It just keeps rolling along
It’s almost 11PM and we are a bit less halfway to our destination. Now 65 miles from the Miami Ft Lauderdale lights but they shine above the clouds like a sunsets after glow. It’s dark with a canopy of stars and the water faintly reflects the masthead light. The horizon shows the glow of distant towns and cruise ships in the deeper water north of us. Carl’s stern light provides the only light off the bow. The peaceful order is occasionally broken by a call on the hailing frequency 16. John McDermott, JT and other crooners keep me company and the gentle light rocking and engine humming have kept Sheri asleep for a few hours.
The crossing was a bit of a washing machine for hours as the current of the Gulf Stream pushed against the east winds. Soon this subsided to long 3 - 4 foot rollers from the north. Which in turn laid down on the banks. The banks is an expanse of shallow water east of Bimini and is what wows the daylight travelers as the water goes from 500 feet to the 20’s in minutes.The teal/blue colors are travel posters for the taking. We got a taste using a high power spotlight to illuminate the light blue then celebrated our arrival on the banks with ice cream and chocolate.As Sheri goes off to sleep I continue the snack celebration just to keep me awake of course🥴
At 11:30 there was a low rumbling noise and the steering starts to behave oddly. I looked in the water behind the boat to see if we were dragging something off the rudder but seeing nothing returned to the helm. Then I discovered that the auto helm wasn’t holding course and seemed to be the cause of the rumbling. Having an auto helm is a enjoyable distraction while sailing in Penobscot Bay but on long passages it keeps you from constantly holding the wheel. Though I truly regretted it I needed to see the steering connections which are under the bed where Sheri is sleeping soundly. After and hour of searching and finding the equipment was intact we were no further ahead.
By sunrise I had got an hour and a half of sleep and Sheri four and a half. These are new personal best times for our second time of overnighting. At the north end of the Berries are two small islands that have been purchased by cruise ship companies and have been transformed into Florida… Crowded with amusement areas. We slowly wind our way into the marina where we clear customs at the dock, pay our 300 boat and fishing fee and then anchor nearby.We rest a bit, clean connections that will hopefully clear up our radio communications issue and find out that the helm fix is not simple and may alter our travel quite a bit. By mid afternoon I spend a couple of hours assisting Carl loosen rigging so he can remove the forward stay and replace a section of the roller furling. A big job that almost fixes the problem. Typical in the boating world!
The morning of the 26th has dawned along with barking dogs, roosters crowing and occasional bird noise. Today some fun will be inserted!!
Going past the Cape Florida lighthouse as we leave Key Biscayne
Our position just after sunset north of Bimini
Sunrise heading toward the Berry’s
Going past the cruise ship Island
of Little Stirrup Cay
Through the cut into bay of Five Pirates
The crossing was a bit of a washing machine for hours as the current of the Gulf Stream pushed against the east winds. Soon this subsided to long 3 - 4 foot rollers from the north. Which in turn laid down on the banks. The banks is an expanse of shallow water east of Bimini and is what wows the daylight travelers as the water goes from 500 feet to the 20’s in minutes.The teal/blue colors are travel posters for the taking. We got a taste using a high power spotlight to illuminate the light blue then celebrated our arrival on the banks with ice cream and chocolate.As Sheri goes off to sleep I continue the snack celebration just to keep me awake of course🥴
At 11:30 there was a low rumbling noise and the steering starts to behave oddly. I looked in the water behind the boat to see if we were dragging something off the rudder but seeing nothing returned to the helm. Then I discovered that the auto helm wasn’t holding course and seemed to be the cause of the rumbling. Having an auto helm is a enjoyable distraction while sailing in Penobscot Bay but on long passages it keeps you from constantly holding the wheel. Though I truly regretted it I needed to see the steering connections which are under the bed where Sheri is sleeping soundly. After and hour of searching and finding the equipment was intact we were no further ahead.
By sunrise I had got an hour and a half of sleep and Sheri four and a half. These are new personal best times for our second time of overnighting. At the north end of the Berries are two small islands that have been purchased by cruise ship companies and have been transformed into Florida… Crowded with amusement areas. We slowly wind our way into the marina where we clear customs at the dock, pay our 300 boat and fishing fee and then anchor nearby.We rest a bit, clean connections that will hopefully clear up our radio communications issue and find out that the helm fix is not simple and may alter our travel quite a bit. By mid afternoon I spend a couple of hours assisting Carl loosen rigging so he can remove the forward stay and replace a section of the roller furling. A big job that almost fixes the problem. Typical in the boating world!
The morning of the 26th has dawned along with barking dogs, roosters crowing and occasional bird noise. Today some fun will be inserted!!
Going past the Cape Florida lighthouse as we leave Key Biscayne 
Our position just after sunset north of Bimini Sunrise heading toward the Berry’s 
Going past the cruise ship Island
of Little Stirrup Cay
Through the cut into bay of Five Pirates  |
| Peaceful morning anchorage in Five Pirates Bay. The top boat is River Rat |
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