The Crossing and West End (18 - 19 January, 2012)

As many of you know, we have been focused on crossing the Gulf Stream and docking in the Bahamas for several years. We had watched, listened and learned from the experiences of others. And on 18 January 2012 at 0655 we left Lake Park Harbor Marina and at 1430 we arrived at Old Bahama Bay Marina, West End, the Bahamas!!!!!!!!

Now, as I describe the crossing, many of you are going to think, “hey, what’s the big deal?” But remember two things. First, this is serious ocean. It is over 2000 feet deep and has taken a number of vessels over the years. I don’t think it would hiccup at swallowing a 52 foot Jefferson. Second, we knew what we were doing with regards to the weather. We had received some very good advice from a number of cruisers: “Don’t cross with the wind having ANY northern component;” “make sure you have a day or two after significant winds so the seas have had a chance to settle down;” “ensure you adjust your arrival destination to save fuel, because the Stream will push you north at 2-3 miles-per-hour.” After we made all our calculations and took everyone’s advice to heart, we determined that Wednesday 18 January was the perfect day. In fact, on Thursday, the forecast was for the winds to shift to the north. So, it was either Wednesday or sometime the following week. Needless to say, we left on Wednesday.

 Once we got onto the ocean, the seas were about 2-4 feet, as forecast. We had been through worse, and it really wasn’t too bad. During the crossing, I guess the thing that struck me the most wasn’t the size of the waves, but the color of the water. It was the deepest blue I had ever seen. Now, I know some of you think you know what deep blue is – and you may have seen bluer water than we have. But, normally, water isn’t blue, it is transparent. However, for, what I am sure is a very scientific reason, the deeper the water, the bluer it seems. The water between Florida and the Bahamas is over 2000 feet deep – that means the water column is nearly ½ mile; think about it, ½ mile of water. Now, I know that there is deeper water in the world, but Traveling Soul has not seen anything deeper, nor have I. So, as I said above, the water was deep; in fact, it was the deepest water, and hence, the deepest blue I have ever seen.

 Some of you may remember that during our Shakedown Cruise we had some problems with our Autopilot. During the Crossing it worked perfectly; maybe too perfectly. Once you set your autopilot, there is very little for the human pilot to do; the boat literally steers itself. One break from the tedium is to listen to the radio for other cruisers talking to one another. As we were crossing, we heard the vessel Vulcan calling the Old Bahama Bay (OBB) Marina. We only paid attention because we intended to dock at the same marina for the first night or two, and – okay – because we like to listen to other peoples’ conversations. It wasn’t a very interesting discussion and we didn’t pay much attention, but we would recall it later.

 At about 1430 we arrived at Old Bahama Bay Resort and Marina and backed into our assigned slip. I was brilliant as I ran the port engine in reverse and the starboard engine in forward. In short, it was, if I may say so myself, a magnificent job of pulling into the Marina. We then deployed our yellow Quarantine flag, Ann got our documents ready for Customs and Immigration– it is a foreign country after all – and reported to the C&I office. After clearing into the Bahamas, we paid what seemed like a small fortune for the privilege if using OBB’s water and electricity. BUT we had arrived. We had realized our dreams. We had become full-time cruisers and we were preparing to spend our first winter in the Bahamas!

Traveling Soul and her Quarantine Flag

Was this important to us? Now, I want you to remember that we had focused on this plan for about five years. We had bought books, talked to other cruisers, read Blogs, attended boat shows, etc. We were serious. Then, if I can be permitted a maudlin moment (and it is my Blog, after all), after I had my “cardiac event,” we were more determined than ever. Within nine months of my surgery we had bought our boat and had achieved our dream. But achieving a dream was only the first step. The question for us was, “What do we do now?”

 The answer was simple. We spent two nights at Old Bahama Bay. It had been originally designed as a “resort and marina.” There were 72 slips, and probably 150 (or so) condos, in addition to the 50(?) very large houses in the neighborhood. The resort had a nice beach, two pools, a beach bar, wonderfully landscaped grounds and the potential for a restaurant, gift shop and other facilities. The problem was that no one was there. In the marina, there were probably 20 boats, in the resort there might have been 20 –30 guests. The recession in the US was killing OBB – though we hope it survives. For us, however, the first night was still special – not only because it was, well, our first night in the Bahamas, but because we bought three fresh lobster tails from a young man walking along the docks (for $10 – but we could probably have had them cheaper) and Ann cooked lobster with drawn butter, served with rice pilaf. It was perhaps the perfect meal!

Old Bahama Bay is a beautiful resort and Marina

While at OBB we met John Carnie, who was single-handing the vessel Vulcan.(Who ,you will recall, we had heard as we were crossing the Gulf Stream). John is a Brit with an American accent who has apparently adopted us. Single-handing a vessel is not easy in the best of circumstances, but, though John had sailed elsewhere in the Caribbean, he was now on a 34-foot Mainship and had never been to the Bahamas. He is 67 years old and thought it would be best if he could cruise with a “buddy boat.” We talked and decided that we would cruise together to Great Sale Cay on the Little Bahama Bank.

 ANN’S NOTES: I did not see any frolicking dolphins…where are they? Old Bahama Bay really is a nice place..I got a pedi while we were there…the young woman was beautiful and well traveled..she had been on an Alaskan cruise..went to massage school in Florida…loves to travel and has many places on her bucket list. It was wonderful to have some “girl talk” The loster was yummy and was bought from a guy on a bike still in his wet suit..I think they were fresh. Our boat buddy is really a nice man..we enjoy his company.