Ships Blog
Date:Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:09:00 GMT
Checking in
Passage and finally doing what we wanted!
So, checking in was easy. We motored into the marina called them on 16
and they called immigration and customs for us. Since we had already done
click2clear and had paid they just stamped our paperwork and inspected the
boat quickly. The marina was great! they do not charge for checking in and
they let us stay there and eat lunch. We filled with water and met new
friends and old and had a wonderful morning. As we were pulling up to slip
24 Tom and Tenile were there from boot key! They helped us with lines and
we had a nice chat. We also met several other new friends who were
interested to see the new folks (lol).
The harbor looks really small on the charts, but when you're in there
it's huge and there is a wonderful anchorage, fuel docks and the marina. It
was a hangout for the ratpack back in the day and there's even a Rat Cay.
So do not be afraid to come in here. It's a narrow cut but the depths are
good and there's plenty of room once inside. The marina is great and the
facilities are wonderful. We had lunch at their little cafe and though not
cheap, the food was excellent! The marina staff was wonderful and very
helpful.
After that we motored back out and anchored out near where we were a
few nights ago. As we were anchoring a wonderful couple on JuMa asked us
about the anchorage and then after anchoring we invited them over for
drinks. They brought coconut and we had wine and cheese and great conversation till just after
sunset. It was an amazing sunset with calm clear waters and a little
beach and beautiful rocky shores with mangroves. Hannah saw fish under the
boat a few jelly fish and of course you could see the anchor in 7 feet of
water. The holding is good with sand clams grass and mud.
About the passage. We left Saturday on a beam reach from Marathon
and it was 33 hours direct to Great Harbor. Kokomo said that riding rock
was the best way to enter and they were right. So if you draw a line from Marathon to Great harbor
in the Berry's you can see our route. The skys were amazing and the winds were
great. The water across the Great Bahama bank is 15-20 feet the entire way
and a wonderful sail. We made 7-8 knots and it wasn't until just a few
miles from Great Harbor that we finally had the winds shift and things
turned nasty. We were heading for a little cove on the west side of Great Harbor but we didn't make it.
The winds shifted and the rain started and so we dropped the anchor in 20
foot of water with 2 foot waves and 30g35 knots of wind and went below to
hide at midnight. Did I mention I don't like coming into new harbors at
night?! Anyway all was well but it was miserable. Hannah and Sam were on
the bow with a spotlight looking for coral heads and low water. Thankfully
the charts were correct and we did not find anything dangerous. Because of
the deep water and the strong winds we had to let out 200 of rode before the
anchor really dug in and held. But we rode out the storm safely and
securely. We were about 1 mile from shore so that if we did drag we had
plenty of room. (we didn't)
Conclusion? Don't do that!!! Instead come in during the day as
early as possible. Sail at night. And then have drinks and snacks with
good friends at sunset!
Date:Mon, 29 Jan 2024 06:22:00 GMT
Anchor!
We are Anchored outside in a storm
Well it's 1am and we're anchored about 1 mile from Great Harbor Cay.
It was difficult and the holding was not good in 30 knots of wind. We
finally got out 200 feet in 13 feet of water and she's holding. We're
about .5 miles from the nearest land so if we do drag it's unlikely we
will get very near to shore. It took us about an hour to get it right.
Anchoring at night in 30 knots of wind is a bit of a chore! But hey this
is also about the adventure right? (Actually I'd prefer less adventure
and more relaxation!)
On our approach we took down the sails in 25 knots of wind about 3
miles out and motored slowly with Hannah on the bow with a spotlight. She
saw the prettiest blue square fish and mostly just clean sand. We had a
broad reach all after noon but as the winds shifted it clocked around to a
port tack. We went slow and didn't see any less than 9 feet of water at
high tide. 6 feet low tide. The new navionics charts were spot on and my
depth sounder was taking tide into consideration and nailing the same
thing as the charts. That makes me feel good when the theory and reality
line up. Perhaps I should be scared! ha ha. Anyway It rained pretty hard
for about 15 minutes as we were trying to anchor so we just dropped the
hook and let it play out. At about 80 feet we found the chain was twisted
and wouldn't play out so it took us a bit to get out 200 feet.
I suppose it would have been better to go inside the harbor but I
don't want to do a strange small anchorage at night in high wind with
unknown holding. Easier to stay outside for the night. The high winds
are supposed to settle down tomorrow morning so we will just wait it out
here. So far it's a little rolley but not too bad.
We have two anchor alarms set and we left the chart plotters on to
keep a track of the boat movement around the anchor. I'll write more
tomorrow about our entire journey so far. It was a really nice sail.
Date:Sun, 28 Jan 2024 16:39:00 GMT
HI from Bahamas!
We made it across the Gulf Stream
I know we didn't warn everyone but we left Marathon Saturday a little
after noon
and headed straight line for Riding Rock and are now crossing the Great
Bahama Bank
heading for the Berry Islands.
Winds were 140-190 at 12-17 knots. Seas were 3-5 feet and we made 6-=
9 knots
the entire way. It was partly cloudy and a little chilly on a starboard
beam reach.
Now we're in 20 feet of water completely out of sight of land and we can
see the bottom.
We're still making 5-6 knots on a broad reach and are planning on
anchoring tonight.
We like night sails and arriving during the day and this was a wonderful
evening
with partly cloudy skies and good winds. Poor Lilah threw up multiple
times as we cleared
Sombrero Reef and put up the sails.
We saw dolphins, flying fish multiple Portuguese Man-o-Wars several
birds. One of the Man-o-Wars had a small fish in it's tentacles
It took us longer to get ready but Hannah was bound and determined that we
not leave
Marathon until we were well stocked and everything put away.
So we originally planned on leaving on Friday, but in the end the winds
were better
on Saturday anyway.
I'm not sure when our next post will be as we are not near the internet
for a little bit. So We will be posting here from the SSB radio.
Date:Sun, 07 Jan 2024 18:06:00 GMT
Bahamas Preps
It always seems the last minute things take the longest!
So the last week we have worked on a bunch of little stuff.
We got the cat paperwork back from the Bahamas, we got last minute medical
stuff done before leaving the country, we have been shopping for our friends
in the DR so we can take stuff to them, we fixed the fuel line to the
generator, Sam and I have re done all the brightwork, we got a new sun/rain
cover made to extend the dodger, we have purchased charts, and planned our
trip. We are planning what food to bring and perhaps building a watermaker.
We still have not decided whether or not we are signing up for Starlink, and
we are working on insurance for the trip.
It's all the little details that seem to take the longest, Grace is fine,
she's ready to go and is running out patience with our delays... ha ha.
We love all our friends here at Marathon and will be sad to leave them but
we will be back with stories, scars, and new friends!
We're still not sure exactly when we are leaving but we can feel it getting
close and we are actively watching for the right weather windows.
This weekend was the Celtic festival and we've been enjoying it.
Yesterday Hannah Volunteered and then in the afternoon/evening we walked
around and listened to lots of good music. She's volunteering again this
evening. We missed it last year as we arrived just a few days late.
There's always so much to do here between happy hour, corn hole, visiting
friends, dinners, jam sessions, and helping with other boats that we never
quite seem to get done our own tasks. This is a wonderful harbor!
Date:Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:01:00 GMT
Happy New Year
And a new year on the ocean has dawned!
Hi everyone! Getting everything ready for the new year means doing
some things in advance. This is one of them. Setting up everything on the
website for the new year.