The forecast is for building southerly winds in the Gulf Stream (southerly is a good thing as it aligns with the current and doesn't build steep wave faces).
We can't arrive at the Bahamas Bank until late afternoon when the wind should shift to the southwest and allow us to sail southeasterly down the bank during the night. The winds are forecast to build to 20-25kts at dusk which will be uncomfortable but not dangerous.
Unfortunately, we will then have to pass through the Northwest Passage, a narrow spot between the Berry Islands and Andros Island, at about 4am but, we have been through there several times and our radar will display the pole marking the channel.
Then it is an 8 hour transit easterly across the deep waters from the Bahama Bank to Nassau on Providence Island. During this leg, a cold front will pass over us with winds shifting from the southwest to the northwest, still at 20-25kts, but diminishing during the day. Both wind directions will still be behind us as we transit generally easterly.
If you look at our track data in "Where's Tides Inn Today" you'll see the zigzag course you have to follow to get from Miami to Nassau due to the Gulf Stream and the shallow water obstacles.
The Miami skyline fades into the westerly horizon as we motor sail across the Gulf Stream. So far the conditions are great and the wind is well below the forecasted speed, but supposed to build in the afternoon.
The crew is doing fine this morning. Sue gave Rivah a Gabapentin pill which zonks her out as you can see. Our last trip to the Bahamas she got seasick and took several days to recover. We'll see how this goes. Sue and I took some Bonine which seems to be working, but we won't know for sure until later in the trip when the wind and waves come up.
Sunset on day one and the wind and waves are definitely up, but fortunately on our stern quarter which gives us an acceptable ride in rough seas.
We are across the Gulf Stream and approaching the Bahamas Bank where we turn 90degrees to the right and head southeast down the bank. The wind has shifted to the southwest just as forecasted but has also built to 20-25kts as forecasted. We're wondering what the Bank conditions will be where it is only 30ft deep compared to the open ocean. Normally shallow water means steeper wave faces.
Its dawn on day 2 and we are through the Northwest Passage and back into deep water on the last leg to Nassau.
The Bank transit initially was quite rough as the ocean waves came up on the 30ft bank but nothing our sturdy Island Packet couldn't handle. It's just a matter of hanging on, much like a 24 hour roller coaster ride. We have the sails reefed way down, 3 deep reefs, and are still going at 7kts, about hull speed (maximum) for our boat. After a few hours though, the waves diminished and the transit down the bank was not as arduous and we actually each got a couple hours sleep.
We did have one near disastrous event though. As we followed our pre-programmed route down the bank a few miles north of the narrows, Sue suddenly asked me, "Is it supposed to be 10ft deep here?" According to the chartplotter, we were right on course but it was supposed to be 15ft. I checked our position on another device and it showed us heading directly for shoal water to the north of the channel, heading towards 3ft of rock and coral. We immediately did a 180 turn and backtracked to deeper water to sort things out. It turned out that for some reason (operator error I'm sure) the route on our chartplotter had dropped one of the waypoints and thus was taking us right over the shallow shoal. We got back on the correct track and through the Passage without further problem. A good lesson learned though to always be alert for mistakes. Sue saved our boat and maybe our lives by recognizing something wasn't right and speaking up.
8 hrs later we were approaching the lighthouse marking the Nassau Harbor entrance. Once in the harbor you pass the cruise ship docks on your right and the Atlantis resort on your left.
The transit from the Northwest Passage was equally rough as the approach to the Bahamas Bank. The wind stayed at 20-25kts right on our beam and refused to shift around astern of us. It was a fast and rough ride. About an hour before arriving, the front finally came overhead with light showers and the wind immediately shifted to the northwest. We loitered outside the harbor for about an hour waiting for the shower to blow through and visibility to return and were ready to enter about noon, 28hrs after departing Miami. This is our fastest trip yet to Nassau, but I think we would rather have a slower and more comfortable transit.
We passed through Nassau Harbor and out the other side to a large anchorage area east of town. Because the marinas were full when we arrived we were unable to check in to customs the first day, so we anchored for the night. The next day was a beautiful blue skies day with light winds upon passage of the cold front. Unlike Florida, cold front days in Nassau are still 75 degrees. We are soaking up the sun and warmth.
Its the 26th now and we got a slip in the marina to go through customs and immigration. Boats fly a solid yellow "Quarantine pennant" when in other country territorial waters until they have been legally checked in. Just like in the old sailing days, you have to fill out the forms certifying that your boat and crew (and dog) are free of any communicable diseases. This used to be a mere formality until COVID revealed how important the rules were.
All legally checked in now, we lower the Quarantine Flag and hoist the small National Flag of the country you are visiting. Proudly displaying our new Bahamas courtesy flag.
We're finally here and the crew is fully recovered from the passage. Ready for showers and laundry and a good boat rinse. We'll be off tomorrow to anchor by some nearby islands as we wait for our grandson, Jackson, to arrive on 2 March. Then its off to the Exumas for a week of sailing and snorkling, then we have to bring him back here to fly home.
Then we'll head back to the Exumas for our cruising the next couple months.
