We are Off to the Bahamas
Here we go, our journey to the Bahamas has begun. We left Thursday, February 27 around 10:30 in morning to sail to Marathon with 20-30 mph winds, up the Atlantic side. When we arrived off the coast of marathon, the winds were favorable for us to continue through the night to the Northwest channel in the Flats of The Bahamas. We had adjusted our course at alligator reef to enter the gulf stream towards the outer banks of the Bahamas. Everyone was ready, especially the dogs!
Luca And Freya, safe and sound wearing their PFD’s.
Let me tell ya, it was not the most comfortable trip, with the weather conditions, 8-10 ft swells and wind no less than 20 mph, and the water traffic. About 10 freighters and 4 cruise ships passed us while underway, and one of the freighters almost ran us over in the gulf stream! The ship had the same course as us and to get their attention we had to turn on our deck lights, and a strobe light on before they saw us and changed their course drastically. After this we were able to rest a little easy, well except for our dad, he couldn’t sleep the whole night!
Our navigation instruments, the newly installed radar, and new displays as well.
The next morning, Friday, February 28, we set out our fishing lines and caught two barracudas, but let them go. Lots of friends were telling us that they are smelly and difficult to fillet, but yummy once you do that. Also that if they travel alone or are bigger than a certain size, then they carry ciguatera, but if they travel in a group they don’t. Ciguatera is a food-born illness (food poisoning) caused by eating fish that is contaminated by ciguatera toxin. And like how are we supposed to tell if they were alone or not if we are trolling? So we didn’t risk it and just let the fishies with big teeth go. Conditions weren’t great to try something new anyway.
About mid day we made it into the Bahamas waters! We had crossed through the outer banks at south riding rock, which was a close squeeze as it was surrounded by giant corral heads, and into the Great Bahama bank. It was everyone onboards first time ever in the Bahamas so that was exciting for Sascha and I to be able to try something new with our Dad. Around 4 pm we made it through the Mackie Shoal to Northwest Channel, and decided to anchor for the night just off the channel in the flats. Before sunset we had radioed a catamaran that was sailing past us headed to Chub Cay. They were on their way to Chub Cay for a part but if they couldn’t get it there, they were going to continue to Nassau. Their names were Jim and Lisa aboard S/V (sailing vessel) ‘Peeps’. Hopefully they were still in Nassau when we make it there. Contrary to some beliefs, it was pretty calm so after a celebratory drink for us, and cigar for Papa, we were able to get a good nights rest.
Captain John with his cigar and favorite hat:)
The next morning, Saturday, February 29, we picked up anchor and headed to Chub Kay. As we crossed into the Tongue of the Sea we set out our fishing lines and altered course one time to keep to the side of it with north/northwest winds. We arrived at Chub Kay and went about 100 ft offshore next to another S/V Matas from Ontario, and dropped anchor. After getting the dingy ready to take the dogs to shore we collected the dogs and cameras to head to shore. During the trip Luca was really good at going to the bathroom on the deck, but Freya was not a fan. So after two days it was time to let her relieve herself. HOWEVER we found out that she already had on the couch, so Freya was in the dog house, and neither dog was allowed on the couch anymore.
The S/V had just picked up anchor when we were on our way to shore so we didn’t get a chance to say hello. We are guessing that they were waiting for high tide in order to get through a certain channel, but we’ll never know. The second the dogs feet touched the beach they were howling with joy. I have never seen Freya run so much. I guess being cooped up for 2 days does that to a dog. The West beach of Chub Kay was absolutely breathtaking. with bluest waters I have seen and the most spotless beach. I knew it would only get better from their, but the bar was set high.
The beautiful beach at Chub Cay.
When the dogs had run as much as they could, and we had stretched our legs enough, we headed back. Here we realized that papa had forgotten something important. We immediately called mama who mailed it overnight to Nassau, so we picked up anchor and made our way in that direction. The winds kept shifting the entire 5-6 hr sail, so we kept having to change our heading. We had north/northwest winds and the current was running in the other direction causing us to have some chop. The sails were not happy, we ended up setting up our boom vang to the port side and then switching to the starboard side.
Eventually we caught sight of land and looked at the charts to see where we could anchor for the night. There was an anchorage on the northwest side of the island, so we headed that way. It was just off of North Cay Discovery Island or Sandals private Island. We anchored in a spot we thought was going to be comfortable, but no, it was not. According to my dad it was the worst, rockiest anchorage he had ever been in. I tried to make the most of it by making a nice little dinner of kale, beans, chicken, and potatoes (which was very difficult to do in the rocky anchorage) and we watched a movie (a very strange one, wouldn’t recommend Funny Games) and headed to bed. That night was restless. Around 2 AM Luca needed to pee, and we had to stabilize our wine bottles and pans in the oven because they were clanging with every rock of the boat.
If I thought sleeping that night was rough, waking up was even more so rough, but after a cup of coffee and a delicious breakfast of huevos rancheros, made by Papa, we were a little less groggy (emphasis on the little). Next thing to do is figure out what we want to do!
