Leeward Yacht Club, Black Sound,

Green Turtle Cay, Abacos.

14^th December 2012.

Vero Beach, after its abortive attempts to lure us into staying with early morning fog , lay astern of us and we had a peaceful voyage down the ICW . 

St. Lucie inlet, which has, in the past been something of a bête noire to us (the bottom tends to get annoyingly close to Soli’s bottom) was passed without incident.  Even the large armada of Optimist dinghies with dozens of boats both large and small, containing, we suppose, many parents caused us no problem.

We have always sworn that we would never transit Jupiter Inlet on a weekend, for it seems to attract too many idiots in fast power boats who are trying to commit suicide with no regard to our stately progress !!  The weather, however, by the time we got there had turned somewhat dull and overcast so most of them had gone home.

Having left Vero at 08.00 hrs we arrived at the North Palm Beach marina at 17.00 hrs.  topped up the fuel tanks, water tanks and had a last pump out.  Whilst there we met the Reeds on their beautiful Sabre 38, “Mon Amie” , who were also going the same way as we were, so we agreed to buddy boat across on Monday morning, when the weather was forecast to be perfect for crossing.

 And so it was!!  We cast off from the marina at 06.00 hrs and passed the Palm Beach Sea Buoy at 07.00 hrs on an ebb tide.    The wind picked up fairly quickly and with both sails pulling well we were fairly zooming along, with the engine more or less ticking over only.  The sea was somewhat confused and the swell short at only about four second intervals, which made for a rather wet ride and we shipped water and spray almost continuously, but Soli lapped it up and we made a record crossing arriving at the waypoint on the Bahama banks at 13.55 hrs giving us an average speed of 7.44 knots from the Sea Buoy.  I doubt we shall better that for awhile!!

Now if you really want action (and I don't mean running to the loo heaving!!!) you may wish to have a peek at these... David very proudly updated some videos to U-Tube ...very branche, my husband!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDE3ffUAXMo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-lRgCs-90Q

The wind stayed fresh from the south on the banks but the swell was gone so we continued on happily to Great Sale Cay, where we anchored with a number of other boats at 20.00 hrs. I did not particularly enjoy anchoring in a moonless pitch dark night with David at the bow not secured to the boat!!!!

A good night’s sleep and we left for Green Turtle Cay at 07.00 hrs, dropping the anchor outside Black Sound , awaiting the tide , at 15.30 hrs.  During that time we launched our dinghy and  tidied up the sails etc until we raised the anchor and headed into the dock at around 17.30 hrs just before high water.   It was indeed nice to be met by many of the usual crowd of friends from previous years, so after tying up we headed for the bar and several rums, conch fritters etc!!   Customs and Immigration were cleared the following day and so we are now legally in the Bahamas !!

Carol(Interim) hurt her ankle and could not put any weight on it...so we had a very interesting exercise with Richard (retired Canadian coast guard) in charge of the operations and Soli supplying    a bosun chair and our super preventer... it was decided that instead of walking to and up the stairs, Carol would be lifted straight from her bunk to the deck....this was masterfully accomplished and she was then stately carried off the boat and lovingly deposited on a chair on the dock to await the ferry to Treasure Cay's medical facilities......AND I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE ANY PICTURES...THE PAPPARAZZI WAS MUFFLED!!! Anyway nothing broken...a badly sprained ankle...

Bill not only proposed again from the look of things, but has been cooking, cleaning etc ever since humm!

This might likely be our last blog before the Christmas holiday and maybe even a New Year, so that being so may we wish all our readers, where ever they may be a very happy Christmas (holiday season) and we wish you  all a happy, healthy New Year.