2/14/06

We flew back to Nassau and found Valentina watching and waiting patiently for us secured to the dock.  She was completely unharmed and in perfect shape.
At the marina, you have to tie the bow to the front of the dock, and telephone poles  to the aft, with boats on each side and a 2  1/2 knot current.   We had to get on and off the bow, but tie it back so as to not hit the dock.

2/16/06
We cast off the lines from the marina and topped off the diesel tank ($3.11 per gallon) and at 10:30 a.m. headed for Northwest Channel Light for a perfect day sail.

 We had 15 - 20 knot winds from the east and waves from the aft quarter-panel, so we rolled from side to side, but it was great.  This was actually the first day we could sail and not run the engine at all.   The water was about 2100' deep.  At 8:30 p.m., we anchored for the evening, just on the banks.  We put out 120' of chain and drug 1/4 mile during the night.  There is just 6" of sand on top of solid rocks, so your anchor just drags.  But, the good news is, "It doesn't matter".  You can drag for miles and miles, and it is the same.  No boats, no obstructions, no depth difference, just water.
When we woke up at 4:30 a.m. and looked out, I thought there was a sailboat anchored right next to us.   But it was not, it was the brightest star in the east that I have ever seen.  (There are no boats around you, just water and more water).   We have seen it every night, but it is just not quite a bright as it was on the Bahamas Banks.

2/17/06
We pulled up anchor at Northwest Channel Light at 6 a.m. and headed across the Great Bahamas Bank.   We have not seen another boat all  day.  It was absolutely beautiful!  The water is the prettiest blue, very crystal clear, and calm.


We anchored at the edge of the Gulf Stream at South Riding Rock at 2:30 p.m..   This place should be renamed "Rough Riding Rocks", because this was our roughest anchorage ever.
 At anchor, we had 15-20 knot winds and waves coming over the bow.  Now, is that a rolly anchorage, or what?  We were eating dinner in the cockpit, and Kay's drink was knocked over from the rocking.
After little or no sleep, we knew the Gulf Stream would be a breeze after this anchorage. We were anxious for  sunrise to hit the Gulf Stream.


2/18/06
We gladly left South Riding Rocks for the Gulf Steam and had a very good crossing.  We had east winds at about 10 knots all day and seas were only about 3-5'.  Valentina tossed to and fro through the waves as we trudged against the current.
Due to the strong current, sometimes, we would only travel 2 knots.  It was very deep, around 2900'.   We did have some problems with the outhaul on our mainsail, that we also had to contend with.   In the afternoon, we had a crew of dolphins swim along with us at the bow of the boat.   We were able to get them on video.   It was nice and calm when we arrived  at Hawks Channel at sunset and went to Rodriguez Key at 8 p.m. for a great night's rest.  It was a calm evening.



2/19/06
We pulled up anchor early and headed towards Marathon, Boot Key Harbor.  Hawks Channel was nice.   You just have to watch out for crab pots.  They are everywhere.   Then, you can just watch the islands go by.   We arrived around 2:30 p.m. and set both anchors in our same anchorage where we were before.  We checked on old friends and had dinner with Camu.

"Camu" is a very interesting French Canadian artist who has a 20' sailboat with no motor.  He has lived on the water for the past 19 years and been through 9 hurricanes, 8 of them while he stayed on his boat, and plans to head to the Bahamas in March.  He is one of the net controllers for the Marathon Cruisers' Net and organizes the Buddy Boat list for local cruisers in Boot Key Harbor.


2/21/06
We rose early and started dodging crab pots before sunrise, headed to Key West.  We had a good cruise up Hawks Channel and arrived at Key West at 2:15 p.m.   We are securing the boat and getting projects updated and getting the mainsail repaired.  We have enjoyed the island and our time here.  We walk a lot.