To be ready for the weather window to cross to the Bahamas
we topped off our fuel and water tanks and headed south to the anchorage near
the inlet at Lake Worth. The winds were
forecast to settle down during the day so that we could head out around
midnight. Jerry decided to put on his
wetsuit and clean the bottom and the propeller to make sure Persephone was as
fast and slick as could be for our passage.
He was pleasantly surprised to find the water temperature at 74
degrees. Not his preferred 80 but it
wasn’t bad. The winds settled to about
12 knots around 5 pm so we hauled anchor and left. When the window is open – go! It was a fast ride out with the current to a
gentle ocean swell, a nice breeze, and the sun low on the horizon. Dinner and sunset at sea. Then
onto our designated watches – I’m on from 9-midnight, Jerry from midnight-4 am,
and I’m back on from 4 am to 7 or so.
It was difficult to tell when we were in the gulfstream as
we didn’t notice much difference in the seas.
A calm crossing.
The area between Freeport, Bahama and Great Isaac Light to
the south is a busy highway for freighters!
We studied the raange lights coming and going around us to make sure we
were not in the path of any vessels and altering course when needed. At dawn we were on the banks – the shallow
bank of water that made for little traffic and smooth sailing down towards
Andros Island and a deep body of water called the Tongue of the Ocean between
another area of shallow banks south of Nassau.
This route was new for us and Jerry had chosen this direction for the
forecast. It all worked out perfectly as
we continued south on the Tongue of the Ocean to the DECCA Channel that took us
across another shallow bank. Although
the chart warned of areas of 7 feet we saw nothing less than 14 feet. On we sailed with the wind 12-15 knots on the
beam, down along the Exuma chain, through Galliot “cut” to the Exuma
Sound. The wind had picked up to 16-18 from
the northeast and the seas meeting the tide going out through the cut were
steep. Once outside they settled down to
ocean swells and a fast sail to Georgetown where we anchored.
A record for us! From
Lake Worth, FL to Georgetown, Bahamas in 50 hours!
All day and night Sunday and Monday in Georgetown we saw winds
at 20-25 knots with higher gusts. Nice
to be safely anchored before the winds picked up as forecast. Nice to be in the Bahamas where every view
could be a postcard. Nice to be where it
is warm!
On Monday we took the dinghy across the harbor in the high
winds and choppy water to clear into customs and immigration. Now we’re officially in the Bahamas.
While in town at the library we met up with Lee and Sherry
from Ithaca. They have a catamaran
“Alesto” anchored here in Georgetown. We
started to chat when a group of excited Bahamian 8 & 9 year olds in uniform
came in from the school next door.
Unbeknownst to me Lee and Sherry were there to tutor. “I want to work with you! I want to work with you!” once girl exclaimed
clutching my arm. So I spent the first
half hour of our shore visit reading with Asia.
I enjoyed every minute. Later
Jerry and I had a plate of chicken, rice and beans and coleslaw in true
Bahamian style before heading back into the wind across the harbor in the
dinghy.
The winds settled down Tuesday and we hoisted the sail and
headed back north 50 miles to Black Point.
Donna and Jerry of Bluejacket were there and we were anxious to visit
with them. Perfect sailing and fishing
conditions. 12 knots of wind downwind
made it easy to haul the mahi on board that we caught. Actually – 2 mahi on board. Guess what we had for dinner! We anchored next to Jerry and Donna. They came over to visit and for mahi dinner
with a game of 99 after. The wind died
down and it was a still night. Donna and
I looked through the crystal clear water to spy a starfish in the sand with the
flashlight as they were boarding their dinghy to go home. We’re in the Bahamas!
We have no plans on exactly where we will be here in the
Bahamas. Every day begins with the SSB
radio forecast with Chris Parker. There
are lots of wonderful places to anchor with the prevailing north or east winds. Not so many with protection from the west to
travel plans have to be made accordingly.
Looking forward to hearing from you! What’s going on in your part of the world?
Karen & Jerry
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| Black Point anchorage, Exumas, Bahamas. |
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| Another view from onboard looking towards land for all you palm tree lovers out there. |
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| The new Persephone and the new Bluejacket anchored side by side at Black Point. |
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| Lorraine's Cafe - Coconut bread that Donna and Jerry brought to us as soon as our anchor was down. Yumm!!! |
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| A 4 ft. mahi - enough fish for LOTS of meals!! |
