It's better in the Bahamas

The still waters of the Bahama bank

Yay - last week we had got ourselves down to Lake Worth near the inlet to be ready for any possible weather window. It was only a little over a week to Dec. 14 when Lisa's mom and dad and Reggie were to meet us in Marsh Harbour in the Abacos in Bahamas and we were growing more anxious with each day.

We had met a couple from Maine in a boat called Civil Twilight. They and friends of theirs had crossed a few times over to the Bahamas and we had talked to them about reading the weather, etc. We met up with both couples in Lake Worth where we were all anchored and waiting.

We thought Friday looked good. Then at 5:45 a.m. Alan and Geri from Civil Twilight emailed us to say that they were leaving Wednesday, that day because a brief window had opened up to cross the Gulf stream - we were leaving!!!!

We threw some groceries on board then headed out to sea. The wind was blowing 10 to 15 knots from the northeast, not necessarily ideal due to the northerly 4 knot current but it was supposed to die. Of course it never did. The gulf stream was incredible - we left at about 3 p.m. from Lake Worth and in the daylight we could see it ahead of us, like a roiling river in the middle of the ocean. We started crossing the Gulf tream and the waves were about 4 to 6 feet with the occasional 8 foot wave. We took them on our stern quarter and Elizabeth started feeling seasick. Once we were across the stream, about 7 hours later, she perked up and we tucked into bed and started watches. We crossed into the Bahama Bank. It had been so cold in Lake Worth, below freezing and the gentle breezes and calm in of the bank was a welcome change. We motorsailed across the northern edge of Grand Bahama and finally tossed out our anchor at a small cay 26 hours after leaving Florida. The next day we cleared customs at Green Turtle Cay and headed out across the Whale Passage to Treasure Cay, where mom and dad had reservations.

The Whale, as it is known, is a small cut through some islands from the ocean into the sea of Abaco. It can be deadly and treacherous due to to the steep shelf and the currents between the ocean and the islands meeting. We started taking big seas on the bow, about 8 foot giant waves that picked up Messenger like a plaything.

We motorsailed behind friends of ours on their boat. The sun was shining, the sea was a sapphire blue and the uninhabited island on the lee shore was dotted with palm trees.  Although it was scary, it was exhilerating - we had to whoop and holler. It was either that or puke.

We tucked into Treasure Cay, a beautiful protected anchorage. We gathered together on the beach bar and had a celebration beverage.

The feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming. It has taken us days to absorb the fact that we've made it here.

Mom and dad and Reggie came in yesterday to Marsh Harbour. We'd sat tight in the anchorage all day Monday due to a 30-knot blow that came in on sunday night and the weather was still cold, about 60 to 65.

Oh yeah, and just to prove it is a small world, we had gone to the community church here on sunday and met a lady who was not only from Jarvis but Eleanor (Johnson) Grimm was also the daughter of scott's grandma's best friend, Marg Johnson.

Eleanor and her husband Fred had kindly invited us to dinner at their beautiful oceanside home for dinner but we'd had to cancel due to the weather. What a pleasure to meet them though!

we're now planning to tour some of the Abacos with mom and dad for a few days and savour our time with them. Reg flies home New Year's Day to spend January back at home doing exams and then he'll join us hopefully in Georgetown, in the Exumas further south in the Bahamas chain.

It's warm there but it has to be pretty terrific to compare to the waters and beaches of the Abacos.

It'll soon be time to find out.