DAY 99 OF OUR GREAT ADVENTURE
HEADED OUT - BUT NOT FOR LONG...
It was 5:30 and breezy out of the SE when we left the dock. Cloudy and had rained much of the night. And then i saw lightning to the north and thought that wasn't supposed to be happening. But it was to the north and moving away. After entering the Lake Worth inlet to exit to the Atlantic, we met a cruise ship coming in. The inlet isn't very wide so we turned around and waited for the ship to get past. Then I saw lightning to the south. Did I mention there were no thunderstorms forecast and that Thunderstorms are VERY rare in the winter here. We continued east and the GPS was telling me we would arrive at WEST END IN THE BAHAMAS at 5:50PM. Sun sets at 6PM over there. So, that was cutting it close. We had a 13 kt wind on our nose and forward progress was bouncing around 5.5 to 6kts. I was counting on making 6.2 to 6.5kts. So arriving after dark was the killer. It was time to turn around
What about the sea state if you ignore the flashing sky you ask? Well it was not great. lots of short chop in the Ocean with the normal swells too made it quite boucy. Suz and i could stand it. But every now and then a few waves would slow the boat down considerably and that was of great concern.
We met a sailboat that had left an hour earlier than us headed back in. We told him we wanted to look for ourselves and would probably be back. He was waiting at the dock as we returned. He said that "sailors don't like to go out if the weather is so bad. It would spill your drink." It was rough enough that my coffee was in a tervis tumbler with a lid on it and I was afraid I might knock my teeth out trying to drink it .
So, now what. We looked at the weather forecast and there is no foreseeable window for a crossing. We are guessing MONDAY. But have not real forecast for that to be a reality. We think we are going to leave the marina and anchor out in West Palm and dingy in to the town. It's just a few miles south of here.
But we have been at this marina for 13 days. I believe that the MONTHLY rate is close to what we have paid. So, we might just pay for a month and hang here until the weather clears.
Picture is our flag at 6:15am this morning.
Now the next WINDOW to cross is not on any forecast. NONE!!
We are going through lots of money at this marina. So, we might move on. If something does not happen for us to cross in a week, we might just head on back up the ICW and stay longer at some of the interesting places we liked on the way down...
After we docked we had a huddle with the other boater that was attempting to cross and decided on a giant breakfast at the Dunkin Doughnuts restaurant.
Now I'm getting very sleepy.
Brooke
It was 5:30 and breezy out of the SE when we left the dock. Cloudy and had rained much of the night. And then i saw lightning to the north and thought that wasn't supposed to be happening. But it was to the north and moving away. After entering the Lake Worth inlet to exit to the Atlantic, we met a cruise ship coming in. The inlet isn't very wide so we turned around and waited for the ship to get past. Then I saw lightning to the south. Did I mention there were no thunderstorms forecast and that Thunderstorms are VERY rare in the winter here. We continued east and the GPS was telling me we would arrive at WEST END IN THE BAHAMAS at 5:50PM. Sun sets at 6PM over there. So, that was cutting it close. We had a 13 kt wind on our nose and forward progress was bouncing around 5.5 to 6kts. I was counting on making 6.2 to 6.5kts. So arriving after dark was the killer. It was time to turn around
What about the sea state if you ignore the flashing sky you ask? Well it was not great. lots of short chop in the Ocean with the normal swells too made it quite boucy. Suz and i could stand it. But every now and then a few waves would slow the boat down considerably and that was of great concern.
We met a sailboat that had left an hour earlier than us headed back in. We told him we wanted to look for ourselves and would probably be back. He was waiting at the dock as we returned. He said that "sailors don't like to go out if the weather is so bad. It would spill your drink." It was rough enough that my coffee was in a tervis tumbler with a lid on it and I was afraid I might knock my teeth out trying to drink it .
So, now what. We looked at the weather forecast and there is no foreseeable window for a crossing. We are guessing MONDAY. But have not real forecast for that to be a reality. We think we are going to leave the marina and anchor out in West Palm and dingy in to the town. It's just a few miles south of here.
But we have been at this marina for 13 days. I believe that the MONTHLY rate is close to what we have paid. So, we might just pay for a month and hang here until the weather clears.
Picture is our flag at 6:15am this morning.
Now the next WINDOW to cross is not on any forecast. NONE!!
We are going through lots of money at this marina. So, we might move on. If something does not happen for us to cross in a week, we might just head on back up the ICW and stay longer at some of the interesting places we liked on the way down...
After we docked we had a huddle with the other boater that was attempting to cross and decided on a giant breakfast at the Dunkin Doughnuts restaurant.
Now I'm getting very sleepy.
Brooke
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