Ronan, Ryan, and Doug Milne (PGA Tour Sr. Media Manager) in PGA Media Center (March 2019)

RONAN’S PGA GOLF DEBUT (March 2019) – by Theresa

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Warning, this post is not boat related, however, it does recount a recent, amazing landlubber, encounter at the 2019 PGA Valspar Championship, where Ronan, 12, received the surprise of a lifetime when he got to play the 18th hole with reigning champion Paul Casey, and Sergio Garcia!

Click here for full PGA.com article and video “Ronan Mowrey, 12, sees ‘Most Colorful PGA Tour Tournament in the World’ Through New Lens” by Doug Milne (March 21, 2019).

Below are a few pictures that we snapped along the way.

Ronan gets microphoned up on the 18th hole at the 2019 PGA Valspar Championship
Ronan being interviewed on the 18th hole at the 2019 PGA Valspar Championship
Reigning PGA Valspar champion, Paul Casey, surprises Ronan during his interview on the 18th hole (2019 PGA Valspar Championship)

Reigning PGA Valspar champion, Paul Casey, surprises Ronan during his interview on the 18th hole (2019 PGA Valspar Championship)

Reigning PGA Valspar champion, Paul Casey, surprises Ronan during his interview on the 18th hole (2019 PGA Valspar Championship)

Reigning PGA Valspar champion, Paul Casey, surprises Ronan during his interview on the 18th hole (2019 PGA Valspar Championship)

Reigning PGA Valspar champion, invites Ronan to play the 18th hole with him and Sergio Garcia (2019 PGA Valspar Championship)

Reigning PGA Valspar champion, invites Ronan to play the 18th hole with him and Sergio Garcia (2019 PGA Valspar Championship)

18th hole 2019 PGA Valspar Championship
Paul Casey drives on the 18th (2019 Valspar Championship - Practice Round)

Paul Casey drives on the 18th (2019 Valspar Championship – Practice Round)

Sergio Garcia tees up drive on the 18th (2019 Valspar Championship)

Sergio Garcia tees up drive on the 18th (2019 Valspar Championship – Practice Round)

Ronan prepares to drive on the 18th (with Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia looking on) (March 2019)

Ronan prepares to drive on the 18th (with Paul Casey, and Sergio Garcia, looking on) (March 2019)

Sergio Garcia, Ronan and Paul Casey on the 18th fairway (2019 Valspar Championship - Practice Round)

Sergio Garcia, Ronan, and Paul Casey on the 18th fairway (2019 Valspar Championship – Practice Round)

Ronan, Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia on the 18th green (March 2019)

Ronan, Paul Casey, and Sergio Garcia on the 18th green (March 2019)

 

Reigning PGA Valspar Champion Paul Casey giving Ronan his new EnChroma glasses! (March 2019)

Reigning PGA Valspar Champion Paul Casey giving Ronan his new EnChroma glasses! (March 2019)

PGA Valspar Champion, Paul Casey, and Ronan, finishing up the 18th hole (March 2019)

PGA Valspar Champion, Paul Casey, and Ronan, finishing up the 18th hole (March 2019)

Ronan’s special day at the Valspar PGA championship this past Tuesday was full of surprises, and thanks to the EnChroma glasses that Paul Casey surprised Ronan with on the 18th hole, Ronan is now seeing the world in a w”hole” (pun intended) new, and more colorful way! In addition to the kindness and generosity of both Paul Casey, and Sergio Garcia, there were a lot of wonderful people behind the scenes that worked to make our sons’, Ryan and Ronan’s, day at Valspar unforgettable.  Our heartfelt appreciation is extended to all who contributed to making the entire event so incredibly spectacular!

Click here for full PGA.com article and video “Ronan Mowrey, 12, sees ‘Most Colorful PGA Tour Tournament in the World; Through New Lens” by Doug Milne (March 21, 2019).

Our newest crew member, “Marlow!”

OUR SHIP HAS COME IN AND IT’S A MARLOW!- by Randy

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As we indicated in our previous post, our arrival back to our shore based life has been bittersweet with lots of adjustments. Our family’s unique opportunity to cruise the Caribbean for the past four years has been challenging, magical and enlightening for all of us. One of the sad realities of our final leg home was that we made it with one fewer crew member than our first leg outbound. Our intrepid boat dog, “Patton,” lived out the final three years of his fifteen year life aboard the Pilot’s Discretion in the Caribbean. His passing left a hole in our crew that we knew we would one day want to fill. Happily, we have had the opportunity to adopt the Pilot’s Discretion next generation boat dog, and his name is Marlow!

Marlow trying on his new life vest Marlow trying on his new life vest

Ryan, Marlow & Ronan aboard Pilot's Discretion

Ryan, Marlow & Ronan aboard Pilot’s Discretion

Marlow’s 1st ride in the dinghy; Marlow & Theresa
Marlow’s 1st ride in the dinghy; Marlow, Randy & Ronan

We knew we wanted another Cocker Spaniel, however, we wanted to make sure he was unique and different enough from our previous dogs so that he would occupy a space in our family distinct to him. That is where Becky Holmes, the owner of Silver Moon Cockers, came in (www.silvermooncockers.com). Becky breeds a rare silver Cocker that looks very different than Patton, who was chocolate.

Brigadier General Chuck Yeager

Brigadier General Chuck Yeager

Marlow is the third pure bred Cocker Spaniel in the Mowrey family tree. Each of the previous two Cockers were named after famous American military heroes. Marlow’s oldest sister was named “Yeager” after Brigadier General Chuck Yeager (the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound).

General George S. Patton

General George S. Patton

Patton was, of course, named after WWII legend, General George S. Patton.

When we got the opportunity to adopt Marlow, we decided that we would name him utilizing a slightly different convention. We wanted to recognize an American success story, choosing someone closer to our personal story. If you have followed our blog, you already know that our dreamboat is a Marlow Explorer. Who better than David Marlow, the founder of Marlow Yachts, to name our new boat dog after.

David Marlow

David Marlow

David Marlow is the youngest of twelve (12) children, who started with modest means and has gone on to build one of the world’s preeminent motor yachts, while at the same time providing hundreds of highly skilled tradesmen a place to practice their craft. Our Marlow has some truly large shoes to fill (or chew on🐶). He is approaching his tasking with a puppy’s enthusiasm and a gentle, loving spirit.

And so it is, we have finally gotten a Marlow of our own, and he is adorable!

Marlow Marlow
MarlowMarlow Marlow

Marlow @ 5 weeks Marlow @ 5 weeks

Marlow

Marlow Marlow

FLORIDA: EAST TO WEST COAST ACROSS THE OKEECHOBEE WATERWAY – by Theresa

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Okeechobee Waterway - FL Map Okeechobee Waterway – FL Map

Since arriving back in the U.S., after four (4) years cruising the Caribbean, we have received many inquiries about our next port(s) of call, and go-forward cruising plans. Long story short, after arriving in North Palm Beach, FL, we were at a cross road. Either head down the East Coast of FL, towards the Keys, around the southern tip of FL , and up the FL West Coast, or set a course northwest, to cut across the state via the Okeechobee Waterway.

The Okeechobee Waterway is a man-made waterway that stretches from Stuart, on the East Coast of Florida, to Fort Myers, on Florida’s West Coast. A series of canals, including the Caloosahatchee River to the west, and St. Lucie Canal to the east, link Florida’s East and West Coasts to Lake Okeechobee in the center of the state.

Okeechobee Waterway & Locks Map Okeechobee Waterway & Locks Map

We opted for the Okeechobee Waterway since it was a shorter route, and we were coming up on some deadlines for re-enrolling the boys in a bricks and mortar school. Hence, we positioned ourselves in North Palm Beach until the next appropriate weather window, and locks’ schedule, allowed us to cross from the East Coast to the West Coast of Florida.

During our E-W Florida crossing, we encountered countless car and railroad bridges: swing bridges, draw bridges, fixed bridges, etc. Some, we could pass right under because they were high enough for us to clear.

Bridge Bridge
Bridge Bridge

At lower clearance bridges, we had to hail the various bridge operators on the VHF radio to  have them open the bridge so that we could safely pass through.

Draw Bridge Draw Bridge

While transiting the “Locks,” (a series of water-like elevators), we positioned the Pilots’ Discretion in the lock basins, which then closed and either added or drained water before opening to let us out at the appropriate water level on the other side.

Along the way, we made stops at Roland & Mary Martin Marina, in Clewiston, Fort Myers, and Venice. We had dolphins and jet skiers hitch rides in our wake along the way, and the sunsets were as spectacular as ever.

Dolphin in our wake
Dolphin in our wake
Dolphin in our wake
Dolphin in our wake
Jet skier in our wake
Jet skier in our wake

Sunset in Venice, FL (2018) Sunset in Venice, FL (2018)At long last, we reached the Anclote River, Tarpon Springs, FL. We slowly made our way up the river to our home port, Port Tarpon Marina, which had served as our departure point four (4) years previous.

Theresa refueling, Port Tarpon Theresa refueling, Port Tarpon
Randy refueling, Port Tarpon Marina Randy refueling, Port Tarpon Marina
Ronan, Randy & Ryan, back where it all started, Port Tarpon Ronan, Randy & Ryan, back where it all started, Port Tarpon
Sunset from Pilots' Discretion, back in her home port slip at Port Tarpon Marina Sunset from Pilots’ Discretion, back in her home port slip at Port Tarpon Marina

To say it was a bittersweet surreal moment would be a dramatic understatement.

Mark Twain has been attributed with having said:

Throw of the bowlines ...

Our family is most certainly not disappointed. We are tremendously grateful for our unique experiences and adventures. We have lived the dream, and will continue to do so. 

Since returning to Florida, it has been a whirlwind of nonstop activity reintegrating as part-time landlubbers. The changes have been quick and dramatic, some of them easy, others more challenging, We will provide updates on the reintegration process after we are more settled. In any event, it is all part of the next leg of our journey, which includes, among other things, a new addition to our crew! More about that in our next post ….

45 foot USCG patrol boat pulling up astern of Pilots’ Discretion

6100 Nautical Miles Later, Pilots’ Discretion Returns to the United States – by Randy

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Early in the morning on June 6, 2018, Pilots’ Discretion eased out of her slip at the Old Bahama Bay Marina, on Grand Bahama Island, and pointed her bow west for what would be her final international leg of our 4-year Caribbean odyssey. There were brisk winds of 15-20 knots out of the west, as we passed the breakwater heading out into the Gulfstream. The resultant seas were not particularly large (4-6 ft), but the period of the waves was a very short 2-4 seconds, giving us an uncomfortable ride. I don’t think anybody aboard was really looking forward to this day, and it just felt appropriate that the sea conditions were not unsafe, but not pleasant either. We pressed on through early morning showers and passed several other yachts going the other way, heading east toward the Bahamas.

When we were about 20 miles west of Grand Bahama Island the seas flattened out and the skies cleared. Florida was already clearly visible on our radar, but not yet on our visual horizon. Four hours after our departure, the waterfront condos of West Palm Beach became visible as we headed for the Lake Worth Inlet. After cruising for days at a time seeing few boats at all in various parts of the Caribbean, the high level of traffic off the coast of Florida was just one more subtle reminder that we were reentering our home environment.

As if on cue to reenforce that point, a U.S. Coast Guard 33′ patrol boat pulled along side of us and advised us that they would be conducting a routine boarding of our vessel. Those of you that have followed our blog in the past already know that I am a former Coastie. What many of you may not realize is that Theresa served as the Vice President of a major maritime safety organization for many years. As part of her duties there, she interacted with the Coast Guard at the highest levels (she counts several past US Coast Guard Commandants among her personal friends). Some boaters are put off by the Coast Guard boardings, that is not the case with the Pilots’ Discretion. Our entire crew has a tremendous amount of respect for the work that the men and women of the USCG perform each and every day. For me personally, and my family, having the Coast Guard board us as we approached our home country represented an important symbolic welcome home. Click photo below for video

The young Coast Guard boarding team came aboard our vessel and reviewed our paperwork and our safety systems. Happily, they did not find any discrepancies. After they had completed their official duties we had a chance to share stories of “The Guard.” It was a lot of fun to compare notes since long ago I had served on many Coast Guard boarding teams in the Gulf of Alaska, and the Bering Sea. Ryan and Ronan were fascinated by the patrol boat and wanted to know how much power it had and how fast it would go (40+ knots). The Coast Guard crew was thorough and professional at all times. I hope those Coasties sensed how proud our family is of their organization and the individuals that serve our country via the USCG.

After the Coast Guard departed we entered the Lake Worth inlet, then turned north on the ICW toward the North Palm Beach Marina. One hour later, we pulled alongside the fuel dock as a thunderstorm broke out with a torrential downpour. Soaking wet, the crew of Pilot’s Discretion refueled her and cleared inbound with US Customs. Pilots’ Discretion is now back in the United States, our journey is nearly complete.