Back in the USA!!

I'm Back...

Wow what a couple of days. We left Green Turtle Cay on Sunday and made the 60+ mile trip to Great Sale Cay and anchored for the night -- a 10 hour trip. Then Monday morning we waited until nearly 11am to head for Fort Pierce, FL - a 19 hour run with all of it over the Gulf Stream at night. I timed it so we would hit the inlet at daylight. I've never been in this inlet. With the delay and the run up to Vero it was actually a 23 hour run.

We had a great run across the banks and once we hit the Gulf stream I had to slow down -- yes slow down in a sail boat. We were going to get there at 4am or the dark. The sailing directions said this was a very rough inlet on an ebb tide and SE winds. Unfortunately that is what we found.

I had both hands on the steering since this is a narrow inlet and LOTS of current. I got scared at one point because without the engine we would end up on the jetty in a heart beat. I told Mark to get my very sharp serrated knife in case I had to drop an anchor quickly. Both anchors were tied down for the crossing. It was slow and we made it in. I then decided to go onto Vero Beach City Marina rather than go to the Fort Pierce City marina because we would have to stop in Vero for provisioning anyway.

The run across the Gulf Stream was as forecast with 2 -3 foot waves but they were directly astern and we could not sail without beating the Genoa to death. It was a very rolly ride. How rolly? While at the restaurant for lunch both Mark and I felt like we were rolling in our chairs -- uncomfortable. Nice to be bouncing on the boat on a mooring tonight.

Boy the Vero Beach marina is nearly empty with only about a dozen boats here. We had our pick of moorings. Away from most since I planned to run the genset tonight and the AC.

We both immediately took an hour nap since neither had any sleep last night. Then a quick shower and lunch at the riverside cafe then onto the Fort Pierce airport to check in with Customs via Uber. It was 30 minute ride for $24 each way but cheaper than the $2.25 a foot at the Fort Pierce marina and still an Uber ride to the airport.

Oh man it took all of 2 minutes to check in but we are legal entries now. Oh you will get a kick out of this. When you enter their office there is no one around just a chair in the middle of the room with a bell like in an old motel and a note that says "ring for service but only once"!