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!!
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Life is easy when you have a Green Turtle
We had a nice run up to Treasure Cay yesterday. We were in by 11:30am. As usual the wind was stronger than forecast and of course -- wrong direction than forecast -- on the nose as usual. Not too crowded but had to pick a spot between some boats. It was a good one because we had good internet from the Marina.
After a quick lunch of leftovers we went to the beach for one last swim on that amazing beach. It is just so beautiful. Picked up a few things at the grocery and fixed Bratwurst for dinner.
A very nice evening even with more boats coming in. There is a mass exodus a foot right now with folks scrambling to get back to the USA. The radio is just full of crossing chatter. Not sure why the rush because the window this Friday/Saturday is not great.
The area is looking like little Canada with so many Canadian flags flying. I would say there are about 2 Canadian boats for one American right now in the anchorages. Most have come up from the Exumas and are heading back to the states.
We were off early this morning for Green Turtle Cay and a trip around the infamous Whale Cay Passage. Naturally more wind than forecast and wrong direction. The passage around the whale was fine with little rocking and rolling. Apparently White Sound in Green Turtle cleared out from yesterday with many boats leaving today to stage for a Saturday crossing. We had the pick of the anchorage almost and found a nice spot with good internet coverage from the Green Turtle Club Marina. No worries -- we plan to go into the marina Saturday for 3 days and they will be well compensated.
I did some work this afternoon changing the main engine oil and the water/fuel separator on the dinghy. I had to change a fuel fitting on the dinghy fuel hose too. Naturally the oil change was messy and compounded by a bottle of CLR that I found and had leaked most of it contents -- what a mess to cleanup.
I took the dinghy out for a test run of the new filter and went to a little beach at the front of White Sound and saw a huge manta ray swimming gently in very shallow water -- real cool.
Well we are throwing financial caution to the wind to night and going for dinner at the Green Turtle Club -- Steak Nite -- and stay awhile to watch the local band the "Gully Roosters" perform.
I just LIKE Green Turtle Cay. So relaxed and friendly.
After a quick lunch of leftovers we went to the beach for one last swim on that amazing beach. It is just so beautiful. Picked up a few things at the grocery and fixed Bratwurst for dinner.
A very nice evening even with more boats coming in. There is a mass exodus a foot right now with folks scrambling to get back to the USA. The radio is just full of crossing chatter. Not sure why the rush because the window this Friday/Saturday is not great.
The area is looking like little Canada with so many Canadian flags flying. I would say there are about 2 Canadian boats for one American right now in the anchorages. Most have come up from the Exumas and are heading back to the states.
We were off early this morning for Green Turtle Cay and a trip around the infamous Whale Cay Passage. Naturally more wind than forecast and wrong direction. The passage around the whale was fine with little rocking and rolling. Apparently White Sound in Green Turtle cleared out from yesterday with many boats leaving today to stage for a Saturday crossing. We had the pick of the anchorage almost and found a nice spot with good internet coverage from the Green Turtle Club Marina. No worries -- we plan to go into the marina Saturday for 3 days and they will be well compensated.
I did some work this afternoon changing the main engine oil and the water/fuel separator on the dinghy. I had to change a fuel fitting on the dinghy fuel hose too. Naturally the oil change was messy and compounded by a bottle of CLR that I found and had leaked most of it contents -- what a mess to cleanup.
I took the dinghy out for a test run of the new filter and went to a little beach at the front of White Sound and saw a huge manta ray swimming gently in very shallow water -- real cool.
Well we are throwing financial caution to the wind to night and going for dinner at the Green Turtle Club -- Steak Nite -- and stay awhile to watch the local band the "Gully Roosters" perform.
I just LIKE Green Turtle Cay. So relaxed and friendly.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Marsh Harbour one last time
Well we cut the cord to HopeTown today and made it over to Marsh Harbour around 10am. Should have been here sooner but the boat is sluggish. The growth is bad. I hope to have it cleaned off soon in Green Turtle Cay.
Marsh was crowded. There were 62 boats here when we got here. Most have come up from the Exumas. You can tell because their lifelines are full of diesel and water jugs.
We launched the dinghy immediately and headed to the grocery. The public dock was too full of dinghies to tie to so we went to the Jimmies dock between Harborview and Mangoes. It was full too but we found one cleat to tie to.
After a long walk to Maxwells grocery we bought enough groceries to last 2 weeks. It was too much to carry back so I asked a taxi there to take us back -- they said $10. A little high because others have charged $6 but I give them $10.
Once at Mangoes I go to pay and I hand her a $20 and she says "Thank You". I said what about my change -- she says she has none. She could tell I was flustered so she got change from someone -- NO TIP here today. Damn she thought a $10 tip on a $10 ride was normal... What this ain't NY!
Well we hit Jimmies and the Wholesale grocer and are full up for the most part.
There has been a steady stream of boats leaving this afternoon. I guess some want to cross back this week but there is no big window. Well I guess they will make their own -- not us we are pleasure boaters.
Off to Treasure Cay tomorrow to fuel up and water up and spend a day or two there then off to Green Turtle Cay to watch for a very nice weather window.
Marsh was crowded. There were 62 boats here when we got here. Most have come up from the Exumas. You can tell because their lifelines are full of diesel and water jugs.
We launched the dinghy immediately and headed to the grocery. The public dock was too full of dinghies to tie to so we went to the Jimmies dock between Harborview and Mangoes. It was full too but we found one cleat to tie to.
After a long walk to Maxwells grocery we bought enough groceries to last 2 weeks. It was too much to carry back so I asked a taxi there to take us back -- they said $10. A little high because others have charged $6 but I give them $10.
Once at Mangoes I go to pay and I hand her a $20 and she says "Thank You". I said what about my change -- she says she has none. She could tell I was flustered so she got change from someone -- NO TIP here today. Damn she thought a $10 tip on a $10 ride was normal... What this ain't NY!
Well we hit Jimmies and the Wholesale grocer and are full up for the most part.
There has been a steady stream of boats leaving this afternoon. I guess some want to cross back this week but there is no big window. Well I guess they will make their own -- not us we are pleasure boaters.
Off to Treasure Cay tomorrow to fuel up and water up and spend a day or two there then off to Green Turtle Cay to watch for a very nice weather window.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
So Long HopeTown
Ahhh it is getting to be that time to plan to head back to the USA.
Tomorrow we will leave HopeTown and go to Marsh Harbour for a few days to reprovision for a couple of weeks. Then it is on to Treasure Cay to await a weather window to cross the Whale Cay Passage to Green Turtle Cay where we will await a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream back to the USA.
Today is a little sad as we realize it is our last full day in HopeTown for this cruising season. It has been both fun and comforting in this nice snug harbour where we weathered many a cold front this winter. This weekend has been a very strong cold front but good sleeping weather. This has been the first time in weeks where the temps dropped below 70 degrees for the night. It was 66 degrees this morning and most folks where wearing there winter clothes until the sun warmed us up to about 77 degrees.
We went to the beach to fly a kite and go swimming and Karen went on one last sea glass hunt. It has been grand.
Unfortunately now they we said it -- "go back to USA" it is all we think of now. Time to prep the engines and filters and get everything ready. Clean or get cleaned the boat bottom before leaving -- we have a thousand miles to travel to get home. Expected ETA is mid May.
Hey we aren't going to rush home. There is plenty of cruising destinations left to visit.
Tomorrow we will leave HopeTown and go to Marsh Harbour for a few days to reprovision for a couple of weeks. Then it is on to Treasure Cay to await a weather window to cross the Whale Cay Passage to Green Turtle Cay where we will await a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream back to the USA.
Today is a little sad as we realize it is our last full day in HopeTown for this cruising season. It has been both fun and comforting in this nice snug harbour where we weathered many a cold front this winter. This weekend has been a very strong cold front but good sleeping weather. This has been the first time in weeks where the temps dropped below 70 degrees for the night. It was 66 degrees this morning and most folks where wearing there winter clothes until the sun warmed us up to about 77 degrees.
We went to the beach to fly a kite and go swimming and Karen went on one last sea glass hunt. It has been grand.
Unfortunately now they we said it -- "go back to USA" it is all we think of now. Time to prep the engines and filters and get everything ready. Clean or get cleaned the boat bottom before leaving -- we have a thousand miles to travel to get home. Expected ETA is mid May.
Hey we aren't going to rush home. There is plenty of cruising destinations left to visit.
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