Further South

Further South...

This blog is out of position and belongs before the Bimini Blog. Apologies!
We left Ft. Pierce after a 3 days of work, cleaning, shopping, stowing provisions We spent a lovely Sunday with Pat and Bruce including Sunday supper and Superbowl for the guys and a good visit for Pat and I!
Since Bill had a few things to do we did not get away until afternoon on Monday. We stopped for a quick overnight in Stuart then early rainy morning continued on past Jupiter to North Lake Worth where we anchored just at sunset. We had been held up for 2+ hours at the Donald Ross Bridge just south of Jupiter. We just dropped the anchor on the edge of the channel and relaxed until the bridge finally opened!
Lake Worth was calm and a serene anchorage and we slept well. beautiful reflexions from the buildings around the lake.
Early Wednesday we headed south through the ICW and 25 bridges much to Bill's disgust as he did want to go outside. It was an interesting trip through amazingly wealthy areas and mangrove swamps and huge condos. We passed a condo complex in Deerfield that my Aunt and Uncle and a lot of cousins used to go to. and had since the 1950's. The bridges are quite well timed for the distance between them so it went more smoothly and faster than Bill had anticipated.
We arrived at Las Olas Marina, a Ft. Lauderdale Municipal Marina about 3:30 and Bill and Marilyn joined us just at dark after a bit of difficulty finding us due to my poor instructions. We did get them there though!
What a treat to have them with us for a few days. We had dinner on the boat. Unfortunately we had had to schedule the water maker repairs while they were there as we did not get there early enough to get it done ahead. Bill also help with the install of a new water tank gauge...now we know how much water we have and are using. The wind continued to blow and it rained on and off. We ended up exploring Ft. Lauderdale a good bit and of couse did some shopping thanks to friends and family. We were joined Thursday by Bill's sister Pat and her husband John who had been at a trawler school and then training on a trawler out on the water. They are looking for a boat to do the Great loop or circle, up the east coast and Hudson River, through the canals in upstate NY to the Great Lakes and back down the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi to the Gulf and a back east around FL. They will then be called Loopers!
We all had dinner together at the 15th Street Fishery. Lots more rain that night too.
Friend Bev. joined us for dinner on Wind Spirit on Friday evening and stopped by Saturday AM with a friend too.
Bill and Marilyn left mid-day Saturday to go to Ft. Myers and on to Sarasota to visit family.
Bill and I decided to chill at the marina another night as it was very windy to get off the dock, so went out for an early Valentines to a place Bev recommended called Coconuts which was the best place we had eaten. We wished we had gone there with our visitors!
Our weather window to cross over changed to the end of the week so we went on down the ICW and anchored in Baker Haulover Inlet...or at a park just across the river from the inlet. The anchorage is lovely . It is not near any services so is very quiet. We watched the most beautiful sunset there and dolphins were all around us jumping and swimming for almost an hour in the lake. We took the dinghy down but the motor was not doing well and would not start. Bill worked on it, and then a motor angel came by and stayed to help. We or they got it going but it was still running roughly. Ed Rivers (grandson of E. Rivers of Atlanta fame) lives on a very small boat! He is a paraplegic he told us, from a teen accident. He is a motor genius but this one wasn't easy. He and Bill looked at everything that afternoon and the next morning when it wouldn't start again. They decided it was the electrical system.

We pulled anchor and went north to the Hollywod Municiple 'Ariana to a slip after saying goodby to our angel who would not take anything except thanks, no cookies, no a meal, no$$. He was just an angel!

One of the reasons we went back north was that there is a bridge on the ICW only 57 feet above the water and we are 53 ft from the deck so too close for comfort. The other reason was the huge boat show started in Miami the 16th so did not think we would find a marina easily! We had called several with no response.

We rented a car the next morning, took the motor to the service folks there, did last minute shopping again...the third time! It was a good day on land and wend fun AND got a lot done. Took advantage of the car to have brunch and dinner out...smile!
Motor...needing one new spark plug (had just been serviced in St,Augustine in December) was ready early! We went to a huge West Marine in Ft Lauderdale ...always a dangerously expensive place to enter! Finally picked up some new dock lines as they were on sale!

We were ready to go! We have been working towards this since September!!!

Our weather window was Thursday through Saturday to cross the Gulf Stream, we went back through 2 bridges to the cut at Ft.Lauderdale and outside. Wind was of course on our nose so we motored south a couple of hours, in through Governors cut at Miami and tucked into a lovely anchorage behind Fisher Island that is close to the cut and where we had stayed once before. We tied on our new Jack lines, had dinner and went to bed...me only to lie awake, but Bill slept. The alarm went off at 4 AM and we left at 5:30 after coffee, a breakfast snack, a final look at the charts, final check of email and Facebook, texting to Christine, and oil check. The city lights were brilliant, and we sailed out with them to our stern just as the sky was lightening in the east. It was an amazing start to our adventure!

Heading East and South to the Exuma Cays...

We spent the night on the Great Bahama Bank as had been suggested. "Just drop your anchor anywhere, sleep and then go ahead the next morning" You don't have to worry about the anchor dragging as there is no boat for miles to run into! That comment was from Muchacha just a bit behind us. Mainly it was recommended that we not go through the Northwest Channel at night for the first time.

Well it was quiet when we set the anchor, but the winds did rise and we rocked and rolled all night. We raised anchor happily in the morning to sunny skies and great sailing winds. The taped battens are sort of holding but tape is not staying stuck well. Will have to do something else when we have some quiet weather.

We arrived in Frazers Hog Cay (FHC) just beyond the fancy Chub Cay. (if you stop there and anchor or land to check into Customs it is $100.00 ...they only want the big boats in there). We took a mooring at FHC as there is lots of current. It is very small place in the Berry Islands, recently rescued from drug people and being redone. It is very isolated, but it is possible to get a ride to the airport and sign into the Bahamas there too, which we did not know or may have gone on and not stopped in Bimini...but then we would have missed the lobster salad! There are about a dozen moorings and all taken.

We met several sailors...all the boats in there were sailboats. Everyone had a story about their crossing and were working on repairs, laundry, and getting organized for the next leg. We did some exploring and went along the shore in the dinghy. People were fishing and conching too. Bill invited several people over for sundowners, and we ended up with 7 on the boat sharing all kinds of good things including wonderful conch from Azaya and home made guacamole from Iolar! We had a fun surprise when we arrived as Iolar was there whom we had run into several time before in the Abacos and in Ft. Pierce. Stayed an extra day to rest mainly.

We headed out on Wednesday and went across to Providence island which is the island Nassau is on, but we went to the West Bay. Motored most of the way with wind on the nose, but a lovely day and shorter distance. Met 2 more boats there in the bay, Tis Good and Easy Times who had been at FHC. Lots of boats in the bay, and we all left after the Chris Parker weather report between 7:30 and 8:30 as the next leg for us was 50 nautical miles across the Exuma Banks to Highbourne Cay. We arrived at Highbourne after a fantastic day of sailing just before sunset. We had stopped at Highbourne on the way home last year, but had not explored so are planning to do that.

But first we seem to have a generator problem! It overheated and stopped. Our refrigeration depends on the generator! Bill worked on it today for 6 hours down in the lazeret (the locker in the cockpit under the seat) and it did the same thing again! We called the Highbourne Marina who have someone here who was able to help. We waited until 5 as they had no slips available and are now at the fuel dock. They could not have been more pleasant and helpful!!! The generator is working perfectly tonight thanks to Juan! We had a lovely dinner out, AND have internet! Bill ran into models doing a photo shoot here, and we ran into them again at dinner, and also met the photographer! The shoot is for the swimsuit issue and 25th anniversary issue of Southern Boating.

Will be leaving before the fuel dock opens in the AM and hopefully get to explore a bit tomorrow.
Going to post this Blog with no pictures and will try to add some later. Will be tucking in maybe at Norman Cay for a few days where we can land the dinghy and explore that island too. We will slowly head south down the chain.

All is well on Wind Spirit!

Bimini and Lobster Salad...

We motored most of the way across the gulf stream, but flat water there is my preference! Flat water is so much better than a rough crossing. Bill was able to put up the main for a while, but we noticed the battens we're falling out so pulled it in before we lost them!!! We had had the sails cleaned and had the batten pockets repaired in the fall. This was our first time sailing wih the new pockets, Sail care will be hearing from us.
We sailed with just the jib and were able to get 6 knots with the motor on too.
We arrived in Bimini negotiating the range finder and going in along the shore, We went into Bimini Blue Water Marina where we had stayed once before. It is a local marina with lots going on! People come form all over the island for their reverse osmosis water to drink and they have fuel as well. We put up our yellow flag when we came into Bahama waters and then after we docked, Bill took all our papers, passports and boat papers to customs and immigration. We pay for a cruising permit and then when he came back, we put up the Bahamas flag again!

The Marina is a friendly place with boaters coming by to say hello and locals helping with lines etc. A woman stopped by with conch and lobster salad. Bought 2 containers of lobster salad which we had with crackers on deck for appetizers. Mmmmm yummy! Enough for tonight too!
Had thought about going out for dinner here, but decided to relax and stay aboard.

We motored most of the way across the gulf stream, but flat water there is my preference! Flat water is so much better than a rough crossing. Bill was able to put up the main sail for a while, but we noticed the battens we're coming out so pulled it in before we lost them!!! We had had the sails cleaned and had the batten pockets repaired in the fall. This was our first time sailing with the new pockets. Sailcare Inc. will be hearing from us.

We sailed with just the jib and were able to get 6 knots with the motor on too.
We arrived in Bimini negotiating the range and going in along the shore, We went into Bimini Blue Water Marina where we had stayed once before in Alice Town. It is a local marina with lots going on! People come form all over the island for their reverse osmosis water to drink and they have fuel as well.

The Marina is a friendly place with boaters coming by to say hello and locals helping with lines etc. A woman stopped by with conch and lobster salad. Bought 2 containers of lobster salad which we had with crackers on deck for appetizers. Mmmmm yummy! Enough for tonight too!
Had thought about going out, but as the breeze died we took down the sail and taped all the battens with sail tape! Hopefully that will hold them in. Decide to just stay aboard to eat as we were both tired. Early bedtime.

Up this AM to beautiful sunrise, and great weather report from Chris Parker so we could go on and not worry about the front coming in as strongly or as soon. We had time to cross the Bahamas Bank. Left the dock after 8:30 this morning,

We are sailing east, and have been all day with all sails flying going 6 knots with 11 knots of wind in the sails. I don't have to do much except knit or write a blog and spell Bill at the wheel now and then when he needs a break. This is a perfect sail! Think of all the fuel we are saving using wind power! Love it...wonderful!