We crossed over from The Lake Worth Inlet at Palm Beach. We left at 4:38 in the morning, a touch later than we wanted and hit the inlet at 5:30. New friends, Jon and Mimi in motor vessel Sandy Paws was to follow a couple hours later. It was disconcerting going out the channel in to pitch black. As the waves hit we thought maybe the weather was wrong. It was not real bad so we forged on and we had the weather reports saying it would improve. Oliver did not agree.
Once we got to the Gulfstream, things changed. Waves increased from the 2-4 variety to the " big" variety, they came from the north yet and the winds were from the east, therefore the seas were confused. We motored on into the winds and once it was daylight we at least could see what was going on out there. The Gulfstream is a current that travels north at about 3 knots. To cross over, you point your boat southeast to offset this push. With the current and winds we were going 3.8-9 when the boat was trying for 6.5. It was going to be a long day. The other issue we had was an overheated engine. We noticed the gauge go up , so we shut off the engine, put the sails up, I sailed us south and Dale worked on the engine. This happened 4 times. Jon and Mimi were in radio contact some, so we were not totally without anyone. By 4:30 in the afternoon the weather finally matched the forecast for moderate winds and seas.
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| The sun is coming up |
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| oh darn, more clouds, please no rain |
We made it into Old Bahama Bay marina at about 6:30. Jon and Mimi were there to helps us tie up to government dock. Customs had since closed, so we flew our quarantine flag and got Oliver illegally on land. The next day, Dale checked us in to Customs and we pulled into a slip. Rest and putting the boat back together from the waves rearranging a number of things was in order. The resort is pretty and we did not mind being stuck here waiting for another weather window. We went out to dinner one night, had nice walks around the property and beach and met more sailors headed our way. Every one had tales about the awful crossing and the weather not cooperating this year. It wasn't what we would have wanted for our first time, but we survived. Next time will be better (keep believing).
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| Old Bahama Bay lights, coming in at night (not recommended) |
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| Oliver's forms import forms for customs. Sorry it is sideways and will not rotate. |
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| Government dock the next morning |
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| Customs office |
The next part of the voyage called for 2 days of good weather to cross the Little Bahama Bank. Many boats took off Friday and got caught in a windy front the next day. We left Sunday, the 19th to anchor at Great Sale Cay. There was suppose to be a dog landing in the harbor. It was a calm anchorage and the anchor held well. The dinghy ride to shore put us on rough coral and a ledge about 3 feet high. Luckily we have a ramp for our old guy, Oliver, so he could take care of business. It wasn't the cleanest area (remnants of parties) but it worked. The sunset was beautiful that night.
The next morning after taking Oliver to shore, readying the boat and dinghy and grabbing a granola bar we were off by 7:30. We wanted to make it to Green Turtle Cay, a protected harbor before the next windy cold front came in. It would be a trip of 56 miles. We were told by the Cruiser's net that White Sound should be dredged to 7 feet mean low water to get in. We need 5 1/2. Well, it was low tide and we bumped a couple of times, but made it through to the Bluff House marina . There is also a Black Sound here, but that is less water and rocky. We did not want to go bump there.
These are pictures from Old Bahama Bay, West End, Grand Bahama.
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| our morning walk |
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| S/V Old Sam who we traveled to Great Sale. |
We are staying here in Green Turtle Cay to check things out before we move south. Actually, by the time I post for the blog with this wifi, we will be leaving and going farther south. The internet here is not the best!
Pictures of Green Turtle Cay coming next.
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