Bimini Bound (sometime)

Still in Nassau, waiting for a good weather window to make the 165 or so miles to Florida.

First, we will spend a day heading west through the Northwest Passage for about 60 miles, i.e. west from Nassau, south of the Berry Islands, in deep ocean water - to the Bahama Banks. Will take about a day. Then we anchor overnight on the banks (!) - in 20 or so feet of water everywhere, but subject to current, surge, winds. Then next day we go on another 60 miles or so to Bimini.
We may have a buddy boat crossing with us - Escapade, a 45 foot Catalina. They have lived aboard for years, do boat deliveries, and in general seem to know what they are doing.
Possible weather window (need 2 days of calm, especially a calm night) tomorrow and Saturday, although rain is forecast. Don't mind rain, as long as the winds, seas, waves etc. behave themselves.
Otherwise, we sit tight here in the marina in Nassau while the stuff passes through on Sunday - then Mon, Tues, Wed look okay for the run to Bimini; depending on winds etc.
Plenty to do here in Nassau (i.e. the marina has a pool!), and there is an excellent (air conditioned!) supermarket right across the street. Where we are now, they provide good internet for free.

So, we should be in Bimini on Saturday, or by the middle of next week. it's supposed to be real nice, with food, marinas, things to do.

Then we wait there for a really good weather window to cross the gulf stream. Only 47 more miles to Fort Lauderdale, or 75 miles to Palm Beach/Lake Worth (but traveling northwest with a good push in the gulf stream). At 6 knots. Won't decide until we see the conditions - in any case, it will be an easy crossing - maybe 9 hours (all daylight) at the most. Worst case - an uncomfortable but safe day. But again we can wait for a good weather forecast (and hopefully an accurate one).

If/when we make it back to Florida - we will have our camper van, and plenty of people to visit with down in Florida. And much less expensive food and marinas and campgrounds. No intentions of heading north until Minnesota is inhabitable again - and it sounds like that might be a few months away.

Stay tuned ...

Pictures - Atlantis Resort and Aquarium, Paradise Island, Nassau

Conch shells on fishing boat, Nassau

Nassau Harbour from the bridge to Paradise Island

Megayachts at Atlantis Marina

These fenders are almost bigger than our boat ...

Atlantis Resort from the marina

"Art", in the Atlantis Casino

Pictures - the Utopians

Our buddy boaters - Frank & Diane of sv-Utopia. In Nassau.

Pictures - Black Point anchorage, Exumas

people on the dock

Anchorage - at happy hour

Anchorage - at night. Those white spots are anchor lights.
Trying to find our boat while in our dinghy.  Whoa!

Anchorage - daytime.  Part of the 50 to 70 boats anchored here.

Home

pictures by Evan Barshack - our home in Minnesota, February 2014.

Nassau

    We got back to Nassau the day before yesterday.  Second day of fairly smooth seas, except for the last 1-1/2 hours as the water got rough where the shallowish Exuma Bank meets the open, deep ocean.  90+ miles in two days, from Black Point back to Nassau.

   Of course, the Rayfrigginmarine Wheel Pilot decided to pack it in, so I had to hand-steer the boat when the seas got rough. Almost forgot how. Fortunately, I found the loose wires the next day and got it working again. Good thing, too - since I really didn't want to have to run on manual all the way back to Florida (about 160 miles, including crossing the Gulf Stream). Nearest Raymarine repair place: Fort Lauderdale.

   One of our buddy boats, sv-Utopia, i.e. Frank and Diane from last year, is here at the same marina in Nassau. They will be here for possibly a couple of weeks - their Yamaha 10hp outboard is having problems and they need to get it fixed before they head down the Exuma chain. Repairs here in the Bahamas are pretty typical of everything here, where people are on island-time, repair parts and supplies are in the USA,  and sometimes things get done.  Laid back is nice, unless you need something - like service, parts, provisions, fuel. Oh, well - that's the beauty of camping out.

   Yesterday we took some buses (with F&D) to see the famous Caves here on the island.  It was HOT and I was getting heat-stroked.  [Note: Commenting but not complaining about the heat; I save my serious pissing and moaning for winter when it really needs it.]  Took a big rum drink and two Kalik beers to put me back together.  We stopped on the way back for a Fish Fry, and had cracked conch (deep fried) with fries (ditto), and of course a couple of beers.  It was pouring rain, so we took a bus back.  Got some water in thru an open portlight; Ilona did laundry this AM so all is well and dry.

Today's breakage and repair report - 1. Wheel Pilot. See above. 2. about a dozen other fairly small and unimportant projects, all of which are not critical and can wait until we get back to the USA.

Today I'm enjoying not having to dinghy ashore for anything - marina is nice, if old (read: needs work). It has a fresh-water swimming pool - no coral to snorkel, but refreshing.  Across the street is a shopping center with a Byerly's Class Fresh Market.  I really appreciate civilization for a change.

The Pelicans stopped by - flew into Nassau for a checkup and uncasting.  They are back on their boat in Black Point by now, then bound for Eleuthera today.  The Rag Dollars were last seen at Little Farmers Cay; they may head north or south next - maybe Georgetown.  The Tranquillitys said they have been tossed around enough in Georgetown Harbor, and may be headed back north sometime.  We really miss them already, but are hooked up with the Utopians for a few days.

Sometime we will head back to Florida.  About 110 miles to Bimini (marinas! provisions! fuel! restaurants!), so we will probably anchor overnight on the Banks which means we will wait until we have Force 1 or less for 2 days (Chris Parker: we are placing an order - can you get this for us?).  Then we hang out again in Bimini until we get a really nice smooth enjoyable weather window to cross the Gulf Stream.  We have plenty of time; remember:  Safety, Comfort, Pleasure.

Even if we get back to Florida, there is lots to do there - we have our camper, and friends and relatives to crash with all over the state while waiting for winter to end so it will be safe to go home to Minnesnowta.

Finally got good Internet - free and in the Fresh Market.  Beats paying for service here which only works sometimes.

Pictures from the Exumas

photos by Chris & Eden, sv-Rag Doll.  Winter 2014.

Chris & Eden on sv-Rag Doll