Travelling here and there

As Lori reached the end of her vacation time, we sailed north to Hatchet Bay so she could catch her flight.

We made it a night sail for various reasons, three of which were sunrise, sunset, and phosphorescence. Timing and wind also factored in and all five worked out well.

Once we reached the bay, Larry rowed her ashore

and she flew back home, leaving Larry with me. We prepared the boat for wind and water, moved the anchors to keep up off shore in the changing winds predicted for the night, and loaded the dinghy and kayak and tied them securely.

Morning brought strong winds and we made our way out of the harbor, holding our breath as we threaded the needle eye of the entrance of Hatchet Bay (too tight for me to take pics), and exhaled once we reached the open water.

The winds took us swiftly to the west, toward Current Cut, a notorious passage between Current Cay and Eleuthera (and another place that kept me too busy to take photos, but you can certainly google it). Pretty darned cool....and the high tide was just receding and sweeping us west with it. Soon we entered the open Atlantic, threaded our way between a few last rocks, and entered the deeps well before sunset.

Strong winds were forecast, but we reduced sail to mizzen+reefed jib and stayed fairly comfortable the whole trip, through the night, the next day until the wind reduced and we raised all sail and continued the following night, across the Gulf Stream.

Wind died ten miles before we entered Fort Pierce and we didn't start the engine soon enough to beat the turning tide, so had to fight the current the whole time we motored and sailed toward Vero Beach City Marina, but we arrived, signed in, and moored before dark.

One of the coolest things we used was a US Customs app that scans our passports and takes boat and other data, then allows Customs to do a video interview! Very nice and convenient!


Larry and I discussed things (I need to return a car from NC marina to MA, he was ready to head home, Cynthia's schedule, work required on the boat) and decided the best option would be to rent a car and head north asap, pick up the car in NC, and drive Larry home to NJ. Then I'd drive to MA, visit relatives there for a day, fly to CA to see my folks, then back to FL where Cynthia could meet at the airport and share a car back to the boat. Then we could spend ten days or so working on the boat and seeing David and Georgia (we enjoy them and Cynthia would like to learn from Georgia)

Great plans, but as soon as we made all reservations Cynthia called to tell me her work schedule had been changed without discussion or telling her about it until she told them of her plans. She is not free until the 4th, so this lays waste to our idea of doing one nice period together in FL and a later one in the Bahamas. Now we are busy refiguring our return to the south... maybe I will do a few essentials on the boat, sail out to the Bahamas, and she will meet me there.

So, Larry and I have driven to NC where we got in rather late, but (to my delight) found three of my friends and three of my favorite dogs enjoying a chat and some wine in the lounge.

The next day we drove to Larry's place in NJ,

where I have just finished a delicious breakfast of their free-range chicken eggs, scratched the horses, and beaten the dogs.

And soon I will continue on... MA tonight, CA Thursday night, back to FL March 26, and meet Cynthia in the Bahamas after April 4th.