Preparing to Cross - Volume 2

Possible Gulf Stream crossing on Monday. Might even sail across!

Wear a life jacket.

and keep it zipped up!

Staying inside today - very windy

More cords than an audiologists office

Lines, Hats, Tethers, Stuff

View from the navigation station

Winter Wonderland - our home in Minnesota

Marooned in paradise

With the BFN [Big Friggin Norther] due to hit today around noon-ish, we're safely docked and waiting for better weather. Will probably be stuck here for several days.
Got a date with my favorite girl. Plan for today is walk/bus from the marina to the very upscale Palm Beach Gardens Mall - for a movie and a meal, before everything shuts down for Xmas.
We expected to be marooned somewhere on a deserted isle somewhere in the Bahamas, but the Palm Beach area will do in a pinch. Besides, there probably isn't a wilder, more primitive place to hang out than in a mall on the day before the big holiday.
Still in shorts and sandals, although we may have to tote a parka in case of rain. Oh, well - we will survive somehow.
Have a happy!

TIME TO RELAX

Finally.  We're in a marina.  Life is easier, now that our two months of boat improvements, repairs, and setup are about done.  Did almost nothing yesterday; finally had time to read a book (not about boat repair, cruising guides, etc.).  AND I FINALLY updated this blog!  There is new stuff in here, going back to mid-November.
Most of this was previously posted on Facebook - that's easier since we can just hit SEND directly from the iPhone cameras.
Taking it easy again today; no weather window for crossing to the Bahamas until at least Friday, probably longer.
Meanwhile - we have Publix, West Marine, swimming pool, lounge, several restaurants within easy walking distance.  In fact, my First Mate took off an hour ago for a long walk.
But I stayed and blogged.

Crossing the Gulf Stream - almost but not now

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 ...