Ahhh we made it back to Florida this evening.
We left Old Bahama bay this morning around 6:30am. Looked great -- no wind and an easy exit.
Forecast was 5-10 lnots and flat seas -- a motoring day.
Once outside a little 8 kt wind from the SE just enough to fill a sail and settle the rolling from a SE swell.
Good for a mile then the wind piped up to 15 - 17 kts and put some uncomfortable waves on us and caused us to roll -- worst motion. Although we had a BIG flood current sweeping off the banks and we hit 9 kts for awhile. Unfortunately it was rough for about 15 miles then settled down and we had a great motor sail till about 1 miles off of Florida.
Unfortunately I didn't plan on the strongest current in the western third of the gulf stream and we were "swept" above our rumb line and had to fight the current back. NOAA had the western wall of the gulf stream at 7 miles off of Lake Worth, The NOAA RAdio WX had it at 4 miles off. We had it all the way to the inlet -- make that the BEACH. The last 9 miles took 2 and half hours!
We are whipped and hot and storms expected tonight so we followed Victoria Gaye -- our favorite buddy boat -- and Smiles into the Old Port Cove Marina. The AC is on HIGH tonight. Karen is non stop on the phone tonight. I hope she doesn't keep folks up too late tonight.
Tomorrow we check in with customs and do a little grocery shopping. Ohhh I'm looking forward to shopping at the Publixs here.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Heading back to USA
Ahhh it is with mixed feelings I write this.
It's time to begin heading home -- not too quickly but certainly back to the USA.
We went to Manjack for a last visit then anchored off NEw Plymouth in Green Turtle Cay yesterday and evening. I just wanted to see the lights of the settlement one last time and to make a minor grocery trip.
I really like the Bahamas but the cost is really a gut wencher. Ohh well there is always some kind of "snake" in paradise.
This morning we left the anchorage and began the trip back. Today we are making a long run to Great Sale Cay or about 65 miles. We are having a very nice run. Just 16 miles away as I write this. The seas are settled a nice 10 - 14 knot wind from behind and we are averaging 7.0 kts. Well I'm sure that bottom cleaning has something to do with that too.
Hope to be into the anchorage at Great SAle CAy before 4pm. We need an early start tomorrow to make West End. We will go into the expensive marina there but Karen has never seen it and its worth seeing and experiencing.
Victoria Gaye is with us and will cross with us. That is a comforting thought for both of us.
We are not alone though it seems that most the regulars that were at HopeTown all winter have elected this crossing window too. There must be at least 6 of them -- Antares, Solitare I, Jilli Q, Smiles, Summer Tilt, etc.
MAybe we can see a green flash at Great Sale Cay tonight -- that would be GREAT.
It's time to begin heading home -- not too quickly but certainly back to the USA.
We went to Manjack for a last visit then anchored off NEw Plymouth in Green Turtle Cay yesterday and evening. I just wanted to see the lights of the settlement one last time and to make a minor grocery trip.
I really like the Bahamas but the cost is really a gut wencher. Ohh well there is always some kind of "snake" in paradise.
This morning we left the anchorage and began the trip back. Today we are making a long run to Great Sale Cay or about 65 miles. We are having a very nice run. Just 16 miles away as I write this. The seas are settled a nice 10 - 14 knot wind from behind and we are averaging 7.0 kts. Well I'm sure that bottom cleaning has something to do with that too.
Hope to be into the anchorage at Great SAle CAy before 4pm. We need an early start tomorrow to make West End. We will go into the expensive marina there but Karen has never seen it and its worth seeing and experiencing.
Victoria Gaye is with us and will cross with us. That is a comforting thought for both of us.
We are not alone though it seems that most the regulars that were at HopeTown all winter have elected this crossing window too. There must be at least 6 of them -- Antares, Solitare I, Jilli Q, Smiles, Summer Tilt, etc.
MAybe we can see a green flash at Great Sale Cay tonight -- that would be GREAT.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
MANJACK!
Yep we are back in Manjack Cay today. Cut the cord at the Green Turtle Club Marina this morning and pushed on.
We first wanted to go to Allans-Pensacola Cay -- 24 miles away, then backed off to Powell Cay which is 11 miles away then decided since this was a nice sail north we would have to beat our way back here in a few days -- I turned tail and went into MANJACK which was only 4 miles away.
We had the hook down by 10:30am and relaxed with a leisurely lunch of leftovers then went into the Manjack beach.. Today we followed the signs to the Ocean Beach. Damn it must have been a 2 mile walk along exposed roots and rough rocks. It took 30 minutes to walk the path one-way.
The beach is very nice but very clean. Beach combing found little to nothing.
The anchorage only has a few boats here this afternoon so no crowding.
We are kicking around thoughts of possibly heading back to the USA this weekend in a short window but still haven't decided yet. We went a more leisurely crossing with only daytime movement and light seas. A tough combination but we will see.
We will relax here tonight then probably back to GTC tomorrow -- for some reason we are out of fresh vegetables -- poor planning on our part.
Ohh the boat felt like her ol self today for the brief period we motor sailed. Ol Phil did a GREAT job scrubbing the hull of this boat. He spent 2 hours working on it.
Hopefully we will be back soon before the growth comes back -- my bottom paint is SHOT!!
We first wanted to go to Allans-Pensacola Cay -- 24 miles away, then backed off to Powell Cay which is 11 miles away then decided since this was a nice sail north we would have to beat our way back here in a few days -- I turned tail and went into MANJACK which was only 4 miles away.
We had the hook down by 10:30am and relaxed with a leisurely lunch of leftovers then went into the Manjack beach.. Today we followed the signs to the Ocean Beach. Damn it must have been a 2 mile walk along exposed roots and rough rocks. It took 30 minutes to walk the path one-way.
The beach is very nice but very clean. Beach combing found little to nothing.
The anchorage only has a few boats here this afternoon so no crowding.
We are kicking around thoughts of possibly heading back to the USA this weekend in a short window but still haven't decided yet. We went a more leisurely crossing with only daytime movement and light seas. A tough combination but we will see.
We will relax here tonight then probably back to GTC tomorrow -- for some reason we are out of fresh vegetables -- poor planning on our part.
Ohh the boat felt like her ol self today for the brief period we motor sailed. Ol Phil did a GREAT job scrubbing the hull of this boat. He spent 2 hours working on it.
Hopefully we will be back soon before the growth comes back -- my bottom paint is SHOT!!
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Happy Easter!!
Wow sure doesn't feel like Easter over here. They do celebrate but mostly Good Friday and Easter Monday.
We are here at the Green Turtle Club Marina for a few days. Enjoying the AC at night, long hot showers and all the other amenities of a nice Marina. I have Phil Roberts coming tomorrow to clean the bottom of my boat. He does a great job - He did Victoria Gaye this morning but said he couldn't do 2 in one day -- arthritis.. He said "yours looks bad". I guess it will cost me more but that's what I get for not doing a fresh bottom job before this trip.
I met Bob and Cheryl Ray on New Passages out of San Fransico today. They had trouble getting a new computer to control their SSB Winlink Icom 710 and SCS Pactor modem. I worked with them for a couple of hours and got some of it working but not all -- I had to direct them to Gary at Dockside Radio for further consultation. It's old equipment and there could be a hardware issue.
We have just been enjoying GTC since Wednesday. On the anchor until yesterday when we came to the marina for a few days for R and R. We hoped to leave Tuesday for a crossing back to the USA and that looks good for salty sailors but not us "pleasure Boaters". May be next week before we can cross. In the meantime we will enjoy GTC and maybe run up to Allens Pensacola for a few days and Powell Cay before the next blow next weekend.
Happy Easter everyone!!
We are here at the Green Turtle Club Marina for a few days. Enjoying the AC at night, long hot showers and all the other amenities of a nice Marina. I have Phil Roberts coming tomorrow to clean the bottom of my boat. He does a great job - He did Victoria Gaye this morning but said he couldn't do 2 in one day -- arthritis.. He said "yours looks bad". I guess it will cost me more but that's what I get for not doing a fresh bottom job before this trip.
I met Bob and Cheryl Ray on New Passages out of San Fransico today. They had trouble getting a new computer to control their SSB Winlink Icom 710 and SCS Pactor modem. I worked with them for a couple of hours and got some of it working but not all -- I had to direct them to Gary at Dockside Radio for further consultation. It's old equipment and there could be a hardware issue.
We have just been enjoying GTC since Wednesday. On the anchor until yesterday when we came to the marina for a few days for R and R. We hoped to leave Tuesday for a crossing back to the USA and that looks good for salty sailors but not us "pleasure Boaters". May be next week before we can cross. In the meantime we will enjoy GTC and maybe run up to Allens Pensacola for a few days and Powell Cay before the next blow next weekend.
Happy Easter everyone!!
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