4 days
I’ve been lining up this trip to head back to the states for over a week. 273 nm with 4 stops researched. Listening to weather broadcast and looking at weather apps confirm that these next few days are as close to perfect as I could hope for. Amen! For the first two days wind and waves should be coming from the starboard side which would allow us an opportunity to sail which in turn saves fuel. I want to have extra of food, water and fuel should we have to quarantine when we get stateside. I listen to reports from other boaters effortless entering into the US and all I can think is that “my results may vary”.
On Thursday night the thing I know for sure is that tomorrow we go.
Friday, March 27 we head out of the anchorage at Norman‘s Island and make our way across the White Bank towards New Providence. It is a straight course though we don’t fall exactly on the charted lay line.
I am happy that we are sailing but we’re slower than planned. Arriving at West End harbor around 4pm after crossing in through the narrower southern opening we go way in toward the lee shore. We look over the 14 other boats at anchor and settle in. The attention getter tonight is the group of teens on the beach who really don’t care about the group size or 6’distancing. Throughout this trip we have enjoyed great WiFi through a hotspot plan provided by My Island WiFi. Tonight is no exception and I am able to confirm that the weather will be more challenging tomorrow.
We’re out of the harbor behind 4 others and soon they are all westbound up the Northwest Channel as we push north along the Berry Islands. This is a day of wind angle issues. The apparent wind comes too far forward so I find myself pushing too close to the wind then bearing off to gain speed and this allows us to crab along close to our necessary course. Apparent wind is the wind created by moving forward and it blends with the actual wind. This is another slower day and about 5 miles out from our Great Stirrup Cay anchorage we put in sails and motor. After coming in past Target Rock we try to get the anchor to set into the hard rock seabed twice and finally drag it backward till it catches swinging the boat in line.
These islands are usually filled with cruise ship passengers but now we only see a couple of workers and security making rounds. Our night is quiet with occasional rolling swell that interrupts.
Sunday March 29 and the anchor comes up with the sun. I was concerned that I may have lodged it in too well and sometime in the night crafted ways to extricate it but thankfully no extra effort was needed. We set sail and I radioed the catamaran that was anchored between the islands. He was headed to the same location tonight and then also headed to Fort Pierce. Today we motor sailed and with a light wind astern we set the sails wing on wing. The highlight was seeing the seven cruise ships anchored between the deep water and the banks.
They were far enough away that it produced an eerie ghost like cruise ship graveyard appearance. The options to anchor at the west end of Grand Bahama are not that good. Either a beach with rolling waves circling in or a shallow channel with strong current. As we got closer I chose to explore a close by abandoned development with ample anchoring. I even contacted the catamaran from this morning that was already in place rolling at the beach and gave him a report once inside. I told him it was better than expected and there was even 3 others already in place. He thanked me and wished us well. Our night in the ripples of this pond was peaceful and it was a fitting last night in the Bahamas.
Monday Crossing Day...It has been a while since we were up and out in the dark but we were moving slowly down the channel shining the lights on the stone walls as we angled back and forth out the breakwater into the Northwest Providence Channel and the Straits of Florida.
Sunrise over Grand Bahama was nice and soon all sail was set as we made our way. The sea state was great and we were even able to just sail for a half hour. So much attention is focused on preparing for these crossings because if you choose wrong 6+ foot square waves can build and knock you around for hours. I was able to sit up front for hours with the remote control and iPad navigating and relaxing.
After crossing into US waters I took down the Bahamian courtesy flag. Over our passage we averaged 7.25 kts with light wind and good current. We used the Custom and Border Protection app on my phone to clear in and thankfully there was no personal contact or instructions needed. By 6:15 we were pushing into the outflowing tide at Ft Pierce inlet. We passed on anchoring near the Coast Guard Station and with low tide easily fit under the A1A Cobb bridge to anchor in the Harbor Isle area. We even got a welcome to the neighborhood from another boater. The anchor set well and we had plenty of room for scope as the winds would be getting stronger with a front passing blowing us 360’.
We were there till Wednesday mid morning which gave us enough time to organize and pack. It was nice to stop and rest after 4 long days of travel. We got our dock lines ready and Sheri practiced throwing lines over a piling (me) with success. By Wednesday at 11:45 we were guiding Steadfast from the marina fairway into the slip and with Sheri’s precision line tossing we were safely stopped.
We will be home in the Sarasota condo for the next month and ready for a break.
Our adventure continues the first week of May as we make our way back to Camden. As everyone is aware making plans is difficult especially if we don’t know what will be open for fuel and water as we travel. We press on...
Friday, March 27 we head out of the anchorage at Norman‘s Island and make our way across the White Bank towards New Providence. It is a straight course though we don’t fall exactly on the charted lay line.
I am happy that we are sailing but we’re slower than planned. Arriving at West End harbor around 4pm after crossing in through the narrower southern opening we go way in toward the lee shore. We look over the 14 other boats at anchor and settle in. The attention getter tonight is the group of teens on the beach who really don’t care about the group size or 6’distancing. Throughout this trip we have enjoyed great WiFi through a hotspot plan provided by My Island WiFi. Tonight is no exception and I am able to confirm that the weather will be more challenging tomorrow.
 |
| Seven miles offshore this boat came racing towards us Aiming towards Spanish Wells-Long bumpy ride |
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| Sunset with empty cruise dock at Little Stirrup Cay |
Sunday March 29 and the anchor comes up with the sun. I was concerned that I may have lodged it in too well and sometime in the night crafted ways to extricate it but thankfully no extra effort was needed. We set sail and I radioed the catamaran that was anchored between the islands. He was headed to the same location tonight and then also headed to Fort Pierce. Today we motor sailed and with a light wind astern we set the sails wing on wing. The highlight was seeing the seven cruise ships anchored between the deep water and the banks.
They were far enough away that it produced an eerie ghost like cruise ship graveyard appearance. The options to anchor at the west end of Grand Bahama are not that good. Either a beach with rolling waves circling in or a shallow channel with strong current. As we got closer I chose to explore a close by abandoned development with ample anchoring. I even contacted the catamaran from this morning that was already in place rolling at the beach and gave him a report once inside. I told him it was better than expected and there was even 3 others already in place. He thanked me and wished us well. Our night in the ripples of this pond was peaceful and it was a fitting last night in the Bahamas.
Monday Crossing Day...It has been a while since we were up and out in the dark but we were moving slowly down the channel shining the lights on the stone walls as we angled back and forth out the breakwater into the Northwest Providence Channel and the Straits of Florida.
Sunrise over Grand Bahama was nice and soon all sail was set as we made our way. The sea state was great and we were even able to just sail for a half hour. So much attention is focused on preparing for these crossings because if you choose wrong 6+ foot square waves can build and knock you around for hours. I was able to sit up front for hours with the remote control and iPad navigating and relaxing.
After crossing into US waters I took down the Bahamian courtesy flag. Over our passage we averaged 7.25 kts with light wind and good current. We used the Custom and Border Protection app on my phone to clear in and thankfully there was no personal contact or instructions needed. By 6:15 we were pushing into the outflowing tide at Ft Pierce inlet. We passed on anchoring near the Coast Guard Station and with low tide easily fit under the A1A Cobb bridge to anchor in the Harbor Isle area. We even got a welcome to the neighborhood from another boater. The anchor set well and we had plenty of room for scope as the winds would be getting stronger with a front passing blowing us 360’.
 |
| Our boat location...red triangle |
We were there till Wednesday mid morning which gave us enough time to organize and pack. It was nice to stop and rest after 4 long days of travel. We got our dock lines ready and Sheri practiced throwing lines over a piling (me) with success. By Wednesday at 11:45 we were guiding Steadfast from the marina fairway into the slip and with Sheri’s precision line tossing we were safely stopped.
 |
| Sheri wipes down all our groceries...fun |
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| We walk every other day in some great spots |
We will be home in the Sarasota condo for the next month and ready for a break.
Our adventure continues the first week of May as we make our way back to Camden. As everyone is aware making plans is difficult especially if we don’t know what will be open for fuel and water as we travel. We press on...
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