Back to the Bahamas 2011

After spending the past 8 months ashore we are finally back on the water. We had a great summer dividing our time between our home in Piercefield, NY and camp on the Racquette. October found us back in our winter home in Jensen Beach, FL where we kept busy with some major renovations.
Having stored our boat in Fl for the summer which made the trip south a bit quicker by car this year. Once again we were able to rent a dock within walking distance of our home and enjoyed being able to bike to the boat daily. Some of the boat projects completed this winter included a larger fuel tank, dingy davits and a better solar charge control.

I won't even admit to how much wine went aboard!

Friday March 11, 2011- Even though sailors consider starting a journey on a Friday to be a bad omen we are off to Lake Worth (Palm Beach) to wait for weather to cross to the Bahamas. A sunny cool morning gave way to a brisk north wind that brought us into the anchorage in North Lake before cocktail hour.

Sat thru Mon- Sunny days and cool nights, Biked about visiting the beaches at McCarthur State Park and doing a few last minute errands. As the weather looked favorable for a Tuesday passage we moved the boat south Monday afternoon to the harbor entrance to be in position for an early morning exit. Two other boats, one our size and the other a 26 footer(yikes) will be making the crossing at the same time.

ACROSS THE GULF STREAM

Tues March 15th

Anchor up at 4:15am under a starry sky with a bright moon. Seas were lumpy and the wind once again didn't cooperate as predicted. Our little diesel chugged away and after bashing into the waves with just a reefed main we finally anchored at Mangrove Cay on the Great Bahama Bank
at 9pm. After trolling 2 lines for 60 miles with no action as we left the deep waters of the Atlantic to enter the Bahama Bank Both reels started screaming. Brought a nice Barracuda alongside where he managed to bend the snap swivel as I was trying to gaff it. the other rod brought in a nice smaller but tasty Spanish Mackerel that made a fine dinner and chowder for lunch.

Wed
After a tiring crossing we enjoyed a quiet sunny day motorsailing in light winds to Great sail Cay where we met up with friends on S/V Stardust .

Thurs
Lite wind found us motorsailing once again. Fished the whole day catching a small(30") Barracuda, but losing two huge fish, one to a broken swivel, the other to a broken 50lb test braided line. Both were exciting fights but it seems I have a lot to learn about landing these big fish. The only consolation being that they were most likely Barracuda, which aren't good to eat at sizes over 36"(they build up a toxin from eating reef fish) and I would have had to release them anyway. Anchored at Allens Pensocola Cay with 5 other boats. Quiet night after a refreshing swim.

Fri
Finally a fair wind. Our plans were to visit friends on Manjack Cay but we were having such a good sail we continued on to Green Turtle where we wanted to visit Donnie who took such good care of us last year. Arriving at the harbor entrance at low tide we anchored off to wait for the water to rise so we could enter the shallow channel. While we waited we dingyed in to clear customs and greet a few friends from last year.
Wed
Sunny with light wind