Arrived Charleston July 13!

Adopt a Creature at www.oceana.org

Dolphin playing alongside heading out to the Atlantic near Myrtle Beach

Heading Out of Beaufort NC

Oceana is out of the hospital and almost ready to sail.. Heading for Charleston around July 10.

Don't forget, as you Sail With Us, Adopt a Creature at Oceana.org and watch the new video.
http://oceana.org/en/about-us/what-we-do

Getting ready to sail again..repairs to Oceana almost complete

Hello Everyone.  Our trip is on hold..  Oceana needs an engine repair.  She's docked at the marina in Beaufort NC.  awaiting service.  We're disappointed we had to stop short of Charleston.  It appeared the repairs might take a week or two, so Don and I decided to stop here, and consider picking up on the trip as soon as possible.

Thank you for Sailing With Us.  And Thank you to everyone who Adopted a Creature or donated to Oceana.org. 

Your emails, comments, texts, phone calls surprised us, entertained us and amazed us.  We heard from neighbors, co-workers, school kids.  I even got a surprise email from my high school basketball coach!!

Thanks to my friend and neighbor Hannah for being the first student to get permission for a school class to follow us.

Thanks to my family for supporting me in this adventure.  Thanks to Chris Pauley for the idea of offering to talk directly to school classes during the trip.  It was a fantastic idea.

Thank you to everyone who offered a thoughtful "send off" gift.  You know who you are.  And thank you to those of you who said our trip inspired you.  That's the best comment we could hear.

Thanks to classes in Fishers, IN, Muncie IN and New Bremen, OH.  The questions the students asked were amazing and fun.  We hope you had fun following us.  We had fun sailing with you.

And thanks to my lifelong friend Don Kuck.  Sharing this trip with him, enjoying his enthusiasm for the trip, was a blessing for sure!  He proved to be a worthy sailor, a problem solver, and a flexible traveler.

We're sorry to stop early.  We hope we didn't let you down. 

Steve

We had mechanical trouble as we passed under a bridge in Beaufort NC, just north of Wilmington

Had to be towed in by a tow boat.  Sitting at a marina in windy rainy conditions.  Waiting for boat repair that won't happen til Monday.  Ugh.  Big storm went thru here last night.   But, we're safe, and secure and waiting.

The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile (4,800-km) waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals. It provides a navigable route along its length without many of the hazards of travel on the open sea.
The shipping hazards and safe havens of the Atlantic coast were well known and appreciated since colonial times, and considered of great communication, commercial and military importance to both the colonial power and the newly established, independent United States. The physical features of the eastern coast were advantageous for intracoastal development, resulting from erosion and deposition of sediment over its geologic history, but also enhanced and redistributed by the action of the Atlantic ocean currents along it. Since the coastline represented their national border and commerce of the time was chiefly by water, the fledgling government established a degree of national control over it. Inland transportation to supply the coasting trade at the time however, was less known and virtually undeveloped, but when new lands and their favorable river systems were added in 1787, a radically new and free national policy was established for their development and transportation use.^[1] Over time, internal improvements of natural coastal and inland waterways would develop into the Great Loop, which provides water-borne traffic circumnavigation of the eastern continental United States, using minimal ocean travel, with the Intracoastal Waterway providing its eastern and southern route.

6th Graders from New Bremen Ohio asked Don Questions about Sailing and Adopting a Creature.

Hi Mrs. Niemeyer and students…

We apologize for not getting back for a couple days as we had very low wifi and cell phone connections. Steve and I anchored last night in upper NC, sailed and motored down through the Pamlico Sound to just above Beaufort NC. Tomorrow we hope to get going early and make some time up, but Sunday’s weather may be an issue, we’ll just have to wait and see.

To your questions, the boat has 2 sails, a main and a jib. The jib is the smaller sail on the front of the boat and the main is the “big one” that provides the main sailing force. Unfortunately we’ve not been able to use the sails as much as we would have liked due to either no wind or it blowing directly towards us.

I didn’t bring a fishing pole although Avery asked if I was. We actually really haven’t had time to fish as we’ve been sailing roughly 10-11 hours a day and haven’t and an opportunity to do so. We’re going to attempt to make it to Wrightsville NC on Sat and the see what that weather does for us going forward..

As far as Steve and I having disagreements; no we have not had any so far. He’s the Captain and I’m the first mate so what he says is what we do, unless it has something to do with where we’re going to stop to eat or stay. We really do get along because we both know that you have to work together all the time plotting courses, looking for marker buoys, and approaches to the route. That’s what teamwork is all about!.

By all means send any more questions and we’ll try and answer.

We have about 300 miles to go.

Don

Heading for Wrightsville Beach Saturday.   Hoping for good weather.

Chugging along on the Intercoastal Waterway.  We wondered if this
shrimp boat was retired!

Don Thninks He's Working  Really Hard On The Boat
Heading into Oriental NC for fuel and water

It's cold and windy as we sail from Norfolk to North Carolina.  The water was very rough coming in to Norfolk.  Although our boat can handle rough weather, it was very challenging coming into the harbor
and we were really tired when we found the Tidewater Marina just in the intercoastal coming off the Chesapeake Bay.

First Mate Needs Something To Do So Gives A Boat Tour

How it looks and feels sailing in open water

We sailed into Norfolk Harbor Wednesday, past the U.S. Navy Base.  Our boat was very clost to the battleships, aircraft carriers and other vessels.

The Battleship Wisconsin

School Kids Following The Sailing

Hello Everyone.  Thanks for Sailing With Us.  Don't forget to go to Oceana.org and Adopt a Creature
https://store.oceana.org/



First and Second grade students in Muncie, IN wrote and asked many questions  

Here's some answers to some very good questions. The boat is 31 ft and made of fiberglass. And it has a diesel engine we use if there's no wind for sailingg

We haven't gotten seasick. We do have medicine for that. But sosometimes you jist have to sleep to get over it. If we got hurt we have a first aid kit. We also have a radio and could CALL THE Coast Guaed for help

It"s about 560 miles yo Charleston. Anmd we go about 7 miles an hour (kind of slow)

The boat could tip over but not likely. There's a lot of weight in th bottom$ of the boas ( the keel) that keeps it safe

Usually the water is calm in the morning and rougher in the afternoon. Usually more windy in the afternoon.

We leave early each morning. Around 6 30


It's chilly on the water. Have a sweatshirt on today
If GPS stops we have marine charts and a compass. Marine charts are like road maps or mapquest


If we get stuck on an island we'll call you on our cell phones!!

Moving South on the Chesapeake

Taking off for Norfolk VA

A peaceful night at the dock in Solomon

Day 3 Sailing to Norfolk Virginia  Lots of wind.  Moving fast.
Sunny day. Will be in Norfolk by 5pm or so.
Thanks for your emails and questions.  Send more stevecashdollar@aol.com

We think this is an eagle on the river heading out of Solomon Island

Heading Out Day 2

Day 1 for Adopt A Creature. Go to oceana.org

Day 1 Sailing To Solomon Islands MD

Go Sailing and Adopt a Creature



Steve Cashdollar

Go Sailing With Us and Adopt A Creature at http://www.oceana.org/

 Hi.  We're sailing from Annapolis MD to Charleston SC, departing on April 15, 2012  on the 31ft Island Packet Yacht, "Oceana"  It's Greek for Oceans. Then, later, on to the Florida Keys, the Florida Panhandle, Mobile, AL, Gulfport Ms and eventually on to New Orleans, LA.  This trip came about after being inspired by some of the young people in my life, people that are doing things to make a difference.  My daughter Sarah is an RN, a nurse program- coordinator working with patients suffering from neurological conditions, my friend Tom Branum Jr raises money for water wells in Sierra Leone while working in a full-time business, Alex Kuehr, a Teach for America alum, teaches inner city students in New Orleans and my neighbor Hannah inspires me with her positive attitude and girl scout cookie success along with many others.  So, the idea of Go Sailing with Us and Adopt A Creature was born! 
http://www.oceana.org/.
Watch for more photos and video along the route. Invite a friend, teacher, classroom or neighbor to follow along and Go Sailing with Us.



Don Kuck

 The Crew

My lifelong friend Don Kuck, from New Bremen, Ohio will be the crew for the first leg and maybe more. We grew up together so I know he'll be a great asset. He's adventurous and knows how to  fix stuff and he's funny. He's also retired so if it takes two weeks or two months he doesn't care! His wife Jacqui just smiled when I said we may be gone for a while. He rides a Harley in his spare time so I figure a sailboat going 6.9 miles per hour will be a "breeze" for him. More about Don later in the trip.

The Yacht

Oceana is 24 years old, in excellent condition, sleeps 6 people, has a diesel engine and many sails.  It has a stove, refrigerator, radio, weather equipment including a barometer, an mp3 player, an
i-pad and navigation equipment, fresh water tanks, plenty of food and juice, several packs of Oreos and sophisticated navigation equipment and a GPS like your car navigation system, so we can find
Charleston SC.  But, no TV. You could live on Oceana for a week or two or longer.  (There's a bathroom and shower)


"Oceana"

The Idea

Sail, learn about the ocean along the U.S. Coastline and raise money. So invite your friends, school, classroom, or group to follow along. And comment along the way.

We're joining forces with Oceana.  http://www.oceana.org/.  I learned about Oceana after reading the book Oceana, by Ted Danson.  It's a well-researched book about our oceans and what we can do to save them. http://www.amazon.com/.

Oceana is the largest international organization working solely to protect the world’s oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, we have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 500,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe. http://oceana.org/en/about-us/what-we-do



Adopt a Sea Turtle like "NOAH"

The oceans are in trouble and we need your help to protect and restore them. There are many ways to support the work: you can become a Wavemaker, attend one of the Oceana events, or give in a number of other ways or you can Adopt a Creature. 

You can help. Go blog sailing with us and Adopt a Creature!

Why Make an Adoption? 

Oceana works to protect marine mammals such as the dolphin from being caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries. Your donation will help support Oceana's work on Capitol Hill to find clean, safe energy solutions and protect our coasts from oil pollution.

A great way to get involved is to Adopt a Creature!! Just go to oceana.org...click on Support Oceana....and click on Adopt a Creature or use this shortcut https://store.oceana.org/ . 

All Donations go directly to Oceana.



Adopt a Beautiful Killer Whale and Name Her!

Photos and information on Oceana, courtesy www. oceana.org



If you adopt a creature please comment on our blog or email us at -stevecashdollar@aol or kucky@nktelco.net.  Your comment or blog with inspire us to keep going!

The Problem

The oceans are vast, but they are not immune
 to human influence. We have already altered or destroyed many marine ecosystems and driven million-year-old species to the brink
of extinction. According to a study published
in Science, less than 4 percent of the oceans remain unaffected by human activity.

We are taking too many fish out of the water.

In the last few decades, commercial fishing
has evolved into a high-tech, heavily subsidized industry that uses cutting-edge electronics, computer systems, huge amounts of fuel and miles of gear to find and catch more fish in remote places formerly out of bounds to fishermen.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says that at least 75 percent of seafood species are over exploited, fully exploited or recovering from depletion and need more effective and precautionary management.

We are putting too many pollutants in the water.

Mercury is a toxic pollutant emitted by land-based industrial plants. This mercury finds its way back into our food chain via our seafood with potentially serious consequences. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one in ten American women has enough mercury in her blood to pose a risk of neurological damage to her developing baby.
Meanwhile, offshore fish farming, rather than taking the pressure off wild seafood species, results in increased overfishing to feed the farmed fish as well as the despoiling of seafloor habitat. Concentrated fish waste dropped from the open-water pens blankets the ocean  bottom  .Last and perhaps most alarming, carbon dioxide is making our oceans more acidic. As a result, corals and other creatures at the base of the ocean food chains have trouble forming shells. Without a drastic reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, many of the world’s coral reefs will disappear and entire ocean ecosystems may collapse.

We are squandering the oceans’ resources.

Destructive fishing practices that include driftnets, loneliness and bottom trawls are ruining ocean ecosystems by indiscriminately killing fish and other wildlife, including seabirds and marine mammals. Each year, more than 16 billion pounds of catch are thrown overboard thanks to wasteful fishing techniques.
Bottom trawls drag heavily weighted nets along the ocean floor in search of fish or crustaceans in a practice akin to clacking a forest in order to catch a rabbit. Centuries-old habitats such as coral gardens are destroyed in an instant by bottom trawls, pulverized into barren plains. Endangered sea turtles drown on lounging hooks while sharks have their fins sliced from their bodies, which are then tossed overboard.

http://oceana.org/en/about-us/what-we-do

Our Route

Day 1  April 15    Rock Hall Md on the Chesapeake Bay heading to the mouth of the Monica River near Frederick's MD.  It will take all day because Oceans moves slow.  With a lot of wind we could make it in 8 hours, but a normal day with 8 to 10 know winds, probably 10 hours of sailing.

Map of the route   First leg Chesapeake to Charlest

Habitat on the Chesapeake The Chesapeake Bay provides food, water, cover, and nesting or nursery areas to more than 3,000 migratory and resident wildlife species. Habitat types range from hardwood forests of the Appalachian mountains to saltwater marshes in the Bay. These habitats are influenced by climate, soils, water, plant and animal interactions, and human activities. Riparian Forests Riparian forests are integral to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams for many reasons. Their position in the landscape makes these forests excellent buffers between upland areas and the adjacent waters that will eventually enter the Bay. Riparian forest buffers are capable of filtering ground and surface water, stabilizing stream banks, providing shade, and supporting a variety of habitat. Freshwater Tributaries Within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, five major rivers the Susquehanna, Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James provide almost 90 percent of the freshwater to the Bay. These rivers and other smaller rivers, along with the hundreds of thousands of creeks and streams that feed them, provide habitat necessary for the production of many fish species Shallow Water and Bay Grasses Underwater Bay grasses (also known as submerged aquatic vegetation or SAV) are plant communities that provide food and shelter for waterfowl, fish, shellfish, and invertebrates, and are a key contributor to the energy cycling in the Bay. Like other green plants, Bay grasses produce oxygen, a precious and sometimes lacking commodity in the Bay today. They also trap sediment that can cloud the water and bury bottom-dwelling organisms like oysters. During the growing season, Bay grasses remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus that could fuel unwanted growth of algae in the surrounding waters.  Chesapeake Blue Crab  Aquatic creatures like shrimp use Bay grass beds, tidal marshes, and shallow shoreline margins as nursery areas and for refuge. Along shorelines, fallen trees and limbs also give cover to small aquatic animals, and even unvegetated areas exposed at low tide are productive feeding areas. Microscopic plants cycle nutrients and are fed upon by crabs and fish. Open Water Although unseen by the naked eye, microscopic plants and animal life (plankton) float in the open waters. These tiny organisms form the food base for many other animals. Hundreds of thousands of wintering ducks, particularly sea ducks like scoters, old squaw, and mergansers, depend on open water for the shellfish, invertebrates, and fish they eat during the winter months. Open water also supports oysters and other bottom-dwellers. Oysters and other filter feeders help maintain water quality by filtering suspended organic particles out of the water. The oyster reef itself is a solid structure that provides habitat for other shellfish, finfish, and crabs. Islands and Inlands Bay islands are a haven for colonial waterbirds (terns and herons), waterfowl (ducks), and raptors (osprey and bald eagles). Islands can also protect underwater Bay grasses and shallow water areas from erosion and sedimentation.  (courtesy Chesapeake Bay Foundation. http://www.cbf.org/)

For Media  Inquiries http://oceana.org/en/news-media/press-center

See you soon!

 

Great Shearwater