Dec 12-15 It was basically windy most of the days. The Thunderball anchorage was fine as long as the wind was from the north. With all the currents coming and going, if the wind wasn’t strong enough to keep us south of the sand bar, we would drift onto it from time to time. Finally it was calm enough to move to the Big Majors anchorage and we were joined by Andale. Cocktails were in order on the beach with all the new boats back in the anchorage!

Dec.16 We showed Andale Staniel Cay. Kat and I got groceries and we all had lunch at the Yacht Club. In the afternoon, We took both dinghies to the Isles General dock near the airport and picked up Chris, Corey, and Mike. After the kids settled in and had a quick swim off the beach, we had an early dinner and went to bed.

Dec. 17 Had to go snorkeling at Thunderball Grotto for old times sake and Corey saw many new fish for her life list. Later, we fed the pigs and zoomed around in the dinghy to various beaches for shelling. For dinner, we invited Chris and Ann from “Mr Mac” over to meet the kids because he writes pirate books (Mike loves pirates) and she is a marine biologist (mike wants to be a marine biologist). Everyone had a great time and a rousing game of Mexican Train Dominos.

Dec. 18 This mornings expedition with Andale was done by dinghy 3 miles down to Bitter Guana Cay just below Staniel in 15 kts of wind from the SE. It was a bouncy ride but the bigger dinghies can handle it. Our bodies were a little worse for the wear but it was “something to do while we had the kids here “. On Bitter Guana are a good group of local iguanas on the beach and they love fruit. We all fed them and were pleased to see babies among the group. There is also an interesting white cliff formation to check out. The trip back was definitely easier. After lunch, we left the anchorage and headed up to Bell Island which was about a 20nm trip. We wanted to anchor just east of it because more wind was coming from the SW, W to N over the next two days. The anchorage is surrounded by islands and you don’t get too much wave action. John found a sweet spot where we could swing 360 and not be in too shallow water. Bell Island in privately owned now by the Aga Khan.

Dec. 19 The wind was blowing but John dropped us off on a small protected beach and we beach combed and explored the island. After lunch, the big expedition was N past Little Halls Pond Cay, which belongs to Johnny Depp, and further north to Big Halls Pond Cay to walk on the long beach and snorkel. I walked the beach and the kids snorkeled. john smoked a cigar in the dinghy. On the way back, we tried to stop at the “sea aquarium” to snorkel, but it was too rough. Dinner and a movie finished off the day.

Dec. 20 When John awoke, he spotted a large pirate flag and a motor yacht by Johnny Depp’s island. They had not been there the day before which meant he must be in residence! The kids were all excited to get a closer look so we loaded up the dinghy and zoomed up there in the1-2ft chop. The big flag had a skull & crossbones and a red sparrow and the yacht was at least 150 ft and looked like a reproduction of an old motor yacht. All the beaches were set up with”toys” and lounge chairs. I have photos in the next post. On the way back, we were able to stop at the “sea aquarium” and the fish were back! After all were safely on board, we brought the anchor up and headed out to sea to weave our way through the islands back down to Big Majors. The first few minutes on the outside were a bit rocky and rolly in the 3-4 ft confused seas and we had to stuff towels in a few noisey places but it didn’t last long. Soon we were back through the next cut and headed for the bank and calmer waters with only 1-2ft chop. Luckily the wind was on our stern. Lunch was served and we went smoothly down to Big Majors. Scrabble and dominos were the entertainment during cocktail hour and the movie, Moby Dick, was the evening entertainment.

Dec. 2-3 We had a leisurely take off because we didn’t have far to go and needed to arrive in daylight and with a slack tide. The weather was sunny and we made good time overnight to the Brunswick, GA area and St. Simon’s Island. Our usual dock girl at Golden Isles Marina, Melissa, was there to take our lines. After a nap and lunch, we used their “loaner” car and did shopping errands. It was also time to top off the tanks before heading to the Bahamas where the fuel is more expensive. That night, we had a lovely dinner with our friends, the Ledbetters, who live on Sea Island. We always streak in and out but do enjoy our times with them. Scott grew up in Greenwich so we knew him when we were kids.

Dec. 4-6 Our last passage down the coast! We left around 6:30am and headed down the coast. As the day went on, the wind picked up till it was around 30 knots but the seas never got above 2-3ft and “Mr. Auto” was able to handle the steering. We were cozy inside once again. By dawn, we were passing Cape Canaveral which was our halfway point in the 355nm journey. As the day progressed, the winds and seas went down and the sun came out.

Now the water is a light turquoise green because we are staying close to shore to stay out of the Gulf Stream which is just a few miles out to sea in this part of Florida. As we have been traveling south, the water has changed colors. In Long Island Sound and down the Jersey shore, it was dark green and in the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay, it was brown. Off the Carolinas, it was a pretty dark blue but muddy again in Charleston harbor and Brunswick, GA. Once we get to the Gulf Stream, the water is a beautiful cobalt blue and has little bits of Sargasso weed floating in it and flying fish. The water temperature also goes up to the high 70’s or even 80. These two things help us know we are in the Stream as well as the northward current.

As we went down the southern Florida coast, the wind lessened and the temperature warmed enough for us to sit outside on the flybridge and watch the marlin/swordfish jump and the various seabirds fly by looking for fish. During the night the wind picked up again but the seas were not a problem. By dawn, it was blowing 25 knots or better. We planned to go in the Key Biscayne Channel and up the bay and into a new anchorage for us that would give us almost all around protection. We had heard this was possible from some CCA friends of our neighbors (M.A. & Barnaby Blatch). These friends live in that harbor. We came in the channel and did our route into the harbor but saw a nail biting 7.2 ft at the entrance. It is good to finally be in Florida even if the temperature tonight will be 29! We will stay here for a few days till the winds calm down and then cross to the Bahamas. Yeah!

Dec. 6 Our new friends took us around and had us for drinks that night. The big treat was seeing my exmother in law, Olga, and her friend Dolores for dinner. It was wonderful to catch up and we had a jolly evening.

Dec. 7 Ann took us to several supermarkets for a last minute provisioning. Both were first class. When we got back to the boat, our friends Kat and Alan on Andale were in the harbor. We were planning to buddy boat across the Gulf Stream and down to the Exumas. We had dinner aboard Windermere and made an early evening of it.

Dec. 8 At the high tide, we both left and worked our way out the Key biscayne channel and on to the Gulf Stream. The stream was a bit lumpy but it didn’t last long and the rest of the overnight to Chub Cay was calm. We arrived at Chub at dawn and anchored to wait for the marina to open. When everyone was ready, we both went in to the fuel dock and the men went to clear customs. That night, we both anchored out and had dinner on Andale.

Dec. 9 Another sunny day for our jump down to Norman’s Cay where we anchored off the big beach. John helped Kat take their dog ashore in our dinghy. Dinner was on Windermere.

Dec. 10 Windier but still sunny for our shorter hop down to Big Majors Spot by Staniel Cay. We were the only two boats anchored in the big harbor. We went to feed the pigs and show Andale how to get into Sampson Cay marina. dinner was on Andale.

Dec. 11 A nice sunny calm day and the boat was cleaned from top to bottom. At high tide, we moved over to hide behind Thunderball Grotto island because a big storm was coming the next day. Later in the afternoon, we went to check on Andale and make sure they were settled in the marina. They invited us to dinner at the Sampson Cay restaurant. The food was much improved and they had redecorated too. A partial moon and our GPS helped us work our way back to the boat. When we returned, we realized the wind had blown us on to a sandbar and the incoming tide was in the process of bumping us off. It was uncomfortable for about an hour and then we floated off and were able to swing further south to deeper water. The wind slowly picked up over the night but our new gigantic Rocna anchor was buried deep in the sand.

Nov. 2-3 We had a leisurely take off because we didn’t have far to go and needed to arrive in daylight and with a slack tide. The weather was sunny and we made good time overnight to the Brunswick, GA area and St. Simon’s Island. Our usual dock girl at Golden Isles Marina, Melissa, was there to take our lines. After a nap and lunch, we used their “loaner” car and did shopping errands. It was also time to top off the tanks before heading to the Bahamas where the fuel is more expensive. That night, we had a lovely dinner with our friends, the Ledbetters, who live on Sea Island. We always streak in and out but do enjoy our times with them. Scott grew up in Greenwich so we knew him when we were kids.

Nov. 4-6 Our last passage down the coast! We left around 6:30am and headed down the coast. As the day went on, the wind picked up till it was around 30 knots but the seas never got above 2-3ft and “Mr. Auto” was able to handle the steering. We were cozy inside once again. By dawn, we were passing Cape Canaveral which was our halfway point in the 355nm journey. As the day progressed, the winds and seas went down and the sun came out.
Now the water is a light turquoise green because we are staying close to shore to stay out of the Gulf Stream which is just a few miles out to sea in this part of Florida. As we have been traveling south, the water has changed colors. In Long Island Sound and down the Jersey shore, it was dark green and in the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay, it was brown. Off the Carolinas, it was a pretty dark blue but muddy again in Charleston harbor and Brunswick, GA. Once we get to the Gulf Stream, the water is a beautiful cobalt blue and has little bits of Sargasso weed floating in it and flying fish. The water temperature also goes up to the high 70’s or even 80. These two things help us know we are in the Stream as well as the northward current.
As we went down the southern Florida coast, the wind lessened and the temperature warmed enough for us to sit outside on the flybridge and watch the marlin/swordfish jump and the various seabirds fly by looking for fish. During the night the wind picked up again but the seas were not a problem. By dawn, it was blowing 25 knots or better. We planned to go in the Key Biscayne Channel and up the bay and into a new anchorage for us that would give us almost all around protecton. We had heard this was possible from some CCA friends of our neighbors (M.A. & Barnaby Blatch). These friends live in that harbor. We came in the channel and did our route into the harbor but saw a nailbiting 7.2 ft at the entrance. It is good to finally be in Florida even if the temperature tonight will be 29! We will stay here for a few days till the winds calm down and then cross to the Bahamas. Yeah!