Back in the Bahamas
13 December 2013 | 25 44.852'N:77 51.582'W
Dick and Nancy
We learned of a window to cross the Gulf Stream coming up so we hurried at the last minute and headed down the ICW to the Lake Worth inlet so we could leave the next day Tuesday the 10th. If we waited it could easily be another week before another window might come. We did the very thing the Guide Book tells us not to do. We left Lake Worth at 9AM and headed diagonally across the Gulf Stream against the current and with wind almost directly on the nose. We did try to go south for a while before entering the Gulf Stream but it was not helping much and we wanted to get on to the Banks before midnight due to the forecast of increasing winds after midnight. Wind on the nose but there was very little of it. We motor-sailed all the way. The seas were only 1 to 2 feet so the crossing was very comfortable and the wind did not pick up until around 5am. Our last few hours were a little more bumpy but we still maintained a good speed. Our trip took us 29 hours. A little tiring with the motor running all the time. It is not very quiet. We have AIS now and it tells the locations of the ships around that send out that signal. It gives us a little entertainment as we go during the night. There was a lot of traffic as we got closer to Great Isaac way point which is close to the Banks and corner that a lot of ships go around after leaving Florida heading east. AIS gives us their heading, speed, and sometimes their destination. Some were going to Freeport. One was headed for St. Martin. The large cruise ships are a bit awe inspiring and light up the horizon.
We checked in at the Great Harbor Cay Marina to get through Customs and get some rest. When we checked in we expected to see more boats, but the marina is almost empty! We were able to wash down the boat and clean up some things from the journey. Strong winds are forecast for a couple of days which gives us chance to get ourselves settled and ready to move on now that we have finally made it to the Bahamas for another winter season.