Ship Channel Cay 
Bahamas
24.48.795N
76.49.749W
36.6 NM
5.4 Kt. Avg
7.6 Kt. Max
Current Odom:
7796.5NM
There’s no weather broadcast on Sunday, so we got up and looked out the hatches to calculate a go/no go decision. Factored into the equation was the abundance sunshine (something we haven’t seen in a while) and the fact that the wind wasn’t screaming. We also figured that since we’re hairy chested, salt encrusted sailors, we could handle whatever was beyond the protection of the mooring field.
By 9:30am we had secured the Palace well enough to release our mooring ball which was, in and of itself, a feat to behold as the current was going out (turning us opposite the way we needed to exit) and we had a cross wind through the harbor (any wind in tight quarters is always fun). Dale let loose one of our lines and held the second until the wind brought us around to the point that we were cross ways to the path that would lead us out. Once in that position, I had to first reverse the engine to start the remainder of our turn, then once the turn was begun, quickly put it in forward with opposite helm to complete the turn without running into anyone else moored nearby. We managed to look like we knew what we were doing and exited rather smartly. We pondered how our singled handed neighbor would do the same considering her less than tactful approach with the volunteers at the Park.
Our exit, of course, was right into the teeth of an outgoing tide from the bank to the Sound and the 3-5’ waves left over from the past few days slowed our progress even more to about 3 kts. Eventually, we made it to our waypoint, turned northwest to a reach (perpendicular to the wind) and sped away doing over 7 kts. Life is good. The remainder of the day was sailed further and further downwind as each successive waypoint turned us more north and east.
The wind and waves never did subside throughout the day as we had hoped they might but we did have a lively romp to our current stop at Ship Channel Cay and enjoyed our day on the water. We dropped the hook in sand in 12’ of water to the side of what appears to be the decaying hulk of a old stone house. We aren’t as protected as would normally be the case in easterly winds but with wind out of the south, the motion is a pitch to and fro instead of a roll side to side which is always the preferred motion if there has to be one.
Dale and I are hoping that the winds will stay steady for the long journey tomorrow so that we can sail the whole way. The price of fuel around here is enough to take your breath away.
Bahamas
24.48.795N
76.49.749W
36.6 NM
5.4 Kt. Avg
7.6 Kt. Max
Current Odom:
7796.5NM
There’s no weather broadcast on Sunday, so we got up and looked out the hatches to calculate a go/no go decision. Factored into the equation was the abundance sunshine (something we haven’t seen in a while) and the fact that the wind wasn’t screaming. We also figured that since we’re hairy chested, salt encrusted sailors, we could handle whatever was beyond the protection of the mooring field.
By 9:30am we had secured the Palace well enough to release our mooring ball which was, in and of itself, a feat to behold as the current was going out (turning us opposite the way we needed to exit) and we had a cross wind through the harbor (any wind in tight quarters is always fun). Dale let loose one of our lines and held the second until the wind brought us around to the point that we were cross ways to the path that would lead us out. Once in that position, I had to first reverse the engine to start the remainder of our turn, then once the turn was begun, quickly put it in forward with opposite helm to complete the turn without running into anyone else moored nearby. We managed to look like we knew what we were doing and exited rather smartly. We pondered how our singled handed neighbor would do the same considering her less than tactful approach with the volunteers at the Park.
Our exit, of course, was right into the teeth of an outgoing tide from the bank to the Sound and the 3-5’ waves left over from the past few days slowed our progress even more to about 3 kts. Eventually, we made it to our waypoint, turned northwest to a reach (perpendicular to the wind) and sped away doing over 7 kts. Life is good. The remainder of the day was sailed further and further downwind as each successive waypoint turned us more north and east.
The wind and waves never did subside throughout the day as we had hoped they might but we did have a lively romp to our current stop at Ship Channel Cay and enjoyed our day on the water. We dropped the hook in sand in 12’ of water to the side of what appears to be the decaying hulk of a old stone house. We aren’t as protected as would normally be the case in easterly winds but with wind out of the south, the motion is a pitch to and fro instead of a roll side to side which is always the preferred motion if there has to be one.
Dale and I are hoping that the winds will stay steady for the long journey tomorrow so that we can sail the whole way. The price of fuel around here is enough to take your breath away.
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