We haven’t had much of an opportunity to post since leaving homeport in Sarasota and heading to the Bahamas. In our first two days after tossing our lines we covered over 210 miles to Marathon Key. From there, we traveled another 120 miles to the Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami. Cruising in the Bahamas is all about watching the weather and choosing travel days when the seas won’t be rough. Out boat can handle tougher seas than the Captain and First Mate. From Miami, we crossed the Gulf Stream (45miles) to Bimini staying at the Big Game Marina. This is where Ernest Hemingway loved to fish for the big fighting fish. From Bimini, a long 97 mile run to Great Harbour Cay Marina in the Berry Islands. On March 3rd, we had a shorter 59 mile cruise to Chub Cay. We planned to stay two days at Chub Cay but were forced to leave a day early because of building wind and seas which would have made our last leg to Nassau a very uncomfortable ride. Being stranded at the Atlantis Marina on Paradise Island in Nassau for a few extra days waiting for the winds to subside has been far from a stressful environment. In another day or two we will start working our way westward back to the USA entering at Fort Lauderdale. From there, we head north to resume the Great Loop route.
Tag: Cartography
Becoming a Captain
Even though we have had over thirty years of boating experience both along the Gulf Coast and the Florida Keys, I felt a need to be as prepared and qualified as possible in order to be comfortable on our long cruise ahead. Much like getting board certified in a medical specialty, my certification as a U.S. Coast Guard Captain made me more ready to face the challenges that we will surely encounter. No voyage or even a day trip by boat can accomplished safely without the capable help of my First Mate, Jeanne. She is the lookout, the second set of ears, the line handler and fender (bumper) jockey when pulling into a tight slip at a marina. Safe boating is always a team approach.