12/23/13 The crossing is off - for now. We are staying stateside
for the next several days. Most boats are tucking in; a few are possibly going
to try for the Bahamas before the BIG FRIGGIN NORTHER hits sometime mid-day on
Tuesday. Not us. With only about 2 hours between ETA and the BFN, we would be
TOTALLY FUKT if anything went wrong or caused a delay (T.F. means 11 foot seas,
30-35 knot winds in the Gulf Stream, mutiny on the bouncy, etc.) We remember
that the most dangerous thing to have on a boat is a schedule.
12/22/13 It looks like we may stay put here in Old Port Cove,
North Palm Beach for several days. Weather looks semi-rough. Gulf Stream
crossing is quasi-doable on monday, okay overnight monday (south-ish winds,
waves < 2-3 feet), BUT it hits the fan sometime around 10am to 1pm Tuesday,
winds very suddenly go to north at 30 knots, waves unbelieveable. As of now (22
December, 00:30EST) it looks too tight and unsafe to go for the run on monday
[if anything goes wrong - even for an hour or 2 - we're screwed]. bonus - nicer
marina than west end bahamas, also much less expensive. Chris Parker says don't
go, too.
Will check weather in the morning, but it's
getting close enough that the predictions might even be accurate. So it goes
...
12/21/13
Docked in Old
Port Cove Marina, North Palm Beach FL. Preparing for the jump across the Gulf
Stream to the Bahamas. Weather window possibly open on Monday - about a 50%
chance now. Have to wait for the winds to switch from NE to SE and die down a
little. Best guess now is 15 knots SSE - that would give us a close-hauled to
close-reach, waves 2-3 feet - a screaming 10 hour ride across the Stream (sails
maybe, engine definitely - we gotta get there fast).
But then it REALLY hits the fan on Tuesday (late
morning to mid-afternoon?), winds slamming back to the north at 25-35 knots,
seas up to several feet. IF we go, we plan to get there and hunker down in West
End on Grand Bahama Island for several days. IF we don't, life is good here in
the Palm Beaches.
Buddy boating with Joan & Laurence Wright,
s/v Tranquillity. A 33' Tartan liferaft if we need it
CONTACT: We may be off Facebook and phones for
several days. Emergency contact is Benjamin - he knows how to reach us.
Happy Holidays and all that ...
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