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| Wardrick Wells |
After nearly two years at sea, we will enter US waters next week.
We continue our journey with Argosea, Tony and Anne’s 47-foot Moody from
England. Being in the Bahamas for the
past three weeks has been a treat. It is
one of the most remote places we have traveled.
Grocery stores, chandleries, and repair services are few and far
between. If you have a mechanical issue
on board, your choices are to fix it yourself, hope a fellow yachtsman can
help, or do a work around until you get to place where services are
available. Although Atalanta behaved well for an extended period, she is now demanding some attention! The good news is, there are
hundreds and hundreds of remote cays with sandy beaches just waiting to be your
private place. The water is the clearest
and cleanest anywhere we have been and the fish are abundant. We have been swimming with rays spanning four
feet across not to mention nurse sharks 3-5 feet in length. The snorkeling over coral is spectacular in
the Bahamas as well. We will miss it as
we cross the Gulf Stream and enter the darker, colder waters off the east coast.
From Nassau, we will spend a little time in
the Berry Islands before heading NW to the West End Point of Grand Bahama
Island. It will be here that we will
check out of the Bahamas and begin the 380 mile passage directly to Charleston,
SC. The Gulf Stream can either be a
friend or nemesis. It can help move us along at an additional 2-3 knots in favourable conditions and the current can be as high as 4 kts. The rule is never get caught in the stream when the weather has a northerly component. The wind against the current sets up a sea
condition that you do NOT want to confront.
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South End of
Hawksbill Cay |
We have sent a detailed sail plan to our
friends Richard and Martin so that they can keep track of our progress. This is a standard way to address the need
for verification that we have arrived safe and sound at our final destination.
Its with very mixed feelings that we return
to US waters, having enjoyed the sail south so much. So many adventures, new places visited, and
friends made.
The adventure will continue and we will
remain on Atalanta for the foreseeable future as it is our only home. Once fall begins and winter approaches we
will contemplate our southern passage once more. Stay tuned as there is much more to come.
Thanks for following. Richard and Kay
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| Moored at Hawksbill Cay |
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| Murray making a mad dash for the beach |
After nearly two years at sea, we will enter US waters next week.
We continue our journey with Argosea, Tony and Anne’s 47-foot Moody from
England. Being in the Bahamas for the
past three weeks has been a treat. It is
one of the most remote places we have traveled.
Grocery stores, chandleries, and repair services are few and far
between. If you have a mechanical issue
on board, your choices are to fix it yourself, hope a fellow yachtsman can
help, or do a work around until you get to place where services are
available. Although Atalanta behaved well for an extended period, she is now demanding some attention! The good news is, there are
hundreds and hundreds of remote cays with sandy beaches just waiting to be your
private place. The water is the clearest
and cleanest anywhere we have been and the fish are abundant. We have been swimming with rays spanning four
feet across not to mention nurse sharks 3-5 feet in length. The snorkeling over coral is spectacular in
the Bahamas as well. We will miss it as
we cross the Gulf Stream and enter the darker, colder waters off the east coast.
