps max.)
Fresh showers w/ 5-1 gal. of water refilled at lodgings or rain off tee top
Hot meals, coffee w/Jet Boil (2 cups boilin in 2 min.)

Forecast Deerfield to Ocean Reef out 60 NM SW winds 5-10 kts incr. to 10- 15 in pm, seas 2 ft or less w/ stream 2 to 4 ft.

Now the real weather as experienced by boats. Depart Boynton 7 am. SE 10-15, seas 2-4 ft higher in stream, arrive Bimini 11am SE 10-15 seas 2-3 ft. Used Albury 20 to flatten seas in order to keep 23ft Polar on plane. Checked in 23' Polar for 1 year at Brown's new docks with dockmaster. Treated my Albury driver & myself to a leasurely lunch at Bimini Big Game Club. Stopped by Barbara's for 4 loaves of famous Bimini bread. No coconut bread or treats, forgot to call day before because we were waitng 3 weeks for a weather window.

Departed Bimini at 2 pm, SE 10-12 kts, seas 2-4 ft. 3:30 pm seas flat, no wind. 4:30 SW 10-15 seas 2-3 ft. Boynton inlet ramp on trailer 4:55 pm. Glad to be back on Albury to come home, drove while my crew rested on front seat listening to his cd player. 150 total miles, 42 gallons gas, appox 3.6 mpg with the 175 Suzuki running at 4200 rpm over and 3800 rpm back. See this Albury paradise at www.bahamas.com/bimini

Tom & Bar

Crossing to the Bahamas

Not many people feel comfortable crossing the Atlantic to the Bahamas on their 20' boat. I don't know why,on the Albury,it's a piece of cake. I've been across 5 times on mine and taken others over for them. I generally take my daughter Shelly cuz she loves the ride. Last July my son, daughter and I brought 3 boats back (2 20's) from Green Turtle,about 6 hrs. Of course, Shelly choose the new yellow one. The boat handles well and takes the seas comfortably. It is so great to have your own boat to travel between islands. We always do RTIA so we need mobility. It also made a great digny when we chartered the 30' sailboat for our mother ship. We'll never go back to an inflatable.

Tom & Barb

Cruising in my Albury 20 May, 2007

Ft Myers to Suwannee River — Total Trip: one week, 687 miles and 45 hrs moving time on water.

Since we had already done the St Lucie to Ft Myers canal trip, this time we put in at Ft Myers Beach and followed the Gulf intracoastal to the end north of Tarpon Spring camping on the Albury overnight in a small secluded lake. North of Tarpon Springs, we followed the Gulf coastline north watching our depth cuz the shallows come way out. The fun part was taking a side trip up each of the rivers along the coast. Stops included Tarpon Springs, Crystal River, Homossassa Springs, Cedar Key and 30 miles up the Suwannee to Rte 19. There was easy to find accommodations along the way or camping on the Albury.

Cedar key has a 360° protected marina where we stayed two nights and enjoyed the seafood at their restaurants. We enjoyed seeing the Sturgeons jumping in the Suwannee, manatees in Crystal River and sponge shops in Tarpon Springs. Finished our trip with a great meal at Cabbage Key and camping at Caya Costa.

The winds were blowing and the waters were choppy but our Albury kept us dry and gave usa comfortable ride as usual.

Suwannee River
Cedar Key Marina

Tom & Barb

Cruising the Suwannee River on the Albury 20 - March, 2008

170 miles - 1 tank of gas(no refills on the Suwannee)

Launching at Manatee Springs State Park and we headed south about 20 miles to the Gulf and back. Cruising the River was easy with depths of 15-25 feet. At dark we found an overhanging live oak,tied off, settled in, and watched the cypress forest light up with fireflies and the stars reflecting on the river.

The second night was stormy so stayed at the only motel with a boat dock,Suwannee River Gables Motel and Marina(note sign). In AM continued up current another 44 miles to Branford. Tied to a live oak and made our bed under the dodger.

Waking to cold fog, we drifted down current at 2-3 knots, making coffee and hot water for oatmeal. As the sun came out, we enjoyed a pleasant morning tubing down the Suwannee on the Albury listening to XM country radio. Can't get better than that.

Played with the sailing kayak until the the XM weather predicted major storms heading for the trailer sight 30 miles ahead. We revved up the 175 to 43 mph and got the boat on the trailer just as the storm hit, ending another great adventure on the Albury.

Crusing the Everglades 10,000 Islands

Monday ,5/3/10 , I filled up the Albury 20 with gas and headed up the west side of the Keys from big Pine Key in 18 kts ESE winds. Getting to Marathon I crossed 23 miles to cape sable downwind in 3 to 5 ft seas which the 20 handles well esp. with bimini up as a sail. Within 1 1/2 hours i was at the Snake River area. WOW, many islands with tall trees and 10 ft depth to shore. I motored up to WildernessTrail and cruised around the many islands til days end. I set up my mosquitoe net before night took over. Sleeping came easy listening to owls and other bird calls. Woke up at 9 am to ice cold choc. milk from my Engel cooler and homemade banana bread. I proceeded to Everglades City to visit, stopping to hike at pristine sandy beaches along the way. Sunset found me anchored off shore in nice breezes with no bugs. Being out of cell range for 2 days, my son and wife had me running 2 Find me Spots (tracking Albury 20 every 10 min.), 2 gps, a radio, and 2 Epirbs . Fish jumping, porpoise playing, and great food, (smoked turkey sandwiches, crisp apples, and cold water thanks to the Engel 22 qt.cooler/freezer under the console,) Life is great. Day 3 I headed to Marco by way of marco big pass and found myself back in civilization. Still found time to hikie the sand bar and camp in lagoon off town with execellant shelling on this bar outside the Pass. Finally just a short run to Fort Myers Beach, where I left my son the 20, and drove back to my 23 at home in Lantana.

Cudjoe Key, FL

Since Dad & Mom were partying in Green Turtle Cay,  Annette and I dumped the kids at the babysitters, borrowed Dad's Albury Brothers 20 and headed to the Keys for New Years with my sister Shelly and her new fiancé, Jesse  (yes, Bo now has his very own "Uncle Jesse" - insert Dukes of Hazard joke here) and my buddy Tim (self-proclaimed world's greatest fisherman) and his girlfriend Amanda (who outfishes Tim on a regular basis).   Since the wind was blowing stink Friday, we headed to the back bay and flat waters where Annette (Bait my hook please... take my fish off please... fillet my fish please.... Clean my boat please... Cook my fish please....  Wow this fishing stuff is fun and easy) Dwyer proceeded to outfish the group with a large mutton snapper (delicious).  Tim gave her a run for the money with the biggest lane snapper we've ever seen (just the first of weird results at this particular fishing hole), and plenty of mangroves and a cero mackerel to round out the dinner table.

The next morning (Saturday), we tried to brave the wind and waves and head offshore to catch the "big ones".  By big ones, we mean about a dozen 6" grunts, and 3 of the world's smallest strawberry groupers (red rock hind).  After 4 hours dizzying hours, we headed back to the gulf side to regain our balance and let our inner ears heal, and hopefully catch some "small ones".  By small ones, we mean keeper yellowtail, mangrove and mutton snapper that would eat the offshore fish for breakfast, as well as a school of ULABR (Unusually Large Annoying Blue Runner).  During the snapper fest, we noticed a large brown shape swim into the chum slick, and figured a nurse shark had finally found us and our snappers for dinner.  I had a big shrimp out on my baitcaster, and pretty soon was watching my line strip out away from the boat - uh, oh.  To the disgruntled shouts of the crew about how fighting a shark around the boat would scare away the snapper, I proceeded to "play" with the shark from the top of the console, dodging rod tips and reeling over everybody's head, trying to avoid the sharp cutters of Tim's fishing pliers as he threatened to end my fight so he could continue his pleasant feeding of the ULABR.  And by "play", I mean watch my line disappear as the fish went wherever it wanted against my little baitcaster and 15lb test - pretty sure it didn't even know it was hooked for the first 10 minutes.  Finally, after much "pardon me, excuse me, comin' thru" around the boat again and again,  and much heckling of "get it in or get rid of it, you girlie-man" - the shark decided to surface next to the boat and give us a view - of it distinctly Not Shark, Very much Like Cobia tail.

NOTE: It's amazing what the prospect of 40-50 lbs of dinner meat on the line can do to a crew's attitude - suddenly everbody's real quiet and out of your way  (I'm pretty sure Tim even stopped the girlie-man comments for at least a whole 45 seconds at that point).  It's also surprising how much more fun, easy, and light-hearted it is to fight a huge cobia when you think it's just a dumb nurse shark !!!   Now all of a sudden my rod looked tiny, my line looked weak and frail, my palms were greasy, and my arm was sore - gosh, I wish this thing was a nurse shark again so I wouldn't worry about it breaking off one of the 42 times it swam up next to the Albury 20 and then turned and headed for open water again. We finally got it close enough to gaff - and learned that cobia have very hard heads not conducive to gaffing.

Luckily Tim got a second shot, this time in the belly and hoisted it into the front of my dad's Albury, where it proceeded to try to beat itself an escape hatch hole thru the hull - even in the boat I still had no control over this fish - as I was cowering in safety on the bow. The hook flew out of his mouth (originally a circle hook, now almost a straightened "J"), and it proceeded to wiggle around the boat, down one side and back up the other (sorry, Dad, Shelly promises to get the fish smell out of the boat by Easter).  We finally subdued it with a ICSD (Impromptu Cobia Submission Device) - which consisted of a whack to the head with a large ice chest cooler and wedging it between the seats and sitting on it still it stopped thumping around. I've heard stories about fishermen subduing fish by pouring alcohol down its gills, but we had no way of subduing Jesse and Tim if we had their beer in this fashion - so we just waited for it to die the old-fashioned way.  Finally we got most of it in the cooler (next to Tim's world record size TileFish) and back to the dock, where in the dark, it took longer to fillet the monster than it did to catch it (could have been quicker, but no chainsaws were were available. Final weigh-in:  47 lbs, 54 inches, and one six-pack (for Tim to drink while he filleted it).

Sunday, we woke up to driving rain (which meant we don't have to clean the Albury from yesterday) and more wind (which meant we were headed to the back bay again).  After catching and releasing much of the Cudjoe Key grunt population on squid, Jesse's faith in his crab bait finally paid off with a nice mutton and yellowtail - leaving Tim without the Master Angler title for the weekend for the first time (you owe Jesse a dollar, Tim).  We did catch the bastard love-child of a yellowtail and mangrove snapper one-night stand (happens a lot in Key West I hear too). We chose to use the mangrove size limits and kept it for "research" - like in how it tastes fried and dipped in tartar sauce.

And, as usual on a Dwyer trip to the Keys, On the drive out that afternoon across the 7 mile bridge, we watched as the wind died down to nothing, the ocean flattened into a sheet of glass, and the blue waters cleared up like crystal - we should've come down 3 days later than we had - hmmmm.... But would that cobia still be there?

Michael Dwyer

December Adventures

On wed. dec. 3rd I towed my Albury 20 to launch in Indiantown where my friend Champ who owns Rimes supermarket, came with me across Lake O. and thru locks to Franklin ramp, where I trailored the boat to my son's house on Ft. Myers Bch.. Leaving it for a week while while I worked the new St.Pete boat show (sail & power combined this year).

The following week Barb & I launched at Lovers Key ramp on Estero island, south of Ft. Myers Bch. and cruised back bay into Gulf along Sanibel, Captiva, and islands to Punta Gorda on up the Peace River 75 miles to shallow water where we camped on boat under full moon.

Next morning we went to the NAV-A-GATOR grill, The real florida, Where the road ends the adventure begins. kayak rentals, boat tours on peace river, gift shop, ship store & museum, plus great food & drinks at west coast prices.

Down river to Fisherman's Wharf for some holiday shopping, then back 75 miles to Lovers, Barb went home and I went for 4 days of Hobie sail kayaking on the Calusa Blueway, camping on the Albury as my base.

Full Moon Coconut 2 Week Adventure In The Abacos

On thursday 3/10/11, The Albury 23 left Boynton inlet at 6:15 am in choppy 3-4 ft seas, winds out of SE at 10 plus knots. However, once over on the banks going to GTC,Guana, and MOW, under calmmer conditions we moved out at 25 mph vs 22 in stream with 225 hp Suzuki on the Albury Bros. forward seating 23.   Arrived just ahead of a mean front in 10 hrs, covering 235 miles going all the way to Man O War and stopping for friendly visits along the way then back to Green turtle Cay.  Arriving at Green Turtle I was treated to strone crabs and grouper dinner with Brendal, Mary his wife and son Kyle. Anchoring to one of Brendal's mooring in white sound for the stromy nite, I slept great to the singing of sailboat halyards in 25 knots winds.

Friday was check in on GTC with customs and immigration for $ 150.00.  Then to Sid's for my favorite coconut bread and NZ block of cheese.  I also visited Marilyn at the golf cart rental and Debbie at GTC  for their famous lobster salad lunch. After lunch I headed back across rough Whale Cay passage to Jeff's Crawl Bite solar powered cabin with a solar powered golf kart on Guana Cay and cleaned out the 23 of plant dirt, etc. at his dock. Meeting his nice weekly rental couple Bill and wife Lisa on their last full day of vacation in paradise, I gave them my Albury 23 for afternoon to play with ( their Albury adventure story coming soon )being that I would be busy planting Jeff's steep powdery sandy Atlantic pravilian dune with sea oats using the G Kart with a plastic 55 Gal. drum to haul water from sea of abaco cabin cistern to water in the dune grasses. Quiting for day to enjoy another spectacular sunset, I traveled back to my anchorage on leeward side of Whale Cay close to beach for dinner of coconut bread and NZ cheese with a Strongbow on board my 23.

Saturaday was finishing getting dune planted, watered and weeded. Then lunch at Mangoes in Marsh Harbor, while taking Bill and Lisa to airport taxi. After lunch it was shopping at Island Girl for wife gift since Barb was babysitting our 1yr. old granddaughter at home. Now w/o my wife on this trip, it allowed for 13 days sleeping aboard the 23 off various deserted islands from Munjack, GTC, Whale Cay, Elbo Cay, Matt Lowe and down to Little Harbour(full moon party). Sunday is pig roast at Nipper's on Guana, along with my beach trainer kite fun with high alcohal spectators and participants. At days end, I finished at Grabber's with Ricky at bar and fancy island -dressed hostess Irene. Had a great dinner of grilled lobster/ grouper with plantians on side.

Arriving in M O W (Man O war) on monday, Zackery Albury jumped aboard to drive the 23 over to Crossings Bch to surprise Jeff, Haley, and her cousin Elona coming in for 5 days of sailing, tubing, and golf cart adventure vacation at Crawl bite cabin. Of coarse, Jeff never just vacations w/o some project on deck.  This trip he arranged for Chet the island dozer guy to cut some roads for future homesites on the 8 acre property along with clearing bottom land for coconut tree plantation. Jeff had a bad reaction to poison wood, therefore I had fun chainsawing them down allowing the Gumbo Limbo trees (the antidote to poison wood and a key ingredient in chicken gumbo soup) to grow to provide for shade during hot days. Lubin, (a teacher escaping from haiti to provide for his wife and teenage son who is going to Cuban medical school), is hired to machette the property lines and trails on this bit of paradise. Being close to 70, working after lunch is not part of my daily fun, thus sailing with the girls on the 15 foot vanguard which came over on a night stream crossing from Florida to abaco on my Albury 20 bow two years ago, takes over the afternoon.

Days of sailing, island hopping, light house climbing, tubing, and M O W youth activities keeps Haley, Elona, and Zackery entertained as 5 days slip by and Friday comes too quickly. After dropping Jeff and girls off in Marsh Harbor at Mangoes, I run into Alaskan's Madison and her friend Boomer,( friends from past sunday Guana trip,) only this time her parents Skip and karen from "Easy Waters" (Am. tugboat live aboard trawler) are along. By the way, this family owns and operates a large paddlewheel boat in Fairbanks Ak which Barb and I had taken to an island for a dog sled demo while on a 5 week 8/08 Alaskan holiday trip. Small world with my turn to give them a tour on the Albury 23 of Jeff's solar home on Guana, along with side trip to GTC.  Five of us enjoyed a nice ride with all having opportunity to drive on the clear seas of abaco and visiting New Plymouth scupture garden, Sid's grocery, liquor store, Golden Reef gift shop, then over to Green Turtle Club for late lunch of conch chower and Bahamian bread. Fun was had by all as we returned to "Easy Waters" for sundowners.

Camping Albury style in Matt Lowe's protected bay under near full moon, I awoke on an incline at 5 am, only to realize that anchoring in 3ft. at 11 pm leaves the boat about 50 ft from water at that hour, well intending to sleep in on sunday, WAITIN FOR THE TIDE, it was. Finding no gas on GTC and Guana's Orchid Bay marina had been w/o gas since last August, I took off to Hopetown where in last 5 yrs. they were only out when the tanker went aground for a week down island. $ 5.25 w/CC was same price as last july. Onto MOW picking up Zack and his grandfather Willard Albury, we went fishin for small coconut palms down by Little Harbor on 23. Taking 28 (10 nuts to be planted on angle with stem end low to nuture the seed in its growth) for our catch of the day, we stopped at Tahiti Beach for trainer kite flying on the large sandbar at low tide. Finnaly I took my fellow partners back to MOW, then planted the coconut tree catch.  Grabbers was my dinner spot (grilled lobster bites with a side of grouper and plantains), then off to Little Harbor for Full Moon Party.

Sunday, on way back from Little Harbor anchorage I picked up  another set of large coco palms stuck out like flying birds. So anchoring up in 3 feet, machette in hand, I waded ashore across coral rock to fish out 24 growing palms as Catch of the Day.  They were transplanted on Jeff's Guana plantation before meeting friends(Brendal-- GTC Dive Center, Capt Mark and Capt Sarah--Cruise Abaco) at Nippers for kite flyin afternoon in 10 to 15 kts breeze. Teaching people kite board flying is a rush, esp. if they are drinkin Nippers (STRONG) drinks, along with great entertaiment for the crowd on upper decks. Later, the Mount Gay hat group garthered for race story time, as the tourist group left to boat back to various islands. Using the solar powered golf cart to return after usual dinner at Grabbers, rain hit the road as Crawl Bite came into view. Great for all the new plantings. Of couse, 6 miles on 23 back to Matt Lowe in windy rain was an exciting trip.

Monday, awaking to sunny morn, boat chores along with usual coconut bread, milk, honey, and cranberry walnut cookie for breakfast, I then motored into Hopetown for gas, and goodbyes on MOW in am. (An interesting story comes from Kurt who spend time between MOW and WPB, FL.  In 4/09 he was at Albury Bros shop at 1401 Broadway, Riviera Bch looking at a 15 ft. Vanguard sailboat and 2 days  later he arrived in MOW to see another 15 ft Vanguard  not realizing that it was the same sailboat  brought over by Albury 20 same time he was flying over.) I also met capt Ron, whose parents own the Wrecking Treee in GTC, at Bakers Bay (great golf course) for dinner.

Took my final night run from Guana to White Sound GTC for calm peaceful full moon nite's sleep. Stopping in at Sid's to pick up my 2 loaves of coconut bread plus 2 bars of NZ cheese on tue am, Munjack park was plan of day. Got aquainted with Larry, who is building a 2 story round house with utility poles.  we used his CAT bobcat bucket to haul 4 loads of bagged up & remove all the washed up trash at oceanside pavialion taking it accross island on my 23 for transport to GTC dock dumpster.   Later that eve we cut down all pines big & small  to give his home an ocean front view and protect his beach from erosion by planting deep rooted seas oats.

Finally with goodbyes to Brendal, Mary, Scott/Martha etc. I left GTC at 10 am after calling Barb to watch the SPOT as the 23 went over the banks to jump out at West End.  I arrivied at Boynton Bch ramp at 5:45 after flat stream crossing w/ tail wind, to be met by 4 DEA agents looking under my dodger for Haitians. They called off dogs after realizing their mistake and let boat and I clear online.

It is an Albury family boat

Sat. Mar 29, 2008 at 9:30 AM, it seemed everyone, esp. plenty of large sport fisherman, were off palm beach fishing. My daughter Shelly Lynn and 2 friends were on my albury 20 trolling. At 5/6 kts at 150 ft. depth with rigged ballyhoo (plus PINK skirt) on 40 lb test they hooked a 6 ft. sailfish and safely released. First time for all 3 anglers, they did what they saw on tv fishing channel, thankful for a very stable working boat during the releasing off port side. All this fun while I am playing at p b boat show.

Tom & Barb

River Ranch, Fl We spent the weekend at our timeshare Dude ranch in River Ranch,FL Under clear skies friday noon, our party of 4 took off south in our Albury in search of gators and exotic wildlife down the Kissimmee river. (30 ft +deep man made canal) We gave up counting gators at 20+ within 22 miles. It was impressive currents and flooding of lowlands on meandering oxbows where river is restored.

Next day we headed north going up river thru RT60 lock, North of the lock,we headed west for Tiger Creek to Tiger Lake for lunch with gators and water birds. Not knowing the way, we followed a boat miles ahead going our way. Flat water at 40mph had us closing in only to realize our lead boat was an airboat going on a clean up project at lake's edge. In fact the airboat fleet of 30+ was out on high speed clean up runs thru lilies, grass and weeds along shore. Great show all 2 or 3 seaters with guys and girls flying by but we realized that the Albury couldn't follow in their path.

Watching a pontoon boat we found the narrow winding shallow entrance to Tiger Creek. With crew on bow we followed the meandering creek 5 miles to the lake (2 miles as crow flies).

Going back to Lake Kissimee was easier since we knew the depths. We cruised down east side to marker 8 where I launched my sail kayak, sending albury back to river ranch. I sailed with the wind to beam 2 miles to the lock. Pulling the rope to open the gates, I found myself alone for the 5 ft decent. Continued sailing and paddling back to river ranch in time for dinner at the roadhouse grill, then went to the famous americom rodeo. My lucky wife and albury owner won the airbrush painting of the night at the outdoor saloon party for the kids. We ended the night line dancing at the saloon. This is a great place to run the Albury both North & South along the Kissimmee river and lakes. www.wgriverranch.com

Tom & Barb

Lost in the Everglades.

The Park Rangers at Loxahatchee Park said sure there was a 59mile canal going all the way around Everglades water management area.  So one sunny day we took our guest and put in at Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge and headed north up the Canal.  It was a beautiful day and we saw lots of wildlife along the way.  We were about two thirds around when all of a sudden the Canal stopped.  With no other choice, we meandered through the shallow grassy flats until we came upon a bass fisherman.  He said “no problem” just go South along the east side until you see a peninsula and an opening and the canal starts again.  Well, it wasn’t as easy as he made it sound, but we slowly made our way down and by watching other fishing boats eventually found the canal opening. Our inexperienced guest thought for sure we’d be lost in the everglades forever.  All in all it was an enjoyable day.  59 miles and 5 hours later, we made it back to the trailer.

Tom & Barb

New England

Left our beloved Albury 20 home for our New England cruise. Albury Brothers offered us the use of a 23, which was on loan to Yachting Magazine, so long as we trailered her home from New York. Finding the Albury 23 at Liberty Landing, Barb and I proceeded to tour NY harbor and take pictures of the Statue of Liberty before loading the boat on the trailer and heading up I-95. We spent the next three weeks cruising New England's shoreline and rivers.

Launching in Guilford, Ct we went to New Haven by way of Thimble islands, touring beautiful homes built on their own pink granite rocks. While in Guilford Harbor, we followed the East River thru salt marshes and meadows, then out to Fisher's Island across Long Island Sound and the light house. Moving on up I-95, the Connecticut River had a nice ramp at Balwin Bridge, which gave days of access for exploring tributaries.

Rural Stonington at Barn Island ramp gives access to Watch Hill, with it’s 1867 historic flying horse kid-ride. This ramp was a perfect place to leave car and trailer while going over to Block Island for a few days. Stayed at the Narragansett Inn with our Albury berthed at Block Island Yacht Basin. We hiked 8 miles to North Light and back in one day. We also rented a scooter and toured south to Mohegan Bluffs. We spent a little time shopping in town and had to leave town a day early; they pulled all the docks getting ready for Hurricane Hanna.

In Rhode Island, we put in at Judith Point and cruised over to Newport. Hanna had the seas stirred up, but as usual, the Albury 23 handled it fine. We passed by the sailing racer "Virgin Money" getting ready for its transatlantic venture.

Our final week was on Cape Cod, with a townhouse in Mashpee. We played on the Cape Cod Canal, toured Buzzard Bay's many quaint harbors, and cruised over to Martha's Vineyard. Toured Vineyard Haven (home of Black Dog), Oak Bluffs (small cottages on curved streets) and Edgartown. Edgartown was interesting and had a system of pole moorings, using tires around a pole, for turning 360 degrees when a winter storm comes out of the east end of harbor.

Touring New England in our Albury 23 was a great adventure. The boat was small enough that we could cruise up the rivers and marshes and big enough to give us a comfortable ride when the Sound kicked up.

Tom & Barb

Picnic at Trapper Nelsons

A fun day trip for the Palm Beach Area is a cruise up Dickinson State Park to Trapper Nelsons. Pack your lunch, bring your toys and meander thru the shallow waterways.You need to go slow cuz its shallow and you want to avoid hitting kayak or canoes along the way, or being nearly run over by the big pontoon guide boats.Once up there you can enjoy your picnic lunch and get a guided educational tour of Florida in the old days.  You can launch at the Park itself or at Jupiter and head north.

Tom & Crew

Sailboat fun in Man-O-War

My daugther and i left Boynton Beach inlet at 7pm on 4/30/09 for Green Turtle Cay with a Vanguard 15 ft sailboat straped on the front of my Albury 20. Seas in stream were 6'+ which had us running 12-15 knots for at least 20 miles. Once on the banks, we were up to 20+ knots, arriving at Spanish Cay around 3 am. We anchored out and slept under the Vanguard on foredeck til 9 am. Had great breakfast, did customs paperwork and paid $150 plus $25 dockage fee.

Off to GTC where Shellie was making wedding plans for  1/2/10 at the Bluff House, Green Turtle Club plus golf carts, 4 houses, 2 apts. flowers, photogher, etc. I continued to Man O' War with the Vanguard. On Sunday Shellie flew out to states while my wife Barb came in to play with me for a week on GTC and Man O' War. Stayed at a great house on MOW while I practiced sailing with Bahamian boys. May is such a great adventure time in the Bahamas with warm days, cool nights and perfect sailing. Also GTC had its Heritage festival on May 1,2,3 weekend. Junkannoo, arts/crafts, plus great food including lobster and conch salad.

Just got back from another fun week living on my Albury 20. We started out from Lake Monroe in Sanford where you can leave trailer in marina and cruised the St Johns up to Jacksonville. We found plenty of places to stay along the way on the river except in Orange Park the night it got down to 32°. We snuggled under the dodger that night. There’s great sightseeing in national preserves and state parks along the way with lots of idle speed areas to watch gators, birds and manatees, and enough cruising speed areas to test the new 175hp Suzuki. It is definitely not the same 20 with the 175hp compared to the 140hp engine. It has much better pickup and still great gas mileage around 3.75 mpg. This was definitely a great 4-5 day sightseeing trip. Plan to do this again soon.

Tom & Barb Gator on St Johns Cruising the parks

Stuart FL & Pecks Lake

I don’t know why we always choose the coldest nights in Florida to do our camping but it was 45° the night we camped out on the Albury at Pecks Lake in Stuart. Even though the Pirates Cove motel and marina were just up the  waterway, Tom thought it would be romantic.  It was interesting hearing the fish jumping around the boat. Pecks Lake is a great destination because you can get there by the intracoastal or launch right in Stuart for a day trip. You have the best of all there. Easy access to the ocean and waterways, Kayak trails in the state park,and great restaurants along the waterways.

Tom & Barb

Wedding in the Bahamas

On 10/15/09 Thurs 7 AM under clear skies and 10 knots East wind, 3 of us, left Boynton inlet for Green Turtle Cay (160 mile trip) with both Alburys 20 & 23 fully loaded with kayaks, 20 fishing rods, coolers, food drink, fireworks etc for my daughter's destination wedding at Bluff House on 10/24/09. We arrived at 3PM, 7 hours later, 175 hp, 49 gal. gas for 20 and 225 hp Suzuki 69 gal. for 23 . We set about unloading both boats into our 5 rented houses so we could pick up everyone flying into Treasure Cay, fish, dive and go to Nippers for sunday pig roast.

After playing in paradise for 10 days, the marriage took place on a beautiful saturday afternoon on the beach, along with sunset and fireworks. Again Nippers, 12 miles to windward was port of call on Sunday leaving the wedding couple to rest on Green Turtle prior to their honeymoon on Hopetown. I took two couples plus 3 kids, 2,3 and 5 yr olds on the Albury 20, and 12 adults on the 23. We weathered 3-4 ft seas for an afternoon of fun in the pools and surf, along with great food and strong Guana Grabbers. The ride back was fast downwind run at 33 knots.

Moving day on monday morn found the Alburys ferrying all to Treasure, and loading up for return trip. With chores done by 3, I went visiting friends Don Albury on Man O War, Alburybrothers.com and Andree Albury of Wonderland gardens on Marsh,  then anchoring off Tahitti beach, Elbow Cay for a moonlite night. With Drew and his friend Morgan driving the 20 leaving GTC at 3 PM we arrived at Boynton at 10:30, after 2-3 ft chop on banks and stream at 3/\-5 ft. letting us run at 18 to 22 knots missing ships in the night. Taking a 1/2 hour longer 47gal. and 66 gal. fuel, we had a fun time returning from a destination wedding in paradise.

What makes the difference between an Ordeal and Adventure? Attitude!

Just another weekend adventure by Tom, Bill, and 8 female friends age 1 yr to 42 yrs. Now i am 68 so they were in good hands. With weather forecast to be sunny and warm after our cold winter, we set out at 8:30 am from sandsprit parkin Stuart. Crew was myself, bill, his 22 yr old neice jessie, and her 1 yr old daughter, lahina, plus mary and jodi in their 20ies.

Cruzin at 25 mph, we made good time across flat lake O, arriving at roland martins for lunch and to change diaper. We proceeded along rim canal, stopping to see gaters sunbathing. Moore Haven was the first of 3 locks, going down the Caloosahatchee river to Ft Myers beach. A fun day for all.

We meet up with the return crew of 4 girls in their thirties and Bill's car at my son's Ft Myers Bch house Some of bills group were flying out to Mn. early sun, so they drove back sat night.leaving me in the girls dorm at my sons place, (he and his wife annette are at their Big Pine key house for weekend with 2 other couples.) After showers we walked to time square and dinner at Matanzas inn, from there to the Cottage for dancin til almost closin time. I am thankfull that they were doing a girls trip, no boyfriends. I did the big brother thing, getting them home to my son's place where we had our own towels, sheets food etc.(leave no sign, pack it in and out, even the trash)

Left sun 8:15 am for stuart from Ft Myers bch to Caloosahatchee to Franklin lock, first of 5 locks under overcast skies with sun, but nice ride. Stopped at Rolands martin's for 20 gallons of gas, gifts shopping for girls, and a rest under sunny skies. Then onto the lake O which picked up w/ SE winds of 15-20 on beam, changed course 35 degrees to starbroad to cut waves to prevent spray then 1/2 way across lake, back to running downwind w/waves being plowed into giant mud colored sprays driven away from boat. It was real fun for the girls to drive into them. Of course, the front is coming up on us, fast and w /rain as we get thru lock 4 at port myaka. We run for it flat out at 44 mph getting pelted from time to time. Rain stopped for final St Lucie lock 5 then came on hard after the lock til stuart, Weather even gave us a grand finality for last mile including full rainbow we ran under. We stopped at 6:05, changed clothes, loaded albury 23, and got out before next band hit .

Jessie, my son in law, and my daugther Shelly had a great rib dinner for us at my house in lantana to end our adventure run . What makes the difference between an Ordeal and a Adventure? Attitude!!

Specifics from garmin 18.0 mph avg, 17.30 hr., total time 21hr.
March 20-21,2010 315 Total miles over 2 days, est gas- 3 mpg/gal