Friday and Saturday (March 1st & 2nd), we were able to have many guests/friends come visit Soulmatie for an informal “open house” sort of thing. Thanks to all of you who were able to attend. Most of our friends had only seen pictures back when we’d bought her over a year before. They were anxious to see what we would call home for the next several years on our quest for adventure. It was nice to be able to share this with them and let them experience a little of how we will be living. Okay, so we aren’t really roughing it. She’s pretty nice with all the comforts of home … just on a lot smaller scale!
Well, we are on our way! On Sunday, March 3rd, we started the day with a farewell breakfast with Mom & Carl (Larry’s brother). Immediately after breakfast, the dock lines were cast and the adventure begins (about 10am). Mom/Carl saw us off and took pictures at a couple of places as we ventured down the inter-coastal towards Fort Lauderdale. Our trip was delayed a bit having to wait for bridge openings but we were exiting the channel in Fort Lauderdale by about 3PM and out into the ocean. Once we were out the cut and clear of the channel, the sails went up and the engine was silenced. You know, it never ceases to amaze me what an awesome moment that is when the winds fill the sails and the only noise is the seas, waves and wind and you are cruising for free! This is the way we were meant to travel! We had an awesome sail down to where we entered Port of Miami. We were anchored in Virginia Key (across from Miami) and eating dinner by 8pm. Fortunately, it was an uneventful trip.
You can tell this is going to be awesome adventure because we woke Monday morning and watched dolphins play while we sipped hot coffee in our cockpit. About noon, we pulled the anchor and sailed under the Rickenbacker Causeway and into Key Biscayne. There’s a secluded little harbor (called NoName) just inside the park at the tip of Key Biscayne but as we passed, you could tell it was jammed full of boats. We chose to anchor outside the cove, just offshore. We were the only boat there and it was nice and peaceful … at least, for the first 20 minutes or so. Other boats started to pour in. By sunset, there were about 10 other boats anchored with us.
We’d listened to the weather again and as expected, Tuesday was the optimum day for crossing the Gulf Stream. Monday, the seas were up to 8 feet (too rough for a 10-12 hour crossing!) Tuesday, they were to settle to 2-3 feet. On Wednesday, they were back up to 6-8 ft. There was no question about it, we would take this opportunity and head south.
We pulled anchor and were underway by 4:30am (Monday night/Tuesday morning). The winds were actually a little lite so we motor-sailed the entire day. But at least the seas were calm. Just a rolling swell of 3-4 ft. On the crossing we actually saw WHALES!!! This was a first for both of us. Awesome!
We made good time and entered the cut at Cat & Gunn Cay in the Bahamas by 1:30PM. We didn’t even slow and just ploughed forward for the 70 mile crossing to Chubb Cay. The waters range from 8-20 feet deep and it was like a massive pond. The water was like glass … so motor sailing all the way!
Just as you exit the banks and hit the deep water (between NW Channel Light - where there actually isn’t even a light; so unsure of where the name comes from, and Chubb Cay), the waters got rougher. We arrived at that point about 1AM. It was a very dark, moonless night but we were determined to proceed. We sailed through the darkness past Chubb and on to Nassau.
We arrived in Nassau, Bahamas at 10:15AM on Wednesday, March 06, 2013 … about 30 hours and 160 miles after we left the US.
It was a cold and exhausting trip. The temperatures dropped to the 40’s at night and with the wind-chill, it felt even colder. We were grateful I had finished the enclosure before we left because it made it considerably warmer and we were able to cruise in the protection of the cockpit. Neither of us got much sleep but were both excited to be back in the Bahamas. It was worth the LONG crossing.
Bacon, eggs, toast and celebrative Mimosas for brunch was enjoyed as we sat at anchor in Nassau Channel on a beautiful sunny and clear morning. The wind was still chilly but we were happy. Who wouldn’t be? Since we are both exhausted, we have decided to “veg” for today and will head into town tomorrow to send this email and catch up on a few internet projects. We also need to get our cruising permit for the Bahamas extended (it expires on March 11th) or we’ll be rushing thru these waters and missing lots to see and do. Nassau isn’t warm enough for us so we will head out as soon as all our chores are done … for warmer, tropical places.
It is nice to be back to the familiar waters of the Bahamas. There is still so much to see and explore here … so many places we have not seen! Can’t wait!
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