We left West Palm Beach at 0430 on Monday morning the 25th. Fortunately, we had a full moon to help us navigate around Peanut Island and out the channel into the Atlantic. It was really beautiful, and dark. By 0500 we were passing the bouy that marks the outer channel and we were on our way. It was a 55 nm journey across the Gulf Stream to West End on Grand Bahama. We had to steer somewhat south to compensate for the northward flow of the stream, which we encountered almost immediately after leaving West Palm. Our friends Wendell and Linda from Dock of the Bay, signed on to join us and the four of us agreed to take shifts driving so some of us could get some sleep. No one did - sleep that is. We were too revved up by the experience, and about 2/3s of the way across the weather turned challenging with winds getting up around 20 knots and waves building to around 6 feet. We got tossed around pretty good but the auto pilot kept us on track. We had to make a pretty large course correction about mid way because the stream took us further north than we intended but 8 1/2 hours after our departure, we cruised into the marina and prepared ourselves for the arduous, beauracratic and expensive process of clearing through Bahamian immigrations and customs. That done, we got drunk.
The pictures in the gallery depict our first sunrise enroute, one of the big guys we passed (the AIS worked perfectly), and our first meal in the Bahamas. Also, check out the beautiful beach shot that Linda took. We expect many more shots like that one.
On Weds. we expect to head out to Great Sale Cay and anchor overnite. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Internet service is a little tricky. I have it right now but after we leave the marina we probably won't have it again for a few days. Plus, we have shut off email and data on our cell phones because of the rediculously expensive roming charges. When we get into Marsh Harbor sometime next week, we'll get a Bahamian cell phone and be able to communicate more effectively. Keep following.