Saturday, May 23, 2015

Leaving the Bahamas for the USA


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. 

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

Moored at Hawksbill Cay






Murray making a mad dash for the beach







1 comment:

  1. Thanks for keeping us updated on your blog. It must be hard to have a favorite place as you continually find such beautiful paradises. Be safe my friends! Miss you and hope you get to Maine to see me this summer!

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