Harbour Island, Eluethera

Friday, May 29,  2015 (Day 28)

The Maine Event has chosen to leave the group and is now at Ramona Bay Marina.  They will be no longer be traveling with us.  They have decided to venture off for their own experience.

On Friday, Marlin Striker, Stocks and Blondes, and Afterwires rented golf carts and toured the town of Harbour Island.  John H. has been here before so he gave us a great tour through some fabulous resorts and then to Sip Sips, a great restaurant with a fabulous view.  We all left "stuffed" and had a great time. 

Later that afternoon we lounged by the pool and then the settled in to watch a movie on Stocks & Blondes. 

Saturday is a day of clean up the laundry, boat, and ourselves.  Marja and Debbie will get their nails done while Bill and Jerry are getting hair cuts.  We are all anxious to see our friends who will be meeting us at our next stop in Marsh Harbour, Abaco tomorrow.  Bill and Debbie will be meeting their friends from New Hampshire, Glenn and Laurie, who arrived yesterday.  Marja and Jerry will be meeting their friends,  Heather and Mike,  and all of us are excited about meeting up with our St. Charles friends, Carl, Dana, Rob, Mary, David R., Vicki, Dave G. and Karen. 

Civilization

Thursday, May 28, 2015 - Harbour Island, Eleuthera

We are back in civilization.  The Exuma islands have very little phone service, internet or anything else electronic.  Even when they say they have phone or internet service it rarely worked and not enough to send an email or anything else.  So we apologize for leaving you "in the dark" but it has been completely unavoidable given our locations. 

We are now at Valentines Resort and Marina on Harbour Island in Eleuthera. 

The picture below is coming from Spanish Wells to Harbour Island through the Devils Backbone.  The pilot is aboard Marlin Striker and all boats were asked to keep "very tight". 

Departed Highbourne Marina - 8:47AM

Arrived - Harbour Island - 3:41 PM
Travel Time – 5 hours 52 minutes
Average speed – 11.7 knots
Distance Traveled Today - 68.8 NM
Seas – 2-4 feet
Wind – East 10-15knots
Trip Total Travel Time – 43 hours and 30 minutes
Total Distance Traveled – 580.2 NM

We had to wait approximately an hour for the pilot to take us through the Devils Backbone.  This is the shallow area between Spanish Wells and Harbour Island.  With four (4) boats, high seas, and having never been through the area before we felt like we would take the recommendation of the cruising books and locals.  This is an area that we traveled very close to the beach, swerved to avoid coral heads and battled breaking rollers.  We were very glad to have the pilot (74 years old and lived here all his life) on board with us. 

Devil's Backbone

We will be here on Harbour Island until Sunday, May 31st.  Then we will make our way to Marsh Harbour in the Abacos. 

Beautiful Exuma Islands

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 (Day 26) – Highbourne Cay Marina

We made our way back to Highbourne Cay Marina so we would be in position to make the run to Eluethera on Thursday (seas permitting).  The seas today were 3-5 feet but we ran the inside (west side of the Exuma’s chain) so it was a little sloppy but everyone made out just fine.  Once we all settled down and had lunch it was back to the beach. 

The run to Valentines Resort in Eleuthera will be a little challenging due to the shallow waters, Yellow Bank coral heads and what seems to have become everyday seas of 3-5 feet.  We may need to wait until Friday as the seas are predicted to drop to 3 feet on Friday.  The native Bahamian people are saying that they have seen this kind of weather and seas before but it very unusual.  We are definitely ready to see calmer seas. 

Departed Staniel – 10:10 AM

Arrived Highbourne – 1:23 PM

Travel Time – 2 hours and 28 minutes

Average speed – 19.1 knots
Seas – 3-5 feet
Wind – East 15-20 knots
Trip Total Travel Time – 37 hours, 37 minutes
Average Speed – 13.6 knots
Total Distance Traveled – 511.5 NM

Monday, May 25, 2015 (Day 24) and Tuesday, May 26, 2015 (Day 25) - Staniel Cay Marina

Bill and I rented a golf cart and toured the island.  We checked out the local stores and how to get to some of the sights to visit.  Harry & Tami were also coming to Staniel for the night before taking a flight home to New Jersey so we brought their luggage across with us so they would not have to take it on the little boat.  In the late afternoon, Bart and Nan brought Harry and Tami across to Staniel and we all met in the marina bar for drinks.  Across from us was Tommy Lee Jones.  The star of movies such as Men in Black, The Client, Batman, US Marshall, etc.  As it became time for dinner we said our good byes to the Dusty Sea gang (Bart, Nan, Harry, & Tami) and all assured each other that we would definitely meet up again.  We exchanged contact information. 

Tuesday morning “Victory Lane” from Hendricks Motor Sports pulled in so close to Marlin Striker that the bow overhung the cockpit.  Although we talked to the crew we never did get to see Jimmy Hendricks or any of the drivers. 

Dinner at the Staniel Marina was exceptional and very reasonably priced.  After dinner we again enjoyed watching the nurse sharks feed as the fishing boats cleaned their catches and provided the left overs to the sharks for their dinner.  

Just off Staniel at Big Major are the swimming pigs.  Another very unexpected and unusual experience.

 



At Big Major

 

Bill and Marja found out very quickly that these pigs love food, any kind of food and they have no problem coming right up to you to get it.  It was fun to feed the pigs and watch the stingrays, but we definitely tried to also keep our distance from them.  They could be quite aggressive if you had food in your hands. 

Departed Compass - 11:45AM

Arrived Staniel Cay Marina - 1:03 PM
Travel Time – 58 Minutes
Average speed – 11.9 knots
Seas – 2-3 feet
Wind – East 15-20 knots
Distance Traveled Today - 11.6 NM
Trip Total Travel Time – 35 hours and 9 minutes
Total Distance Traveled – 464.3 NM

 Saturday, May 23, 2015 (Day 22) and Sunday, May 24, 2015 (Day 23) Compass Cay

The past two days have absolutely been the highlight of the trip so far.  We not only met up Bart & friends again, but several other boats that we have either met in our travels or at St. Charles Yacht Club.  Bluenose (Peter & Pam) from the Naples Sailing & Yacht Club were here along with Blue Moon, Water Colors and Cocktails.  Nan (Dusty Sea) put together a great pot luck dinner in which every boat in the marina was invited.  Dusty Sea (Bart & Nan) provided the mahi which was caught that day and everyone else brought something which contributed to an appetizers to dessert feast. 

Compass Cay provides an unbelievable “swim with the sharks” experience. I have never seen anything like it and small boats come in with tourists from other locations and the larger boats anchored offshore to enjoy the fun.  A picture is worth a thousand words…..

Swim with the sharks at Compass Cay

After our swimming with the shark’s experience, Bart invited Bill, Debbie, Marja, and Jerry to join his crew (Nat, Harry, & Tami) on his smaller boat (Regulator) to visit some of the area sightseeing locations.  Oh, we were told to put on our swim suits and bring our snorkels and fins.  Off we went to see the rock caves, blue hole, and sea aquarium (O’Brien Cay).  Once again, pictures do not do these sights justice …

 

Each of these locations were absolutely beautiful.  I can't begin to describe the beauty and water colors.  After a short swim and snorkel at each of these locations we went for a boat ride to Johnny Depp’s island.  He has done an amazingly great job of blending his home and out buildings with the natural surroundings.  It definitely reminded me of his movies, Pirates of the Caribbean.  We then saw Terry Perry’s (I believe he is a football player) houses which were very nice but definitely did not fit into the scenery.  Fowl Cay is the home of Sandals Resort.  We saw Sampson Cay which has a beautiful marina but is currently not open.  This island like many other is privately owned and for some reason (believe to have to do with the Bahamian government) is currently not operating.  We then stopped at what is left of a sunken airplane and visited Rachael’s Bubble Bath. 

Rachael’s Bubble Bath

We can’t thank Bart enough for his generosity and assistance with local Bahama knowledge as well as his in depth information about the Bahama seas and passages.  All of which he graciously was more than willing to share with us. 

Departed Warderick Well Land & Sea Park - 9:57AM

Arrived Compass Cay Marina - 11:42 AM
Travel Time – 1 hour 27 minutes
Average speed – 11.4 knots
Distance Traveled Today - 16.7 NM
Seas – 2-3 feet
Wind – East 15-20 knots
Trip Total Travel Time – 34 hours and 10 minutes
Total Distance Traveled – 452.6

Friday, May 22, 2015 (Day 21) Warderick Wells

We stayed on the mooring balls located in front of the park office.  This area is affectionately called the “Banana Peel” because the mooring area is very narrow and flows in the shape of a banana peel.  Although navigating is definitely by “visual navigation” only thorough the shallows it is easy to follow the narrow deep water channel around the sand bars.  We immediately unloaded the dinghies and visited the park office.  We checked out the giant sperm whale bones on the beach and then took a dingy ride around the area.   We were amazed to see so many sharks (nurse, black tip, and lemon) everywhere. 

Bill and I rode the length of Highbourne Island and down to Hog Cay to check out the mooring area there.  On the way we spotted one of the largest sharks we have ever seen.  Hog Cay is a beautiful area that is very secluded, and it has a great beach with picnic tables.  We may try to spend some time there on our way back north.  This whole area is just amazingly beautiful and the aqua blue/green water colors just cannot be described. 

Swimming was a challenge in the swift currents (like the Piscataqua) as Marja soon found out when she discovered it was a little more than she thought and got a tow back to the boat from Bill and Debbie who were still in the dingy.  Before Marja could get back onto the boat she had a close encounter with one of the neighborhood sharks which created a couple of heart stopping moments.

Later that evening everyone gathered on Stocks & Blondes for appetizers and dinner.  The Maine Event provided the steaks, Bill cooked and others contributed to the feast.  After dinner, Bill provided a chum basket for the night’s entertainment of watching the fish, stingrays and sharks in the lights under the boat. 

Departed Highbourne Marina - 9:50 AM

Arrived Warderick Wells Land & Sea Park - 12:10 PM
Travel Time – 1 hour and 28 minutes
Average speed – 15.6 knots
Distance Traveled Today - 23.1 NM
Seas – 2-3 feet
Wind – East 10-15knots
Trip Total Travel Time – 32 hours and 43 minutes
Total Distance Traveled – 412.9 NM

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 (Day 19) and Thursday, May 21, 2015 (Day 20) Highbourne Cay

Highbourne Cay Marina is very nice and the people extremely friendly.  We were only scheduled to stay one night here, but everyone had such a good time at the beach and dingy rides that we wanted to stay another night.  The beach was a short dingy ride and very protected from the ocean side along with being very private and a great place to snorkel.  There were a couple of cabanas available on a first come first serve basis along with kayaks and paddle boards. 

The boat next to the Marlin Striker was Dusty Sea owned by Bart who had Natalia (Nat), Harry, and Tami on board.  They have been coming to the Exuma’s for years and were more than willing to share their knowledge of the marinas, seas, sightseeing, etc.  We immediately enjoyed each other’s company to the point where they were heading to Compass Cay for six (6) weeks and made connections with the dock master there for all 4 of our boats to go to Compass Cay on for Saturday night.  Keep in mind that we were having trouble getting the reservations we wanted for many of the next stops because all of the marinas are booked.  Bart had the connections with the Compass Cay owner, Tucker and his son, Jamal, the dock master.  We enjoyed Bart and his friends so much that we are anxious to meet up with them again in Compass Cay. 

 

Highbourne Cay

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

We made it to the Exuma's!  Today was a beautiful trip from Hurricane Hole to Highbourne Cay.  The winds and seas were calm, and the trip across Yellow Bank and the coral heads was uneventful.  Just the way we like it:)  Highbourne is absolutely beautiful.  The landscape and the clear aqua water.  We can see barracuda, sharks, stingrays and many fish all around the boat.  We spent the afternoon at the beach.  Unfortunately all of the boats have been held up for days waiting for good weather so we are only able to stay here for 1 day.  We may try to stop here again on our way back north.  We will be moving on tomorrow toward Warderick Wells Land & Sea Park.  We hear that the fishing for mahi has been excellent so we may try to fish our way to the next stop.  It will be about a 15 mile journey.  It is a  little difficult to get much fishing in when you are with a crowd that does not fish. 

Departed - Hurricane Hole - 9:34 AM  (High tide 9:50 AM)
Arrived - Highbourne - 12:39 PM
Time Traveled - 2 hours 34 minutes
Seas - 1-2 feet
Wind - SW 5-10
Trip Distance - 37.5 NM
Average Speed - 14.6 knots

Trip Total Time - 31 hours 14 minutes
Average Speed - 13.2 knots
Total Distance Traveled - 412.9 NM

We have meet Harry & Tami, and Bart (the owner)  from the Dusty Sea, Juniper, FL.  There are also many sport fishing boats here and everyone has a story to tell. 

The fisherman clean fish at the end of the pier so there are LOTS of sharks, grouper, and jacks right at the end of the dock.  I will get a picture to add to our blog before we leave here. 

The Weather Waiting Game

The view from our boats in Nassau, Paradise Island, Hurricane Hole Marina

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 (Day 18)

The weather report finally looks good for us to leave in the morning.  Today is a day of clean up, preparation for departure and re-provisioning anything needed such as milk, bread, and fresh vegetables. 

We meet the owner of Doman Shipbuilding.  His boat the Belletrix is between the Maine Event and Stocks & Blondes.  Comer & Jose, the owners were extremely nice.  He is leaving his sailboat here for 3 weeks and a college friend, Jay & Cornellia are staying on the boat during that time. 

Majesty of the Seas

Today a familiar boat from the past (Debbie's past) came into the cruise boat pier, The Majesty of the Seas.  Debbie spent 3 days aground off Nantucket Shoal on this boat with my friends Meigs and Paul.  This sure brought back some memories. 


 

Randy shared some of the mahi and wahoo he caught so we all had a fish cookout.  We are usually big mahi fans, but tonight the wahoo seemed a little better.  Bill did a great job with the cooking. 

 Saturday, May 16, 2015 - Monday, May 18, 2015 (Days 15 -17)

Internet here is very expensive and billed by time of use so we have all been sharing an account.   We have to sign up for it in bulk hours and those hours seem to go very fast. 

The days are filled with watching the weather reports and continuing to enjoy the Atlantis Adventure Water Park, exploring with the dinghy’s, visiting downtown Nassau (by day only), and watching the boats go by on the river.  Jerry, Marja, John H and Tracey went to “kiss” a dolphin.  The girls went downtown by dinghy to do some shopping and everyone has made the best out of our wait for better seas to get to Highbourne Cay. 

Bill and Debbie meet up with Bob & Ginger on Quality Time, we had meet and travelled with them on our trip north last summer and then met them again at DiMillos in Portland, Maine.  It was fun to see them again here.  We also saw another boat “Cocktails” come into Atlantis Marina in which we had meet them in Charleston on our trip coming south last summer.  We have not caught up with them yet, but maybe today. 

Monday night we gathered for dinner on the Marlin Striker to talk about current weather conditions and the trip to Highbourne Cay Marina.  There are many coral heads just under the surface on this run and it will be important to leave with the proper sunlight so we can see the coral heads and travel carefully.  The weather is looking much better so we are planning on leaving on Wednesday, May 20^th.   Everyone is very anxious to get to the Exuma’s but also cautious about the weather and coral heads. 

The days have been between 82-88 degrees with lots of sun, winds out of the east 15-25 and scattered showers mostly in the afternoon.  It has been very comfortable on shore, but the seas have been 4-6 feet or greater. 

We meet Randy and Andrea on Fast Days last week who went to Chub Cay to fish over the weekend and when they returned on Monday evening they said that the seas were “very bad” and they did not have the fishing that they had hoped for because of the east winds and high seas.  We will hope for better for us. 

Adventure Park - Atlantis

Friday, May 15^th (Day 14)

The weather report continues to be small craft warnings, winds east – northeast 15 -20 knots, seas 4 to 6 feet right through Monday night at this point.  We are all hoping for a change so we can move on but as long as this keeps up we are going to remain here. L

On our way to the water park, Stanley (the dock hand) gave us a ride on the golf cart and we stopped at the Village Grocery so Marja, Jerry, and John H. could get Bahama sim cards for their phones.  The Verizon Bahama plans were not working and much more expensive than if they get Bahama sim cards.  That took much longer than anyone expected but then we were off to the water park. 

Rich and Sandy Heinrich joined us and we all pitched in and rented a cabana at the water park for the day.  It was the last one available in the all of Atlantis.  This worked out very well.  Our cabana was away from the hustle of the park, but very close to everything and well protected as well as having a waitress only for our area which helped to keep an eye on our things.  There was a safe and refrigerator of which we made good use of both of those.  Since we are travelling by boat we took our own lunches and soft drinks.  The waitress got a few drink orders.

Cabana 16

 

 Through the commotion of settling into the cabana somehow Jerry’s American sim card came up missing so we all searched but were unable to find it at the cabana.  On the way back to the boat we stopped at the store where they got the sim cards.  John H found it in the parking lot near where the golf cart had been parked.   All was well again.

Then off to the river ride for everyone.  Somehow John H. and Tracey got separated from our group but they were fine and went off to enjoy the BIG slides.  Each of them had their own tubes and had a blast.  After each ride which took approximately 40 minute it was back to the cabana for a drink, rest and Jane to check her sugar levels. 

 The last run of the day was to be through the shark tank and aquarium.  We thought this was going to be very interesting when in fact the ride was quite dull and the sharks were below the ride tube so when we got there we could not really see any of the sharks except the two that were laying on the top of the tube.  After the steep climb up the stairs to the shark tank ride, Jane had a diabetic attack and passed out at the top of the ride.  Luckily it was before she had gotten into the tube.  The EMT’s took her to the First Aid station while Jerry heroically ran back to our cabana to get her medical supplies.  After a few minutes of grave concern, Jane was fine.  We all returned to the boats and decide to visit the local outside bar & grill called the Green Parrot (not real good) located next to the marina on the waterfront for dinner. 

The Green Parrot Bar & Grill

Thursday, May 14 (Day 13)

Today was a quiet day with each boat taking time to work on projects and enjoy our surroundings.   Bill and Jerry worked on the water makers for both boats.  These water makers seem to be a challenge to get up and running (and keep them running).  They believe they have got Stocks & Blondes fixed and running at capacity.  The Marlin Striker is still only producing 480 gallons a day instead of the 800 gallons.  That should be more than enough but since both Bill & Jerry are perfectionists they keep working on it. 

Jerry is still not feeling well so he took an afternoon snooze, Marja worked on her book, John & Jane rented a car and toured Nassau.   Rich and Sandy Heinrich arrived and joined Bill & Debbie on the boat for a few minutes before returning to the hotel to get their room.  Debbie & Bill walked back over to the hotel with them to peruse the shops and make sure they got into a room okay.  Earlier they had been told there was a problem with their room and to return after 3 PM.  It was now 5 PM and the room still was not ready.  Upon request for another room (hopefully and upgrade) they were told there were none.  After a meeting with the manager, they got a room only to find out it was a smaller room with an industrial fan in the door and no air conditioning.  Long story made short, Rich and Sandy got a room at 8:30 PM which was meager and very little compensation.

Each boat was on their own for dinner and we all grilled out at different times.  Bill and I then went to the outside dock and watched the tarpon feeding. 

 

 

Atlantis Adventures

Wednesday, May 13, 2015 (Day 12)

It seemed good to sleep in and relax for the morning before heading off to explore the Atlantis Aquarium (The Dig).  Although Atlantis has the largest aquarium in the world (so claimed) it only took us a couple of hours to visit it.  From the advertisements one would think of the largest Aquarium as much like a huge museum but in reality this aquarium spreads throughout Atlantis and is fun to watch from many different venues in the facility, it is not museum like.  After enjoying watching the large variety of fish, sharks, rays, etc. we headed back to the boats for lunch. 

In the afternoon, John H., Tracey, Bill and Debbie headed off to the River Ride.  This was a fun, relaxing afternoon of riding on tubes through a river-like waterway with waves and rapids.  We even did the "power" river which took us through a tube in the dark, with rapids and dropped us a total of about 200 feet. 

In the evening we cooked on the grill on the boat and watched the boats go by in the harbor which is easily viewed right behind our boats. 

The weather has been great for enjoying Atlantis but it does not look good for us to move for the next few days.  The forecast is still 7-9 foot seas in the Highbourne area of the Exuma's which is our next intended stop over. 
 

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 (Day 11)

Everyone was up “fairly” early once again to make the trip across the Tongue of the Ocean to Atlantis.  Atlantis is on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas.  This was a very long, bumpy 40 NM for Afterwires and The Maine Event.  Marlin Striker led the way with Stocks & Blondes second, followed by Afterwires and The Maine Event.  Marlin Striker and Stocks & Blondes acted as the "snow" plows for the others who followed very closely in our prop wash.    The seas were a solid 4-5 feet with an occasional 6-7 footer quartering on the port bow.  Everyone did a great job of staying in a very tight formation all the way across the Tongue and into Nassau Harbour. 

Departed Chub Cay – 7:30 AM Notice the departures are getting later each day. Arrived – Hurricane Hole Marina, Nassau – 10:34 AM
Traveled Today – 3 hours and 12 minutes
Average Speed Today – 13.1 knots (even for The Maine Event)
Seas – 4-6 feet
Winds – ESE 15 -20
Temperature – 91 degrees
Total Distance Traveled Today – 39.8 NM
Total Trip Time Traveled – 28 hours and 40 minutes
 Average Speed – 12.4 knots

It was a little after noon by the time everyone completed registration so then it was time for lunch on the boats and a short afternoon rest before we all headed off to explore Atlantis.  John H. had been here before so he led the way and exhausted all of the rest of us as we walked for what seemed like miles.   In the end, we found a Steak House for dinner which delighted Bill.  Then it was off to bed early as everyone was exhausted from the days’ events. 

Tongue of the Ocean

Monday, May 11, 2015

Well we made it from Bimini to Chub Cay.  It was a bit of a challenge as the seas were variable from 3-5 feet with an east wind of about 15-20 knots or more.  John L did a great job of keeping course, watching all of the nautical variables (with everyone in mind) and navigated water the likes that he had not seem much of in the past.  Nice job John L.!  After the adventurous ride, and getting some fuel we all decide it was time to spend some time in the pool for the rest of the afternoon. 

The smallest slip length in Chub Cay is 60 feet.  We have floating concrete docks, a great facility and many fabulous sport fish boats to "drool" over.

Departed - Bimini Big Game Resort - 7:04 AM
Arrive - Chub Cay Resort -12:34 PM
Trip Time - 5 hours, 7 minutes
Winds - ESE 15-20 some higher gusts
Seas - 3-5 feet
Average Speed - 17.5 knots
Trip Total Distance - 89.9 NM

Total Trip - 25 hours 24 minutes running time
Average Speed - 13.2 knots
Total Trip - 335.6 NM

We are watching the winds and seas carefully, but hope to get to Nassau, Paradise Island, Atlantis tomorrow.  Once we are there we will take a rest from the boats for a few days and enjoy the sights and sounds of Atlantis and more. 

Across "the pond"

Sunday, May 10th - Happy Mother's Day

Everyone managed to be up and around early for our departure for "The Bahamas", Bimini. 



The homes we passed on our way out the ICW to Port Everglades were just unbelievable!  And many of them had boats next to the house that were as big or bigger than the house. 

Departed - 6:45 AM Bahia Mar Marina, Ft. Lauderdale
Average Speed - 18.7 Knots
Traveled Today - 52.7 NM
Seas - 2-3 ESE every 8 seconds, with 4-5 foot rolls from the North courtesy of Tropical Storm Ana
Arrived - 9:34 AM EST Big Game Resort & Marina, Bimini - This is the ONLY place to clear Customs in Bimini. 

Everyone made it across "the pond" just fine.  Somebody had to slow it down to 22 knots for a couple of minutes but still managed to race ahead to the finish line.



Total Trip Hours - 20:19

Total Trip NM - 245.8

Average Speed - 12.1 knots

 

 

The Bimini Harbor Master would only allow one boat to dock at a time and be completely informed about Customs prior to letting the next boat into the Marina, thus it took about 45 minutes for everyone to get into slips.  Then we began the process of Customs and Immigration.  The hardest part of that was finding the Customs Office.  The only boat boarded by Customs agents was Afterwires.  The process went very well and by noon everyone was ready for a trip to the beach. 

Although the weather is calling for 3-5 foot seas out of the East for tomorrow we are going to give it a try to get to Chub Cay.  The long range forecast for the next seven (7) days is the same.  So it is stay here for a week or keep moving:)  Everyone is in favor of heading toward Chub Cay.  
 
 

Another Day - Tropical Storm Anna

Saturday, May 9

Tropical storm Ana is bringing water spouts and five (5) foot seas to the Bahamas.  Thus we have decided to stay in Fort Lauderdale another day.  Tomorrow, Sunday, is looking much better off the coast of Bimini.  The group plans to go to downtown Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk this afternoon for some shopping and dinner.

Tropical Storm Ana

Where are we?

Downtown Ft. Lauderdale Riverwalk

 

 

The ICW Bridges

Friday, May 8, 2015

Another day of relaxation and finishing up the last few errands, like getting fuel and topping off the groceries used, before we head across "the pond" tomorrow morning.  The weather and seas are looking suitable for getting to Bimini but then crossing to Chub Cay it looks like the seas increase up to 4-6 feet.  We will stay at the Big Game Resort & Marina and clear customs in Bimini until the seas look better for us to get to Chub Cay.  The Big Game Marina is the ONLY place we can clear customs in Bimini.  Customs and Immigration are located right on-site. 

Thursday,  May 7, 2015

This was clean the boat day for most of us and then off to the pool for the afternoon.

From the pool it was off to cruise the docks and check out the multi-million dollar 100-200 feet boats dock here with us.  That is after Jerry & Stew got in a little song. 

 

Wasting no time we completed our dock walk, cleaned up and headed to the Captain Quarters for the Throw Back Thursday Dock Party.  Bill was in his glory, free food, free drinks and music.  The food was excellent and provided everything from cheese plates, shrimp, meatballs and sushi.  Oh, I can't forget the 60's to 80's candy!   No one was complaining as there was something for everyone.  Jerry's nephew, Josh, came to visit and joined us for the evening.  What a very nice, enthusiastic young man. 

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Everyone was up, ready and anxious to leave early.  We had set a 7 AM departure time but managed to be pulling off the dock at 6:45 AM.  Although we had a day planned to only travel about 40 miles everyone knew it was going to be a long day of waiting for bridges going south on the ICW to Fort Lauderdale.  It was overcast with a mist of rain as we headed down the ICW and for the most part we managed to stay dry although a couple of showers caught up with us while waiting for the bridges,  By the time we arrive at the Bahia Mar Marina in Fort Lauderdale the sun was out and it was a beautiful 86 degrees.  Oh! Did I mention that we only managed to anger three (3)bridge masters out of the 19 bridges we passed through.  And the three (3) were not really our fault!  They all though they knew more about our boats than we do (smile).   Although the Linscott's have a low profile boat the one bridge master thought they could squeeze under a 9 foot bridge and closed the bridge before they could get through even though they were told there were four (4) boats to go through.  I don't think the bridge masters have the right to close the bridge on anyone who has requested an opening?  They caught up with us at the next bridge, about 2 miles away. 

It seems the many, many,many, boats are stacked up on the east coast of Florida waiting to make the crossing to the Bahamas.  We called the FCYC reciprocal yacht clubs and none of them had space for us until "maybe" sometime next week.  Then we starting calling the Fort Lauderdale marinas, luck for us, the Bahia Mar has 295 transient slips.  This is the location of the Fort Lauderdale boat show.  Again, lucky for us that we were not a couple of days earlier.  The boat in the slip next to the Marlin Striker caught fire and burned two (2) boats so badly they are totaled and significantly damaged two (2) more.  One of which the repairs are estimated at $1.5 million. 

Departed - New Port Cove Marina 6:45 AM
Arrived - Bahia Mar Marina, Ft. Lauderdale - 5:00 PM
Total Travel Time - 10 hours, 15 minutes (actual moving time = 5 hours, 15 minutes) love those bridges:)

Trip total travel time - 17 hours, 04 minutes
Trip total distance - 190.6 NM
Average Speed - 11.2 knots

ICW Experience

Tuesday, May 5

It rained hard all night with 20-35 knot winds.  We decided it was a good day to stay here and just relax.  The guys went to Boat Owners Warehouse and West Marine while the girls are content to do small projects and "write this log" or other computer "work" on the boats.  This will be a good day of rest and catch up before we try to move further down the coast through the ICW tomorrow.  The wind and rain of the night continues through the day but the predictions for tomorrow are for a lot less wind and only scattered rain showers.  We will meet for BYOB again tomorrow morning to discuss whether the weather conditions are appropriate to move toward Ft. Lauderdale. 

This marina is quite plan, kind of a working yard and not close to town or restaurants although there is a Publix close by none of us are in need of any food items yet. 

The scenery of watching the many Viking Sport fish pull into the Viking yard next door has been spectacular.  We are guessing that many of them are doing the same thing we are - waiting for the opportunity to cross to the Bahamas to fish. 

Monday, May 4

The morning was beautiful and we all meet on Stocks & Blondes at 9 AM for BOYB (bring your own breakfast) and discussion about the day.  High tide is not until 11:47 AM and we all want a high tide to transit the section from Sunset Marina to the ICW and the St. Lucie Inlet.  We also had 2 bridges right outside the marina in which we need an opening to pass though, the Old Roosevelt bridge and the railroad bridge.  So it was agreed that we would all be in the river in front of the bridge at 11:00 AM, we were right on time and called the bridge for an opening only to be told that it would be at least 45 minutes because they were having trouble opening and the bridge tenders had called maintenance twice but no one had arrived yet.  By now there were about 6 or 7 boats circling the narrow deep water in front of the bridge.  Luckily the Sunset Marina fuel dock was very close so we all tied onto the fuel dock to wait.  As soon as The Maine Event got 8 gallons of fuel on board the bridge called us and began to open.  So much for the perfect (tide related) departure plans of the morning.  We slowly made our way down the ICW toward West Palm Beach with Stocks & Blondes in the lead because they could justifiably tell the bridge tenders they needed an opening even when the bridge was 35 feet.  There were three (3) 35 foot bridges in which Stocks & Blondes and the Marlin Striker would have to lay down our outriggers.  With the outriggers up our boats require 40 feet to pass under the bridges.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with outriggers, they are the large poles attached to the sides of our boats that lay out to the sides in open water (Marlin Striker is then 77 feet wide) to keep the fishing lines spread apart so they do not get tangled.  Laying them down to the back of our boat to lower our height is not a quick or easy job.  Having easily passed through eight (8) bridges during the day, only one, the Indiantown Road bridge, gave us any trouble about lowering the outriggers.  Marja even called on the phone and got permission to pass but the bridge operator claimed that there was a shift change and he knew nothing about the phone call.  The to top it off, the same bridge operator closed the bridge before Afterwires was got through so John H had to lay down all of his antennas, etc. to pass under.  Such are the normal trials and tribulations of dealing with bridge openings. 

Departed Sunset Marina - 10:45 AM
Day total miles - 32.1 NM
Day travel time - 3 hours, 47 minutes
Max speed - 33.6 knots
Average speed - 8.5 knots
Winds - NE 10-15
Temperature - 77 degrees partly sunny

We ended the day at New Port Cove Marina in North Palm Beach, FL. 
(New Port Cove Marina Manager, Bruce Grout, Andrea Spencer, Office Manager - $1.50/ft.  561-844-2504)
Arrival time - approximately 5:00 PM 

Cumulative totals:
Travel time - 11 hours 49 minutes
Total Distance - 151.6 NM
Average Speed - 12.8

Just as we arrived at the marina channel entrance it began to rain making the boat decks very slippery along with very windy conditions.  The dock hands tried to help (for 2 of them it was their first day on the job) but we were the best hands for each other.  All went well and everyone made it in without any mishaps. 

Everyone was quite satisfied to stay on the boats and have dinner on our own. 

Bahama Cruise - The Beginning

Sunday, May 3

It has been a quiet day in Stuart as everyone seemed to take a deep breath from all of the preparation, waiting to get going and then finally getting to travel yesterday.  Each of us made our trips to town to explore or visit West Marine (of course).  It was also a day to finalize organizing the inside of the boats and to do a little cleaning on the outside.  We are planning a group cookout at the Sunset Marina grills tonight while we plan our next move. 

We had considered moving down the ICW tomorrow to Boca Raton, but we found out that the high tide is not until about noon and the Royal Ridge Yacht Club (a reciprocal Florida Council Yacht Club) marina is not open this summer as they are putting in new "Techno Marine" floating docks.  Our friends from St. Charles Yacht Club will understand this comment. 

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Everyone was up and around early at St. Charles Yacht Club as we were ready to set out at 6:45 AM.  John & Ella McDowell were on their balcony to give us the Commodores salute and the Marlin Striker and The Maine Event gave their departure whistles. 

We met up with Afterwires at the end of the channel and after a brief delay while Stocks & Blondes reset his computer (for the engines) we were on our way for a delightful trip across the ICW and Lake Okeechobee to Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart, FL. 

Temperature - 64 degrees in the morning to 77 degrees in the afternoon

Wind - NE 15 -20 knots

Departure from - St. Charles Yacht Club, Fort Myers, FL

Departure time - 6:45 AM which really was 7:16 AM by the time we meet Afterwires and Stocks & Blondes got the repairs complete. 

Midpoint Bridge - 7:43 AM

I75 Bridge - 8:20 AM

Franklin Lock - through at 9:26 AM

Alva Bridge - 9:38 AM

LaBelle Bridge - 10:22

Ortona Lock - in at 10:50 and out at 11:20 AM

Moore Haven Lock - out at 12:35 AM

The Lake was very smooth, not like glass, but call it a ripple

Port Myaca Lock - out at 1:45

Indiantown Bridge - 2:33 PM

St. Lucie Lock - in at 3:12 PM out at 3:39 PM

Arrival - Sunset Bay Marina - 5:03 PM

You are probably wondering why the delay between the St. Lucie Lock and the Marina?  Well, Stocks & Blondes went aground in the channel while exiting out from under the Dixie Highway Bridge.  Yes it was a hard aground stop which shut down the engines.  Jerry did a great job of getting the engines restarted and after a few minutes was able to back the boat into some deeper water, while the rest of us stood by ready to help.  Nothing major, just typical Florida shallow water!

Average speed - 14.9 knots
Maximum speed - 32.7 knots
Total trip distance today - 119.4 NM (Nautical Miles) - approximately 140 Statute Miles

We had dinner at the Boathouse Restaurant which was excellent and enjoyed by everyone.  Marja had fun with us as we all donned red noses in support of the Boys & Girls Club.  After discussion about the weather predictions for the next few days, we have decided to stay in Stuart another day (Sunday, May 3) and then work our way down the ICW until we can get the opening we need to cross to the Bahamas. 

Bahama Trip 2015

After months of planning and delaying our start due to continual high seas headed toward the Keys, we are going leave St. Charles Yacht Club in Fort Myers, Florida tomorrow, Saturday, May 2, 2015 and head for the east coast of Florida via the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway) across Lake Okeechobee to Stuart.  By making this change we can get on our way to the east coast of Florida and then work our way down the ICW toward Ft. Lauderdale or Miami and make our crossing to the Bahamas from there without sitting in port due to high seas for the next several days.  This will also give us the opportunity to visit some of the other Florida Council Yacht Clubs (free night dockage).   

 
The boats and passengers on this trip are:

Marlin Striker - Bill & Debbie Lussier (and Stewart)

Stocks & Blondes - Jerry & Marja Norris

The Maine Event - John & Jane Linscott

Afterwires - John & Tracey Harrington (and Gabby)

Everyone is very excited and can't wait to get going!