We were up at 3 am on Thursday the 20th to get underway at 3:30. There were four other sailboats that left the West End marina when we did. Three of them started on a course of 305 and the last one stayed with us on a course of 292 for an hour or two. Then they realized we weren't part of the group and turned north to join their friends. I tried calling the group but got no answer. Later one of them called me and said they were sailing a course of 305. All this time it is dark and Karen has to trust her captain when 4 others go sailing away north of us.

Then soon after sunup, the Coast Guard Cutter Bluefin motored above the horizon. At 08:00 they pulled up behind us and asked if we were a US flagged vessel. We are and they proceeded to board us while we were under sail and motor. Four sailors came over in an inflatable power boat and softly ran into the side of Serenity while two men boarded us. They did a safety inspection and checked passport and registration information. A half hour later they left and went off after the other sailboats. The seas were very calm and the crossing went perfectly. Only problem is that I lost two tuna rigs to strikes that I couldn't haul in. We got to Ft Pierce, 88 miles at 5:30 beating the other four larger sailboats by almost an hour. My course was better than theirs!

Wednesday the 19th we motor-sailed from Great Sale Cay to West End. A light wind and a few squalls made the day pass. This is a 46 nautical mile trip and we needed to get to West End for fuel before they closed so it was get up and go. We put the dinghy on the foredeck before taking off. We were able to get emails but the West End community lost power for an hour while we were fueling and we didn't ge to update this site. The weather guessers said Thursday was the last day to cross the Gulf Stream before a NE front moved in and made it impassable for at least a week. So we anchored off West End in poor anchorage conditions rather than pay the pirates $200 for dockage for a night. If the facilities were great, such a fee might be acceptable. They are just taking advantage of their position and have lost a lot of business because of it. Dumb.

On Tuesday we left Powell Cay and sailed to Great Sale Cay. We had planned to stay at Great Sale for a day or two but decided the best chance to cross the Gulf Stream was on Thursday. This meant a quick run to Great Sale a 40 mile sail. The weather cooperated and we got into Great Sale about 6 pm. For dinner we had conch burgers from our harvest at Powell Cay. Karen said it was great, I thought is was edible but I don't like most things that have shells.

Leaving friends Monday morning was difficult. In fact moving was difficult after too many drinks with Jeff, Diedra, Nancy and Bob. We sailed to Powell Cay a trip of 14 miles and took naps until the tide went out. Into the dinghy and to the beach. Karen wasn't thrilled about another beach but this was shell heaven. It was almost a mine for sand dollars. At times you bent down and picked up two in the same stoop. Then the sea biscuits started showing up. But the big thrill was conch. Real live and dead conch shells. We found one or two dead conch of good size and then walked into a bed of live ones on the turtle grass flats. Harvesting 4 legal sized live ones, we loaded buckets with our haul and went back to the boat. There I got to cut into the shells, use vice grips to pull the conch out, and then trim off the skin and other parts. Out of a big shell you only get a hand sized, ½ pound of edible meat. What a mess and the dinghy may never be the same.

Sunday the 16th we motored out of Treasure Cay and ran the Don't Rock Passage which is a shallow water route across a sand flat that separates the Northern Abacos from the Southern Abacos. Karen captained us along the route and we never had less than 2.5 feet of water under the keel. When we got to Green Turtle, our friends Jeff & Diedra were still at the Leeward Yacht Club with starter problems. After a nice afternoon shelling on Gilliam Bay, we had a good time at Sundowners in New Plymouth and then on a beautiful Shannon sailboat owned by Bob and Nancy.

We plan on leaving Green Turtle Monday and heading for Powell Cay. Then on Tuesday a long day's sail to Great Sale Cay where we will stay until it looks good to cross the Gulf Stream. We will be out of touch while at Great Sale until we get to West End for the crossing. Wish us calm seas and light winds.