Off to the Bahamas!

 With necessary repairs completed, the boat loaded with provisions and spare parts, we are ready to head off to the Bahamas.  We diligently listened to Chris Parker (our weather guru) everyday for a weather window to get across the Gulf Stream.  The Gulf Stream is a strong current that runs from south to north off the eastern coast of the United States, it is basically a big river in the middle of the ocean. If winds are too high from the north, against the current, large steep waves can form in the Gulf Stream that are not only uncomfortable but can also be very dangerous. Any winds from the east can be very difficult since east is the direction we will be traveling and sailboats do not like going directly into the wind. So we need winds from the south or the west, and not too strong, and preferably without squalls.

 

We found a two day window that would allow us to head out of Ft. Pierce Inlet, traveling all night and arrive in the Abacos the following day. The winds were light, which means motoring the entire trip. We headed out of Ft. Pierce bright and early in the morning with the sun. Since we needed to go south to arrive on the bahama bank, we had to aim even farther south to adjust for the current of the Gulf Stream pushing us north. The Gulf Stream was not bad during our crossing, neither was it comfortable. Lyra and I both took sea sickness medication and avoided getting really sick. The entire crew was happy when we arrived on the banks and into calm water. Lyra stayed with me during the trip, allowing me to move her from one location to another with no complaint or attempt to move herself. We transited the banks at night as I started my watch, just before dawn, there was some fog out. As the sun began to rise, I was very glad we have radar because it became very obvious that there was no visibility with daylight and the fog was very thick. The other boats nearby that had AIS running were great as we could easily see where they were and if they came near us. Although we have an AIS receiver we do not have a transmitter that would allow other boats to see our position and heading, I expect next season Passport will be equipped with a transmitter. When we added our AIS receiver, very few pleasure craft had AIS at all, but today it is nearly a standard piece of safetly equipment. 

 

Once in the Bahamas we needed to at arrive at a port of entry to clear customs and immigration into the country. Our initial plan had been to stop at Green Turtle Cay, but with the weather system and winds that were to come in the next day it would leave us north of Whale Cay, with no idea when the seas would subside enough to transit to the sea of Abaco.

 

Between the northern Abaco Cays and the Sea of Abaco, sits Whale Cay, open to the ocean on the east with very shallow shifting sand bars to the west. To transit the Whale Cay requires going out an inlet to sea briefly and returning through an inlet on the other side. When the seas build due to wave height in the ocean and winds the waves can get high and very steep, when they start breaking across the inlet they become dangerous. I’ve seen the Whale when it is dead calm and seems like it’s no big deal, and I’ve seen it with 7’ waves just shy of breaking, when it is a bit more exciting. 

 

The anchorage at Green Turtle would not provide any protection from some of the winds forcast in the next several days, and we would need to get into a marina, which for us means going in and out at high tide as the channel does not have the  6’ of water our boat requires at low tide. Since it was early enough in the day and the weather was great and the seas were calm we slipped right through the Whale Cay passage and headed down to Treasure Cay, we still went into a marina, but the tides were not an issue. We were able to check into the country, get a local sim card for our phones, and get off the boat during the next several days of high winds. Lyra enjoyed seeing her first white sand beach, and having a little bar stool time. 

 

When the weather finally breaks we will head a little further south, meet up with our friends, eat lobster, drink rum, relax and enjoy the Bahamas.

 

Evening at sea.

Lyra is not particularly happy with the movement of the boat at sea, but she is quite happy to be cuddled.

Just a man and his cat at the beach.