We left
Kitchener on January 2nd, and in our innocence and inexperience we
thought we would be across to the Bahamas by mid-January. With all good
intentions we got ready to go, only to be delayed by battery issues, and Mother
Nature, both beyond our control.
We were
starting to get a little worried about when we might cross once we were ready
to go, and with our friends’ visit looming in the near future, slight panic set
in. But, a small window of opportunity appeared, two days of pretty calm winds
and waves. So, with Mike and Julie on Blue Train from Toronto, we decided to
set off on Tuesday at noon to cross the treacherous Gulf Stream and the Bahamas
Bank to the Berry Islands during an overnight sail. We didn’t make it to the
Berrys last year, but Blue Train did and with a two day window of good weather,
the thought of getting as far possible was definitely appealing.
The forecast
was for good winds and swells up to 9 feet (yikes) but with an 8-10 second
period between the waves. This means that although the swells are high, you
really don’t feel it, as you float up and down over them. I found it was best
not to look behind, as when you saw one coming it looked huge, but if you looked
forward it was no big deal! Hugh exclaimed a couple of times “wow, that was a
big one”! I preferred not to know!
Follow this link to an animation of how we felt in the waves ... https://media.giphy.com/media/3mfxDl4SRFN6cfDAHr/giphy.gif
We reached the other side of the Gulf Stream about 10pm, and suddenly the waves were gone, and instead of depths in the thousands of feet, we were in 15 feet. Unfortunately is was dark, so we were unable to see the beautiful blue waters we had just entered, but were happy to have a calm sail for the rest of the night. We took two hour shifts, and during each watch looked out for other boats coming or going our way. The sunset was wonderful, and the rising moon was the coolest I have seen in a long time. When it first peeked up it was the shape of a crescent, but it looked like it was something sitting on the water. I was on watch, and at first it looked like a boat on fire, it was so red and bright. Then I realized it was the moon, and as it slowly rose up it really was a beautiful sight. We also had a great sunrise, so all in all a good passage!
Follow this link to an animation of how we felt in the waves ... https://media.giphy.com/media/3mfxDl4SRFN6cfDAHr/giphy.gif
We reached the other side of the Gulf Stream about 10pm, and suddenly the waves were gone, and instead of depths in the thousands of feet, we were in 15 feet. Unfortunately is was dark, so we were unable to see the beautiful blue waters we had just entered, but were happy to have a calm sail for the rest of the night. We took two hour shifts, and during each watch looked out for other boats coming or going our way. The sunset was wonderful, and the rising moon was the coolest I have seen in a long time. When it first peeked up it was the shape of a crescent, but it looked like it was something sitting on the water. I was on watch, and at first it looked like a boat on fire, it was so red and bright. Then I realized it was the moon, and as it slowly rose up it really was a beautiful sight. We also had a great sunrise, so all in all a good passage!
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| Sunrise compliments of Julie |
We arrived in
Great Harbour Cay Marina about 11am, tired and hungry but so excited to be in
the Bahamas. The marina is tucked inside the island, and to get in you have to
go through a narrow blasted channel, through a bay, then turn left and there it
is.
A great hurricane hole if ever needed! Just as we had finished getting settled on the dock we heard Shooting Star calling in to the marina. We really enjoyed the time we spent last year in the Exumas with Fred and Ruth-Ann, including when Hugh and Alyssa competed against them in the blindfolded dinghy rowing competition at the Cruisers Regatta in Georgetown!
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| Great Harbour Cay entrance |
A great hurricane hole if ever needed! Just as we had finished getting settled on the dock we heard Shooting Star calling in to the marina. We really enjoyed the time we spent last year in the Exumas with Fred and Ruth-Ann, including when Hugh and Alyssa competed against them in the blindfolded dinghy rowing competition at the Cruisers Regatta in Georgetown!
Once we were
ready, the marina called the customs officer at the airport and he drove over
to check us all in. What service! After we were official, we invited Mike and
Julie from Blue train over to toast our successful crossing with Champagne and
OJ. I think we will make that a yearly tradition!
With a good
nights sleep we were all feeling ready to explore. After lunch, we went for a
bike ride with Shooting Star’s, Ruth Ann and Fred, down to the “shell beach”
which was beautiful, empty, and lacking shells because we had missed low tide
and the water was filling in. We will try and time it better another day.
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| Shell beach |
We also
managed to find The Beach Club along the way and rewarded ourselves with a beer
on the way back! Traditions or hard to ignore!
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| The Beach Club |
We found a
local fisherman selling fish and lobster tails at the marina, so for $15 I got
three nice size lobster tails for our first dinner in the Bahamas. Delicious!
Yesterday afternoon we rode bikes into town. There wasn't much there other than a couple of stores and bars that didn't look too appealing. Last evening there was “Chill and Grill”
at the marina gazebo where, for $10, you get your choice of chicken, ribs or pork,
with two sides, so the six of us went and had good conversation and laughs.
What a deal!
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| Grill and Chill at the Gazebo |
We will stay
here until Sunday, when the front that blew in last night dies down, and then
the plan is do a couple of days exploring and anchoring in the Berry Islands,
then head to Nassau for a night then down to the Exumas.
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| Trekker docked at Great Harbour Cay Marina |
And so the
adventure continues … one day at a time!
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