Jeff
Tuesday August 26th 2008, Coconut Grove, FL

We successfully crossed the Gulf Stream between Cat Cay and Cape Florida. Due to squalls moving through the area the crossing was a bit more rough that our initial crossing. In the image included, Anne is at the helm while I work to reduce sail before the squall in the background catches C'est la Vie.
We departed Georgetown Exuma after lunch on the 20th and now are safely anchored off Coconut Grove, FL. The Bahamas feel a bit smaller knowing we covered in six days what it took us two months to cover going south. I guess it helps to have the trade winds at on the stern.
We now plan to spend a few days in Miami visiting friends, reprovisioning, and watching the tropical forecasts. We are yet unsure if we are going south to the Keys or north to the St Lucie. I think the track of Gustav and Hanna will make that decision for us.

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Jeff
Monday August 25th 2008, Bahamas

Things are beginning to get crowded with all these tropical depressions & Hurricanes. We have Gustav, Hanna, Ike, and a distant Josephine out here dancing around the Atlantic basin. We are now sprinting towards the United States. We arose in the darkness this morning to get an early start on the 75NM crossing from Chub Cay in the Berry Island to Cat Cay near Bimini. The majority of this distance is over the Bahamas Bank and averages less the 3 meters deep. The depth is no problem for C'est la Vie, but the shallow water makes the sea state more difficult to deal with in the frequent squalls.
The winds off the squalls generally assisted us in maintaining a daily average speed of 5.6 knots for a total distance of 81NM. This allowed us to drop the hook in Honeymoon Harbor before nightfall. Honeymoon Harbor lies on the cusp of the Gulf Stream. Tomorrow we will get another early start for our final leg back to the US.

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Jeff
Sunday August 24th 2008, Nassau Harbor

We spent the morning sprinting through the Atlantis' aquariums and made the 11:00 check out time with minutes to spare. Despite the steep dockage fee, $130 for one night, we would entertain the idea of another visit. We left many water slides and exhibits untouched and left wanting to experience more of Atlantis' attractions.
The image is the view we faced as we began to exit the Nassau Harbor westward. The storm was all bark and no bite. Our 41NM passage to Chub Cay went smoothly and we were on the hook by nightfall.

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Jeff
Sunday August 24th 2008, Atlantis Resort, Nassau

Another atypical view from the predator exhibit.

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Jeff
Sunday August 24th 2008, Atlantis Resort, Nassau

This image was captured in an exhibit featuring predatory species. Observers walk through a glass tunnel that affords some very interesting perspectives on the world.

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Jeff
Sunday August 24th 2008, Atlantis Resort

How this for a grouper close up?

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Jeff
Sunday August 24th 2008, Atlantis Resort, Nassau

This image is looking through the large window pictured in the last post.

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Jeff
Sunday August 24th 2008, Atlantis Resort, Nassau

Initially Atlantis reminded me of the typical Las Vegas Resort, but the aquariums and exhibits are beyond anything I have experienced in Vegas. "The Dig" resembles a movie set from a motion picture about the lost city of Atlantis. The entire exhibit weaves through dimly lit passage ways that open up to view various tanks. In the image included, Anne is standing before a window into the largest aquarium. This tank hosts many species of aquatic life and there are multitudes of windows into this tank. Some meeting rooms and dining rooms are surrounded on two or three sides by windows into the aquarium. Other than an obnoxious soundtrack and the gift shop stuck in the middle of the exhibit the experience is amazing.

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Jeff
Saturday August 23rd 2008, Atlantis Resort, Nassau

We spent the remaining day light sprinting from one water slide to the next in Atlantis' huge water park. After showers in the captain's lounge we returned to the casino to allow Anne to feed her first slot machine. No big winners so we migrated down to the pizza shop and purchased a delicious pie.

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Jeff
Saturday August 23rd 2008, Nassau

We were the smallest boat in the basin by a factor of two (read the next larger vessel was at least 70 feet). Most vessels in the basin were 100+ foot motor yachts with attending crew. The 30 foot skiff seen on the far left is a tender towed by the dark blue motor vessel to its left.
Along with access to the resort the dock fee includes access to the captains lounge, daily paper delivery to the boat, room service on the boat, and available spa treatments on your boat. If you hail the marina office the dock hands will meet you at your boat and drive you to other destinations in the resort via golf cart. Toto, we were definitely not in Kansas anymore.

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