We have arrived and it is incredible. We left Ft. Lauderdale at 6AM on January 9th and headed out to the Atlantic. It was a scary thought to make this crossing but it was like "just jump off that diving board and swim". We started out and wind/sea conditions were very good. There were three of us..."My Cin", "Whichaway" and "Mascot". We met the captains of Mascot in Ft. Lauderdale and they joined our group. About two hours out, a fourth trawler radio us and asked if they could join our group. Now we are four and "Roving Seas" has joined our fleet. The winds picked up and it was rough for about two hours heading directly into the wind. After that, it settled down and once we approached the islands, very flat and smooth.
We arrived at the West End of Grand Bahamas around 4PM and that was our official checkin - clearing customs. All went smooth and we settled in for the night. The next day we anchored out, third day we stayed at Green Turtle Cay then on January 12th, we arrived at our home base for three months, Boat Harbour Marina in Marsh Harbour, Abacos, Bahamas.
There are about 80+ boats here and you couldn't ask for a nicer group of folks to be with for the next three months. Some are here for the length of time we are and some are here longer. The grounds are very nice. Restaurant, nice showers and laundry facilities, two swimming pools, white beach with the use of water equipment (snorkeling, Sunfish Sailing). Each dock gets together for happy hour and when it's time, you hear the sounds of the conch shell announcing "Happy Hour". On our dock, we have met two other boats from Texas. Every morning, they have a "cruiser net" on Channel 68 (VHF) to announce daily events, weather, news, new arrivals of boats and ones that are leaving. After that, a group of ladies will take off for a four mile walk. There are always some sort of activity going on and things to see. There are so many Cays around to take off and go have lunch or explore a new beach. On one island 12 miles away, they have a big pig roast on the beach every Sunday. We plan on making that event one weekend.
Our camera is really messed up and we are having a hard time taking good pictures. So......that is why so few pictures. I'm going to have to borrow a camera from Whichaway to get some good shots to post on our blog. But in the meantime, here are a few pictures that turned out. They are from part of our crossing and a picture of "Whichaway" at the marina. We are experiencing a series of cold fronts this week, so when it warms up and better weather, I will take more pictures.
It's hard to believe we are really here. It is everything we thought it would be and more. The weather has been so nice that we rarely run the AC. At night, it has been very comfortable sleeping with the windows open.
We are not using our cell phone (very expensive). But we can communicate through email. Drop us a line when you can. Just know that each morning as we sip our coffee and think about what we are going to do that day.....we think of all of you driving to work.....in the traffic.....and as we dinghy over to an island for lunch......we think of you on your one hour lunch break.......and when the sounds of conch shells call us for happy hour.....we think of you driving home......in the traffic.
Much love.......Jess and Cindy
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