The crossing to Bahamas

We made it!  We are now at the West End on Grand Bahama Island all checked in and we have a 90 cruising pass, more than enough.  We had a nice crossing a bit bumpy but not bad AT ALL.  Yeah!!!

We were delayed a bit leaving Stuart as we needed to wait for the bridge to open, a 45 min delay for a train to pass.

someone is building a good size house

holy cow! its and addition!

We crossed directly from Port St Lucie Inlet rather than travelling an extra 35 miles south and crossing .  We were a bit worried about the inlet as the charts and Active Captain had alot of local knowledge about the inlet and when we decided on Wed to cross from there we were told we were nuts!  The words that kept ringing in my ears was " at least 5 boats a day run aground here" and its never a good sign when a Tow Boat US is always sitting here just waiting.  These 2 things are actually fact, but then the big sport fishing boats go through here all the time, and they draw more then we do.  The deciding factors to me in the end was, while doing laundry I ran into Bob on Istaboas who has a much larger boat with a much deeper draft 6' we are 4' he said he travels this inlet without a problem. The crossroads just before the inlet were more shallow and confusing.  Well dam we have to go through the crossroads no mater what!  He gave us some instruction on the markers to favor etc.  Thank You Bob it was a breeze and saved us 35 miles and at least an extra days travel. 

                                       Heading out, all this water makes you feel really small

                                                            The depth finder flat lined

                        Wow all these numbers are depths our depth finder only goes to 499 feet 
                                                   

We are at the Old Bahama Bay marina along with our friends on Algonquin, Something Special, Brown Eyed Girl and Passport, we had cocktails aboard SweetPea with everyone then Jim and I went over to Teasers for an Island drink and some delicious conch.  Tomorrow we all head out to  Great Sale Cay to anchor for the night then onto Green Turtle Cay Marina.  So there will be no posting tomorrow night.

Here are a few more pictures of the day...................

                                                     The color of the water is beautiful

                                                         Entryway to the marina

                                                                       Cocktails

                                                           Out for a stroll

                                                            This is the beach at Teasers

                                                The close to our first day in the Bahamas

We are Bahama Bound!

Abaco is the sailing capital of the world. Abaco is the third most populous island Bahamas Yachtman's dream!

Tomorrow morning weather permitting, we will head east over to the Bahamas.  The boat is stocked and sitting lower in the water, we will be spending 6-8 weeks there mostly in the Abacos we may venture deeper into the Exumas, time will tell.  Once we head on out, we will have no cell service or I should say the phone will be shut off unless we need it.  Internet will be spotty at best, unless at a marina that has it.  I will post when I can.

What to bring?  Well we have 10 cases of beer, a couple cases of wine, lots of juice, soda and tonic water to go with gin, vodka, tequila, rum etc.  Jim has stocked up on scotch 4 yes 4 gallons of scotch, cigars and cigs enough munchy food to go with all the drinks.  Yes we have real food too and 6 cases of water hmmm......... more beer than water?  All the bills paid, taxes done, boat documentation for 2012, re entry sticker, water tanks filled, poop pumped, fueled up and as ready as possible to go!
We will be crossing with at least 6 other looper boats that we know off, though leaving from different places and travelling at different speeds all meeting at the West End to check in with customs and immigrations and spending the night at the Old Bahama Bay Marina.  We have been in contact with most of the other loopers via e-mail and look forward to some face time and of course cocktail hours.


WOW 52 days in Stuart we were getting stir crazy and are happy to finally be moving on. Though I highly recommend Sunset Bay its great, and if you stay long term (1 month or more) as we did, it worked out to be $23.54 per day (inc 50amp service) can't beat that. Jim has done the boat maintenance that was needed and added a couple new things to make life easier, so time was not wasted and the boat has been rearranged to accommodate all the extra stuff we are now carrying.  The laundry is done, but we are hoping to live in swimsuits and flip flops for the next couple of months. 
 Its 80 degrees here today and by Sat/Sunday they say it will get to 88-90 degrees, over on the Abacos its 73 today and Sat/Sunday it is suppose to be 77 PERFECT!!!  Sorry guys I know as I started to update this blog it was snowing at home. (Massachusetts) Here is a bit of information on Abaco Bahamas......................

 

In Abaco, you will find excellent marinas, Bahamas guides and boats for hire as well as a championship golf course, one of seven in The Bahamas -- the others being in Nassau, Freeport, Abaco and Eleuthera. Abaco is referred to as the sailing capital of the world. Abaco Bahamas has naturally protected waters and dozens of offshore cays covering over 130 square miles of Bahamian aquamarine water. Abaco Bahamas is the third most populous island in The Bahamas and bears a resemblance to New England from which it attracts so many of its visitors and winter residents -- many who often purchase a second home. Marsh Harbour Abaco is the commercial centre located on Great Abaco. Home to the famous red and white striped lighthouse, Abaco with its numerous offshore cays and reef protected waters, once served as a safe harbor for British loyalists during the American Revolution. The first settlement on Abaco was Carleton Point, located at the northern end of Treasure Cay a luxury resort development. Carleton was settled in 1783 by 600 Loyalists refugees from New York, fleeing the newly independent United States. Abaco now serves a more useful purpose as the one of the most favorite destinations among yachtsman the world over. Filled with excellent marinas and boats for hire, not to mention a championship golf course, Abaco truly is a sailor's paradise. Its two major islands, Great Abaco and Little Abaco, have a myriad of small cays flanking the mainland. The sea channel between the islands allows for good cruising. Abaco, located in the northern Bahamas, typically boats pine forests and is frequented by hunters of wild boar and ducks. Its waters abound with fish, including the marlin and sailfish. It also has bonefishing flats. Other settlements include its northern cays, such as Walker’s Cay and the Grand Cays; Crown Haven and Fox Town in Little Abaco, and Cooper’s Town on Great Abaco; Green Turtle Cay, Hope Town, Moore’s Island, the tourist resort of Castaways Cay, Great Guana Cay, Cherokee Sound, Little Harbour, Hole-in-the-Wall, Sandy Point, Crossing Rock, Spring City and Man-O-War Cay.