Bahamas

We made it, crossing on Thursday-Friday. The passage (120 miles) though relatively short has a number of challenges, the most important is the weather for crossing the Gulf Stream. The basic strategy is to wait for an approaching cold front that clocks the winds toward the the SE/S/SW at under 15 knots, then get across before the squalls and northerly component wind hit. The GS crossing is about 50 miles so the better part of a day. Voyage path also plays as the GS moves north at about 2 knots average, 4 knots in the middle, so you have to be aware and account for your set north, essential meant us steering 20 degrees south of our lay line. Next step is to cross onto the banks, going from off soundings (too deep for the depth sounder to register) to 10 feet of water in less than a mile. We did this with daylight to help pilot around the shallower bits. We then anchored up in the middle of the banks with nothing but water for about 60 miles in any direction, had some dinner and a swim, getting back under way around midnight. Early morning brought us through the NW channel (another very shallow and current rid bit) into the NW Providence channel, again off soundings and on into Chub Cay for customs and immigration clearance. 

Though the crew protested we left the next day from Chub and sailed SE for the west end of New Providence Island where we are currently waiting on a bit more favorable wind for the move south to the Exumas. We caught our first fish of the season, a Mahi Mahi, on this leg. Incredible eating when fresh on the day. 





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