Sequel On The ICW

Catch up with John & Amy aboard Sequel in the present day. "Yes indeed, there is life after the ICW. As almost a full year has passed since our 25 day voyage, I can attest to that fact first-hand. And I’ve been itching to share them with whomever I can."

It’s been an honest pleasure for me – and I know the same resonates true for Amy – sharing our experiences on Sequel with all of you. Till some time in the future… Thank you!

Technically, the bitter end is the part of a rope that’s tied off. And from that definition has sprung more dire meanings. But for Amy and I, its meaning is something else altogether.

Arthur is heading our way as we're anchored in Connecticut, which leaves us to play a game of "find the boat hidden in the storm radar."

On their way from Sag Harbor, New York, to coastal Connecticut, John and Amy endure a day-long visit from Foghorn Leghorn.

I opted to delay my post of Sag Harbor for a day because I wanted to relate my trials and tribulations with the mooring ball at Oyster Bay. But that’s behind us, we’re at a mooring in Sag Harbor in the Hamptons.

We love a good mooring, especially when they offer a (thought sleep-depraved) lesseon in humility. Behold, dear readers, the tale of John versus the mooring ball.

It was great watching the skyline grow, seeing the Lady appear, marveling at the scope of the new Freedom Tower gleaming from the area that had brought both Amy and I such personal pain.

We’re sitting on the bow at our mooring, drinking a glass of wine and watching the dazzling array of watercraft pass. Sometime you have to stop and smell the roses.

Everything was looking good as we left the protected harbor of Deltaville and turned north. Unfortunately mother nature had other plans. For those who’ve never been on the Chesapeake, it’s big. Really big.

Sequel and her crew run across the Alligator River and into the Dismal Swamp; facing waters as smooth as glass and the ever looming threat of running out of wine.

It’s going to be a short one today – since it’s been a rather long one today. Ten hours running the boat, much of it through small rivers, inlets, and canals lined with docks.

In a video heavy update, the Hanzls accomplish their longest transit to date, 128 nm, stopping at the little known Leland Oil in McClellanville, South Carolina. But not after a karmatic event brings a tug to a screeching halt.

Amy is sorta planning the next two days, although she just said, “They don’t accept transient lips for more that ten days”. Perhaps I made the margaritas too strong.

Of tips for overtaking, Manatee zones and getting the stink eye from the Navy. John and Amy are adjusting well to life on the ICW was they make way from Florida to Georgia.

I don’t want to get too wordy with this post, which if you know me is really tough, but I’ll try. In short, we had a good day (okay two days). The slightly longer version is we got up at 6:00AM, prepped the boat for travel and finally left Blowing Rocks!

We had hoped we’d be gone by now – not literally, just figuratively. But here we sit (float). We met with Jay, owner of Siebert Yacht Management, who did all the work on the boat today. He stopped by to tie up some loose ends.

So, we took Sequel on her first Florida cruise and made it just under a boat-length in distance. Anyone up for another trip to West Marine? ACE Hardware, maybe?

Okay – so it’s all about the means to the ends, right? Actually, before talking about what happened for the past two days, I want to say Amy and I are working on this entry while sipping a glass of wine in the saloon of Sequel!

John and Amy continue to prepare for their ICW trip; sifting through an "unhealthy" amount of charts and guide books on the eve of their flight to Miami.

Join John Hanzl and wife Amy as they traverse the ICW from Miami to Rhode Island in their 38-foot Sabre express, Sequel. Get to know the boat and see how John and Amy prepare for their adventure.