So, here we are in the same spot, but, so much has changed. Sorry, no pics. I've been getting all of the things done that need to be done, and checking off my lists. There are only a few more things to do (on the "must do" list) and I need to sell my Jeep and trailer, and then we are out of here. I've plotted a course that takes us around the Key Largo area where we will stage for the gulf stream crossing. Then, when the weather window is good, we will shoot over to Bimini, Bahamas. Well, I'm back to work now. I promise more interesting updates to come.
May 11, Southeast Florida
Yep, still here. Just so much to get done. All systems are now working pretty much perfectly, except for the anchor light and windvane at the masthead. We've got solar lights and a solar ball at the lower spreader so we don't "need" an anchor light, for now. (Have to have two people on deck to send one up to the top). Galley, head, dinghy repaired, dinghy motor (new carb), floors (put in yesterday), wind speed indicator (yesterday), chartplotter installed and mounted, depth transducer installed (tomorrow), most spares (two more parts in the next two days), sold my trailer, all provisions (enough for a circumnavigation with no stops it looks like), etc. is stuff just off the top of my head. Well, back to the boat to "finish" up.
May 16, Southeast Florida
WE ARE ON OUR WAY!!! Everything has worked out perfectly with timing and all. I just sold my car, which was the last major thing to do. Our insurance coverage started today, finally. We have all of our affairs in order, have the boat ready, and all provisions, etc. Jeez, it's been such a focused effort on the details, it was sometimes hard to see that this is what we have been doing it for.
May 27, Bimini, Bahamas
So, here we are anchored in Alice Town, Bimini:
How did we get here? Let me run through the past week and a half real quick. We left our "base" near El Jobean bridge in Charlotte Harbor on 5-17 at 7:30AM. A helicopter from boatpix soon circled us overhead and started taking our pictures. We took the Intercoastal Waterway through Pine Sound and anchored near York Island that night. We had our third, and final naming ceremony for Gypsy Cat, this one was official.
The next day, we sailed to Marco Island, after that, 75 miles to Cape Sable and around. On 5-20, we arrived in Key Largo after navigating without instruments all that day. I inadvertently neglected to put in a ground wire to my #2 battery bank when I installed them and they didn't charge, so we lost electrical. (They lasted 6 weeks on solar alone). I fixed it in Key Largo. I don't know if Christine even noticed.
And then, one day, she woke up!
Once in Key Largo, we did repairs, cleaning, provisioning, etc. I scrubbed the barnacles off the hull getting bloody knuckles, and then learned to wear gloves. Christine spent almost the whole day sewing the headsail covering which was coming undone, and a small tear that occurred along the way. Wow, she did a great job.
Not many rants here but I must mention one. We got fuel at the Ocean Reef Club, a nice-looking high-end yacht club, in Key Largo. Besides giving us gasoline, instead of diesel fuel (requiring pumping out the the entirety of one of our tanks - fun!), when we did get proper diesel, it was full of water and sediment. Don't ever go to the Ocean Reef Club to get fuel! Or if you do, use a Baja filter to collect the crap they offer at the bottom of their tanks. I know it came from them because I removed the tanks and cleaned them spotless in Port Charlotte, and the only fuel we had since, was one fill from the mainland (not marine) and the fuel was perfect, with additive too. We only used the tank that didn't get the gasoline. I found out about the bad fuel on our crossing the Gulf Stream (not the best place to find out).
We only had one day left to cross the Gulf Stream as our weather window was closing fast. There was lightning and thunderstorm warnings and we could see it in the distance. The Gulf Stream is a mighty "ocean river" that runs north up along the Florida coast up to 4 knots. This current is running the whole way to the Bimini. If a north wind blows, it can produce steep choppy breaking waves. Well, a late-season cold front was beating down and if we didn't leave Saturday, we were "stuck" in Key Largo for several days. So, we got it together and headed out at 3AM from Pumkin Key, cut through to the Atlantic side, past the marker and headed east at 90 degrees.
If you are travelling across the Gulf Stream at 6 knots, and the current is 3 knots, then you are getting pushed sideways half of the distance you go forward. So, for instance, imagine going 20 miles forward, and getting pushed 10 miles sideways. Such is the Gulf Stream crossing in a sailboat. You need to keep your speed, or you wind up in the North Atlantic Ocean somewhere. So, here we were making good time motoring (as there was only a slight headwind) about 40 miles out from Florida when the engine starts sputtering, and at the time I didn't know why (because of the Ocean Reef Club fuel). A gigantic, dark cloud is forming and I notice that the top is starting to slowly develop a counter-clockwise spin. Uh, oh. Well, it is coming at us and I need to keep on this specific heading. It slowly develops more rotation and going lower and we are going flat out at 3500 RPM's. It is huge. Christine is sleeping, of course, and I don't want to wake her unless it is serious. I am nervous, but as it gets closer the spinning slowly dissipates and I ease back the throttle and let it pass over as I relax. Some thunder and lightning occur but it is past us.
And then, more engine sputtering. I wake
Christine and give her the plan of action if the motor were to fail.
Once briefed, it happens. Engine failure. Too much delay here
and up the Atlantic you go. Quickly, we got both sails up to take
advantage of the slight wind we had to get us moving somewhat east.
Then, right to the fuel filter I go. Off comes the filter, and YEP!
Crap fuel!
Thanks Ocean Reef Club.
After emptying the water and sediment from the fuel filter bowl, we got the motor back on, and got back on course. I looked up, and saw Bimini on the horizon. Another bowl full of sediment and water stopped the engine again close to the entrance, and after another fuel flushing, we motored into Alice Town, Bahamas.
Raising the "Q" quarantine flag
and after clearing customs, the
Bahamian countries flag
and we're here!!!!!
After clearing customs, we motored to the far end of the harbor and back looking for a place to anchor and getting oriented. There were very few sailboats (mostly motor yachts and fishing boats) and no one was anchored. We found a good spot to anchor and shortly after, another Gemini owner, Steve, his girlfriend Mary Kay, and his daughter Brittany dinghyed over to say hello and have a drink. What a nice reception. They're here for the holiday weekend and this was Steve's first crossing.
The weather report was calling for thunder and lightning, dangerous gusts, heavy seas, possible hail, etc. Christine and I then walked around the cute little town having fun but the weather was starting to get ugly. Back on Gypsy Cat, the wind was picking up, rain started, and thunder and lightning was the backdrop for me resetting the first anchor, dropping a second one, and diving on both of them securing them into the ground. It was rough weather but we rode it out well. One other boat anchored, we heard the next day. It was a 46' motoryacht. They crashed into the rocks, apparently. We were the only other anchored boat.
The next couple days we got to know the town
better
,
rode out the bad weather, went to the beach, fixed things, cleaned things,
got "baggies" from a lady at her house who we went looking for. No,
not that kind. Just a great big frozen cherry drink in a plastic bag - yum!
Went to the End of the World (bar)
, I caught conch for us but Christine didn't want any from the
"harbor" saying they were "dirty". Hmmm. Go figure.
Monday morning we left at 7AM to try and get some
relatively calmer water so that we could snorkel at the Bimini Wall.
This is a series of "blocks" that appear to be man-made that some believe
leads to the lost city of Atlantis. Since it is underwater, if
man-made, it seems it would have been built prior to the ice age when the
ocean level was lower. I didn't know exactly where they were but knew
they were offshore of Paradise Point. So off we went looking for the
lost city. It took awhile to find but we saw a mooring planted and
tried there. Sure enough, we found the road to the lost city
.
I have a new underwater camera, but sadly, was giving an error code.
There were three big blocks underwater where we were. Not only did they have
straight lines (sideways to the prevailing current), but they were separated
evenly about a foot apart and perfectly parallel to each other. Hmmm.
Apparently, this "road" goes on for miles. Very interesting. We
wanted to stay longer but the weather started getting ugly with gusts over
20 knots, so we headed back.
Later, I caught some conchs
(lobster is out of season) and we had a conch cevice salad.
We hung out at Steve's boat that evening with
Brittany, Mary Kay, and Jackie and wished them well on their return crossing
to Florida. The last day we spent taking a tram ride
around the towns and taking it easy and preparing for our journey to the
Berry Islands, our next stop.