Bahamas Bound Again!

Bahamas  Bound again!    May 8, 2006

We “splashed” at Cracker Boy Boat Works and were underway at 1430 (2:30 PM).  Forecast for crossing the Gulf Stream excellent, meaning smallish waves, winds no higher than 10-15 knots from the west.  We are psyched!  (What one doesn't want are north winds which, blowing toward the south, can raise a nasty sea as they collide with the north-flowing Gulf Stream.  When it's blowing from the north, or forecast to do so, cruising boats are often backed up along the Florida east coast waiting for the wind to change.  Even more so than normal, the leading topic of conversation for cruisers is the weather and when they should dare to set sail.

 

2300 hours: Loom of Grand Bahama Island ahead as we have made 45 nautical miles and have only 25 to go to the area of Lucaya  which we should reach in about three hours, two AM.  We will anchor there in the lee of the island.  Wind is now from the northwest, directly behind us producing a following sea and 8+ knots of speed over the ground.   Until an hour ago we had wind from the south creating 2-4 foot waves and a squirrelly ride, quite bouncy and rolly.  Now we have a pleasant following sea causing us to slalom from side to side.

Starboard transmission fixed by Mr. Woods and removed and re-installed by John Brown, is working fine.  The PTO is now quiet thanks to John’s suggestion to tie the rattling shifter lever in place, which "Mr. Bungee" accommodated.  John Brown found that the mounts supporting the marine gear were not appropriate and allowed for only two bolts to hold the gear fast, rather than four, as is the case with the port gear.  John thinks the bolts were over-stressed and worked loose, causing the catastrophe.  I concur.  John will be searching for the correct mounts at marine flea markets.  Meanwhile I will check that the two bolts are firmly in place every 200 hours of operation.

I see the lighthouse at Freeport at eleven o’clock.  When sailing at night I normally have the radar on to help monitor other vessels.  However, we have not had any sightings for several hours so the radar is off.  But I shall turn it back on because we are approaching land and a major port so there may be traffic.

Our email for the next month will be provided over high frequency radio, WDC3404@wloradio.com.

I just realized I need to take some more ibuprofen.  Four days ago I was riding my bike to locate some hardware in a rain shower and took a dive onto the concrete when crossing a railroad track: ouch!  My helmet served me well, but I should have been wearing knee and shoulder pads as well.

Anchored 0200 hrs in 28 ft. off of Lucaya, Grand Bahama in sizable swells as no cove or harbor for shelter.