SOUTHERN CROSS HEADING NORTH
By Karen and Marcel Steinz

March 2005

After cruising for the past 7 years in the Bahamas and Florida, we have decided to bring Southern Cross north. This year we stayed in Florida. The boat endured 4 hurricanes this past year and suffered a lot of water damaged inside. In the past we have never had a problem but the hatches popped due to the pressure of the winds during Charlie, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. Luck was with us and the boat did not fall over but there were 14 boats in our yard that did. We launched the boat January 5th in Titusville after six weeks of hard work to bring Southern Cross to Bristol condition. We can claim to be experts in the removal of mold and mildew.

We spent most of our time after launch in Vero Beach (aka. Velcro Beach). This harbour is just off the ICW where you can rent a mooring for $10 per night. The Vero Beach Municipal Marina is a great spot to hangout for the winter months. There are 50+ moorings, great showers and washrooms, laundry facilities, Captain Quarter's with TV and internet along with FREE bus service to the shops and library.

Since both of us have commitments at the end of March in Oakville, Ontario, we decided to have the boat trucked to the Chesapeake. It was not possible to ship the boat home to Ontario due to the snow and the yards still full of boats.

We where glad that Tom Assenmacher put us in touch with a local transport company in the Chesapeake area. Boat Lovers Transport is owned and operated by Kip and Linda Newbould of Coles Point, VA. After having arranged the transportation, the boat was hauled at Cracker Boy Marina in Fort Pierce. This is a top notch operation. One must make reservations to be lifted or launched.

SOUTHERN CROSS Being Loaded Onto Boat Lovers Transport Trailer

We spent a few days on the hard removing and wrapping the mast for transport, strapping the dinghy on deck and general boat stuff readying the boat for transport.

SOUTHERN CROSS On The Hard At Cracker Boy Marina, Ft. Pierce, FL

The boat was loaded on the flatbed on Monday, March 14th and was delivered to Coan River Marina early Wednesday, March 16th.

Kip And Linda Newbould Loading SOUTHERN CROSS For Transport To The Coan River Marina.

Southern Cross Ready For Trip North
(Karen got to ride with Marcel)

The Coan River Marina is approximately 10 miles from the Chesapeake Bay about 10 Miles up the Potomac River and is a first rate marina. They have just been recognized as a Virginia Clean Marina. They offer very reasonable rates for their services.

SOUTHERN CROSS On The Hard At The Coan River Marina.

After the boat left Fort Pierce, we drove north visiting friends in Beaufort as well as Tom and Kaye Assenmacher in Kinsale, VA. A few days were spent at the marina putting Southern Cross to bed for the summer.

We both highly recommend Cracker Boy Marina in Fort Pierce, Florida (772 465 7031) - Boat Lovers Transport, Coles Point, Virginia (804 472 9223) - as well as Coan River Marina, Lottsburg, Virginia, (804 529 6767).