To Nassau

Wednesday, Feb 22
(No pictures due to limited band width...will try again some time)

Last night we experienced surging tidewaters in the bay at Bimini Sands.  There were very big variations in water depths and we were tossed about in the slip.  We traveled 1.3 miles according to our trip odometer.  Boats were tied to the slips using a spiderweb of lines.

 The trip to Nassau involves crossing the Great Bahama Bank, which is typically quite shallow, no more than 25-30 feet, and then an area called "The Tongue of the Ocean".  The Tongue is very, very deep water and is famous for great deep sea fishing and rotten weather.  The total mileage to Nassau is more than we can travel in a day so we will anchor out north of Chub Cay and finish the crossing the next day.

We departed Bimini Sands Marina at 7:55am in the company of 2 sail boats, Calypso Poet and Miss Alice, both experienced Bahama sailors.  The weather was superb for crossing the Bank and we reached our anchorage at 7:45pm after a long day and 68 nautical miles.  We set anchor and went to bed for a short night's sleep...the caravan is pulling out at 3:30 am to cross the Tongue before the winds kick the seas up too badly.

Thursday Feb 23

The wind kicked up last night but we were anchored well and didn't move at all.  By 3:35am we were headed out of the anchorage.  At 6:17am we entered the Tongue...you could see an immediate change in the water color and the depth meter went bonkers because it was so "shocked" at the extreme depths it was recording. The seas were about 2-3 feet with some 5 footers thrown in.

Miss Alice happily reported they had caught two Mahi, both good size.  I got out my Cuban yoyo and hand fished for a couple of hours but, apart from a appreciation of the beauty, I caught nothing.

At 2:25pm we cleared Nassau Harbor Light and passed by three cruise ships that are in port, Norwegian Gem, Carnival Soul and Carnival...something else. These are really big ships.  At 3:03pm we docked safely at Nassau Harbor Club Marina. We traveled 62 miles and we are at the jumping off point for the Exumas.

John from Miss Alice came over with fresh Mahi and Linda made a wonderful dinner. Then it was to bed for all of us.

Friday
We are in port today for some rest and reprovisioning.  Planning to head for Allen's Cay or Highborne tomorrow with our buddies, the sail boats.  They don't mind us tagging along.  Kerm bought some fishing tackle and we look forward to sharing some of our catch with them. 

Will blog again when possible but it might be a while.

Love to all,
Christie