Key West to Palm Beach

Days 84 – 86 January 29 - 30

Bob and Bill left Key West at 6:30AM on Apparition, bound for Palm Beach. After discovering there would be a $600 one-way drop off charge on our rental car, I decided to drive the car to Palm Beach to meet them.

Jupiter, where our friend Harry Jones lives, is ten miles north of Palm Beach. Harry and I had a nice visit and were able to catch up on news of family and friends while waiting for the Swan 42 to arrive.

It took Bill and Bob only 25 ½ hours to make the trip. The boat is very fast, running at 9-10 knots in 10-15 knot winds with 1-3 foot seas and only the mainsail. Bob really enjoyed sailing with Bill again and was amazed in the difference in comfort level, stability, and structure between the Caliber and the Swan

The considerable vibrations occurring each time the boat pounded a wave surprised Bob. Due to its thin lightweight hull, the vibrations went throughout the boat and made sleeping difficult.

The Swan is very Spartan, lacking the cruiser comforts of the Caliber. During the voyage, there was no running water, no useable head, no cockpit cover, no comfortable seat at the helm, and very uncomfortable berths. So sorry I missed all of that – especially the no head!!

A Note About the Swan 42

Three hundred twenty five sailboats participated in the 5 day Key West Regatta. Bill, and the other 9 crew members on the Apparition, tied for 3rd place in the Swan 42 class. Although they lost the tie breaker and came in 4th, they were very pleased since it was the first time they had crewed together and the boat was brand new. The mean age of their crew was 44 years old.

The draft on the Swan is 9'6." The keel, which is a small fin with a torpedo at the bottom, weighs 9,000 pounds and accounts for 60% of the weight of the entire boat. The owner of the boat has several other race boats and keeps them near Booth Bay, Maine.