Get "er Done!

Sometimes Mother Nature deals you a bad hand and you simply have to amend your plans when on the water. And other times, Mother Nature deals you a GREAT hand and you take advantage of the opportunity and just "get 'er done". Today was one of those days!

Even though we had already amended our float plan to leave on Saturday afternoon and run to West End, Grand Bahama and the next day go the rest of the distance to Green Turtle Cay, we had a "weather window" that suggested calm seas and light winds for today. So, at the encouragement of a fellow boater friend (and a Professional Captain) who said today was a great chance to make the entire run in one day, we set out at 6 am this morning (don't even ask me what it was like to get the Admiral up that early), and made "the crossing" over the Atlantic Gulf Stream all the way to Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos.

While the first part of the journey was a bit "dicey" with 6-8 foot "rollers" (in other words, big ass waves), things settled down after the first 25 miles away from the US coastline. Then the seas got calmer, and calmer, until we crossed the Bahamas Bank where it was flat as a lake, in beautiful CLEAR turquoise waters.

The remainder of the run to the Sea of Abaco was delightful and we reached our destination at Green Turtle Cay Club some 180 miles and 8 hours after starting out early this morning. Once we were tied up at the dock, "clearing In" through customs was supposed to be a relatively simple and straight forward process. THAT, however, is a story for another day.

We are going to stay here few days here before moving further down the islands the first of the week. Now, where did I put my Goombay Punch?!?

Bahama's Bound …. Maybe!

Among all the things I keep on our boat ENCORE, the one thing I try NOT to bring aboard is an "agenda". With Mother Nature an ever present and powerful influence, keeping a "flexible schedule" is always a smarter choice.

The planned start to our trip to the Bahamas is a good example.

Despite weeks (perhaps months) of planning on my part to leave West Palm Beach on Friday the 29th, tropical storm Debby had other ideas. As she slowly dragged herself along and across Florida for almost a week, she managed to churn up the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream into a very dangerous and confused state. My normal tolerance for dealing with waves is to not venture out in anything more than 2-3 foot seas. While the boat is capable of handling it, trying to navigate 4+ foot seas makes for a VERY unpleasant ride.... and a rather grumpy Admiral.

Forecasts for Friday now call for NE winds around 15-20 knots and seas 3-5 feet with occasional 6 footers in the Gulf Stream. Not pretty.

So..... our new plan is to have a really nice dinner in West Palm on Friday night and simply wait until the winds and waves subside. Right now we hope to get underway Saturday afternoon or even Sunday morning crossing from West Palm to West End, Grand Bahama. 

That of course is subject to change ... 

We Have Arrived

After a great dinner in Miami on Sunday night, the First Mate and I prepared for another early morning departure Monday morning as we made the final leg of our journey to West Palm Beach. We were treated to another fabulous sunset over the Miami skyline (attached).

While this portion of the trip is only about 70 miles, there are an endless number of low bridges that have to be raised (and always at odd times on restricted openings) and lots and lots of "No Wake Zones" (thanks to the Manatees). So what would have been about a 3 hour run on the outside (but due to high winds and seas was not an option) took us 8 hours on the ICW!

We refueled ENCORE, worked our way into the slip, and celebrated our week on the water with a great dinner in downtown West Palm. This morning, we picked up the rental car and I dropped Tom off at the airport to fly home to Maryland. He has been an able and enjoyable "First Mate" and I greatly appreciate his help. The time together was very special as we had a chance to catch up on just about everything, solving all the world problems between margaritas and sunsets.

At this point, ENCORE will remain in West Palm until the "Admiral" and I return next week to start our long awaited trip to the Bahamas.

What a Day!

After a relatively easy open water run from Naples to Key West on Friday, the First Mate and I enjoyed a couple of relaxing and always "interesting" days in Key West. There is just no other place like in the world. From the Mel Fisher museum of treasures lost in the Atocha, to Duvall Street and its' 300 bars (really), to the mimes, musicians and carnival acts of Mallory Square, to the simply amazing sunsets, Key West lived up to its reputation.

But then it was time to move on toward to Key Biscayne, our next destination some 150 miles to the east. Only problem was, the winds had picked up considerably out of the ENE which meant we would (6:30am) this morning.

It was a VERY rough ride today. The first 35 miles offshore from Key West provided us with 2-4 seas, which increased over time. Then even going inside at Mosher Channel, it was still pretty bad with a 2-3 confused chop the remaining 120 miles. Meanwhile "outside" in the Hawk Channel were reports of 5-7 foot seas -- sure glad we didn't go that way! Just the same, Biscayne Bay was the worst I have ever seen it with windy seas splashing over the bow. With conditions already bad, we decided to just push through and go all the way to Miami so as to not face more of the same tomorrow.

After a thourough washing of ENCORE from stem to stern, a hot shower, and a cold drink, it is good to be tied up for the night in South Beach. Tomorrow we hope to make our final (interim) run to West Palm Beach.

The First Day

This morning at 8am, the "First Mate" and I dropped the dock lines and left Sarasota headed south across the Gulf of Mexico toward Naples. 

As we exited Big Pass, the winds were coming from the NW at about 10-12 knots but consistent enough to create a strong quartering sea with 2-3 foot waves. Not a bad ride, but certainly a little more "bumpy" than I had planned (and was forecast). 105 miles and 4 1/2 hours later we reached the Naples Yacht Club a few miles up the Gordon River.

Safely docked for the night, boat music playing in the background, and an adult beverage in hand, the journey has begun! Tomorrow will bring a "first light" departure to get ahead of the winds, seas and forecast afternoon thunderstorms as we make a 110 miles run to Key West.

A good first day.....

Bucket List

Ever since we first started boating (some 35 years ago), we have dreamt about cruising the beautiful tropical waters of the Bahama's in our own boat, on our own time in our own way. It has just been one of those things on the proverbial "bucket list".

This summer, we are finally going to make that dream come true!

The first part of the trip is to get ENCORE from its home port in Sarasota on the Gulf coast around the state to West Palm Beach on the Atlantic side. While this would normally be a relatively "short" trip through the Okeechoobee Waterway, a few of the locks are closed most of the summer for repairs. So, we are going to take the long (but fun) way around through the Florida Keys.

On the first part of the journey, my younger brother (a.k.a. the "First Mate") will join me to assist in handling all the normal duties of the Admiral, who has opted to do a little visiting with the "the kids" up north. While I will miss her companionship and competence, the First Mate is an able soul with good boating skills and a strong liver -- an essential attribute when spending time in the Keys! Our route will take us from Sarasota to Marco Island to Key West to Key Biscayne to West Palm in about a week's time. 

Once ENCORE is docked in West Palm we will take a short one week break, re-provision the boat and switch crews (the First Mate off, the Admiral on). We will then depart the end of June on our planned month long cruise to the Bahamas including five different islands in the Abacos, Grand Bahama Island, then south to Bimini, and finally back across the Atlantic Gulf Stream. We will once again circumnavigate the Florida Keys (with a few favorite stops along the way) before returning to Sarasota.

While we will be at the mercy of the weather, seas and winds (not to mention tropical depressions or hurricanes this time of year),  if all goes according to my totally flexible "float plan", we should get back to Sarasota by the end of July. 

Here is where our 1400 mile journey will take us!