Return to U.S. worked well. CBP ROAM customs site worked six miles off the coast. After about ten minutes the Peters and Hynes plus Comocean had cleared customs and immigration. No request for 14 days Quarantine. Of course, we have basically been in quarantine except for a few isolated mud slides served bar side.

Then up the coast from West Palm where Loretta and Mark departed.
Ft. Pierce Greeting party pictured above. VERY PROFESSIONAL AND NICE!

Return to U.S. worked well. CBP ROAM customs site worked six miles off the coast. After about ten minutes the Peters and Hynes plus Comocean had cleared customs and immigration. No request for 14 days Quarantine. Of course, we have basically been in quarantine except for a few isolated mud slides served bar side.

Then up the coast from West Palm where Loretta and Mark departed.
Ft. Pierce Greeting party pictured above. VERY PROFESSIONAL AND NICE!

With the Corona Virus slowly shutting down the Bahamas, JoAnne and I find ourselves with our friends Mark and Loretta Peters extending one day at beautiful Chubb Cay. A few Mud Slides in a very uncrowded outdoor swim up bar we pick up dinner to go and find our last beautiful sunset for this season.

News is tomorrow airports will lock down and marina’s will close, locking boaters on their vessels and guests as in their hotel rooms. The U.S. advising us to come home, we head out tomorrow in the morning.

With the Corona Virus slowly shutting down the Bahamas, JoAnne and I find ourselves with our friends Mark and Loretta Peters extending one day at beautiful Chubb Cay. A few Mud Slides in a very uncrowded outdoor swim up bar we pick up dinner to go and find our last beautiful sunset for this season.

News is tomorrow airports will lock down and marina’s will close, locking boaters on their vessels and guests as in their hotel rooms. The U.S. advising us to come home, we head out tomorrow in the morning.

After taking a beating in the West End, it was time to get moving. Our friends, The Hoffmans' are great to travel with. But, you need to see new things. Especially when you have forgotten the Mexican Train. So down Grand Bahama Island toward a resort we never docked at. Grand Bahama Yacht Club. WHAT A NICE SURPRISE! Great dock hand, once bar, beautiful sunsets, safe harbor, deep entry. HEY, and the Bahamas are open for business despite Dorian. Dinner on the boat also worked, as John brought a litany of great old movies.

Finding that right window to cross is toughest January decision. Chris Parker provides weather guidance. Great systems to provide information. But it's still tough. John and Sue Hoffman opted got join us. (I've been informed Sue's last trip ever). Waves were probably three feet max but short role. Winds SSE. Target West End from Ft. Pierce. Meade one mistake. Better to cross quickly and get south at beginning and end. Made it into West End IN THE DARK about ten PM because of late start to let seas decline from prior front. Very dark entry but we had a track. John with flashlight lit up the rocky entrance and it was done. Side tie. Cleared customs And the next night 40-45 knot widest winds beat us silly. More work for the woodwork and varnish team when we return!

On the hunt for a new Windlass, Len had made calls to good friend Paul Baker. Paul has a new dock in Coral Harbor. We had heard of Coral Harbor a safe anchorage. not knowing much about Paul, he tells us he has an Ace Technician to install the Windlass, arranges shipping and invites us to his docks. We arrive, are greeted by a gentleman watering his garden. We ask about timing...a few days. Then, what can we do here? Do you want to rent my car? Sure. I’m going to a local bar with great entertainment. Do you all want to go. Off to Avery’s that night where local professionals met to share their talent. Awesome and different night

Having enjoyed Grand Harbor, we ventured south toward an anchorage half way down the Berry’s. JoAnne at the helm, we are headed to drop anchor. NOTHING HAPPENING WHEN WE PUSH THE DOWN BUTTON. Ouch! Only three years old. It had worked in Ft Pierce. Now what. Off to Chubb Cay where docks are plentiful. A beautiful resort. We are met by Len who runs the Cays mechanical operations. What an asset. He hooks us up with Paul Baker in Nassau. Paul hooks us with Char in the States. They explain. Lewmar was sold, has closed shipping operations for two months during transition and there are no Pumps to replace the dead pump. Calls to Lewmar support desk confirms everything and we get a good luck from the support tech. Char finds two whole units at Defender. We buy it and ask for expedited shipping. Now, off to dinner. Chubb Cay is very impressive. Dinner was great. A few days here before we head to Nassau for repair.

After experiencing the many storms are near flooding of home in Houston, and to get closer to our Bahamas cruising grounds, we moved to a wonderful spot, Vero Beach. After no flooding of our Houston home in Harvey, Hurricane Ike hit Florida. Turned north fortunately since we had missed the insurance payment on the new Vero Beach condo. (Long Story involving mail issue...which cruisers will understand). Now 18 months later .... Dorian. Might go right over our beloved Abacos, then take aim for Vero Beach condo and Comocean. Hurricane plan now in place (boat has canvas down, double lines and fenders, secured in Hurricane hole surrounded by three story condos including ours. Cross your fingers

New and Great neighbors Richard and Leith Brennan joined us for two sunny days, and one Gale, to learn about our favorite haunt. We hit great restaurants, enjoyed great sunsets, saw the beautiful island and ate a little too much. Great fun and glad the visited. The Lodge was a perfect location for non-sailors.

Literally, a dollar Bar. Lot’s of dollars. The Bar at Green Turtle Club and Dinner are real highlights in the Bahamas. Debbie, the bartender of almost 40 years, makes a mean drink. The Bar has every wall and the ceiling covered with guests dollar bills. All named and dated. Over time, more room is created and the dollars go to charity. Dinner by the way is great. All four of us had the Lobster Ravioli. Wonderful!!!

Billl and Martha joined us for a week. M sailing quite a bit, we also knocked out a great Pork dinner on board at Great Guana. Having walked the beach, hit both bars and had a nice sail dinner was superb.

Sweeping views of the Sound and the Atlantic Ocean make the Abaco Inn a favorite. Tommy runs a great restaurant, Bar and Hotel. The bar drinks are all great and many different concoctions (good name for a boat). Dinner saw a lot of lobster ordered and JoAnne bumped us in for a shared desert...or two. Great fun with Mark and Loretta.

Nippers, of course. JoAnne, Lorett and MJ enjoyed a little dancing and great music at Nippers. Yes we had drinks before 5:00. It is Nippers

After at least ten days, the heavy winds and strong rains have ended. We should not be complaining. The “Polar Vortex” has 75% of the country at below zero. However, today everyone started to stir. We came out of our “Hobbit” like hole and found everyone out. A nice walk to church was followed by a trip to the Lodge for lunch. The Harbor looked beautiful along the way.

Good friends, Sue and John, joined us for a week in Hope town after John and I made the Gulf Stream passage from Vero Beach (Ft. Pierce Inlet). 18 hours to cross to Great Sale, with a small incident adding an hour three hours into the Gulf Stream. It turned out to be an issue of overheated wood from a new riser. Caught it in time thanks to. John’s nose. So the girls followed. After a beautiful day and a half sail and anchoring out wwe found ourselves back in Hope Town. So, what to do. How about lunch out many days, occasional dinners out and great cooking with most people contributing nightly. Shown here, JoAnne and Sue in the Galley.

Probably the best part of cruising is the Cruisers! You never know who will be your "next, best friend", or how special all of the people you meet can be. As a 42 foot sailboat, most people you meet are cruising on a Trawler Fast Trawler or other sailboat. However, the occasional four engine, fishing rigged speed boat appears. Especially in the Bahamas because of the proximity to Florida. Abacos find deep water just 3 miles offshore. And so, at about 4:00 they return with their catch. AND, they shared. They took a few cruisers with them. They divided the booty, and all ate well. How about that 85 pound Wahoo! (Picture)

John is diligently at work preparing the beautiful, Fresh and “Free” nWhaoo steaks for dinner. Followed by Tacos the next day. Anchored out at Tillo Bay. Mud Slides, Margarittas, and Smoked Fish Spread preceded dinner at Cracker Pea’s. What an evening!

John and I having landed in Green Turtle and cleared customs caught up with Joe and Paula (Sequel too) who told us about the impromptu music scene going on on Green Turtle. Photo shows there musicians jamming on the cocks in Black Sound, Green Turtle. Nice evening. Snacks were of cours´served. 25 boaters present. Next night, Pinapples for similar entertainment.

John and I having landed in Green Turtle and cleared customs caught up with Joe and Paula (Sequel too) who told us about the impromptu music scene going on on Green Turtle. Photo shows there musicians jamming on the cocks in Black Sound, Green Turtle. Nice evening. Snacks were of cours´served. 25 boaters present. Next night, Pinapples for similar entertainment.