We are on our way!

---

We are on our way!

It is Saturday night and I am sitting in Chub Cay-temperature is about 75, water is about 73, it is sunset and just gorgeous! I hear that there are some winter weather conditions in the ol’ US of A, but you wouldn’t know that here. But the deal is, you have to pay some dues to get here….

We began with an intriguing trip about 14 miles down the New River, from our dock at the boatyard to our jump off point at Bahia Mar Marina-a skinny little channel leading into the port of Ft. Lauderdale. We topped off the fuel and Paul had made reservations for moorage.

So what can really keep a boat attached to the dock…the computer, of course! We were planning to leave yesterday but the Nobletec just didn’t want to tell us where we were. In comes the computer guru, fixes us up, but since it was too late in the day, we decided to wait until Saturday morning to head out.

Saturday is bright sunshine and we cast off lines at 0820, blowing 5-8 knots as we leave the breakwater. Seas slowly build with sloppy chop but we are still doing 20 knots! Then, The Banks…turquoise water, soft breeze and 29 knots boat speed, and only 3 hours of pounding to get here! Short lunch stop in the middle and into Chub Cay at 330. Happy as clams until the bilge alarm goes off, seems the sump pump for the showers needs a little attention. Paul, the wonderman, fixes it all and four very happy, but very tired, campers are bedding down in the Bahamas!

From Berit:

Hi everyone. The plane rides were very pleasant, save the 4 ½ hr drive to the airport on Monday night through the snow and ice and jack-knifed buses. What a mess. We had a 4 hours’ quick sleep and then off to the airport. A few flight delays, but when we landed in Atlanta there were 2 familiar faces to meet us! We were on the same flight as Libby and Mark, so it was fun to compare notes and make plans on the way.

Got lots of chores done for the boat in Ft. Lauderdale, including provisioning the boat for the trip. Finally got off Saturday morning first thing and got across the Straits of Florida. Had 2-4 ft seas, and though it was choppy, the boat handled the seas beautifully. The crew fared well, with a few stiff muscles, and then we saw the Bahama Banks! WHAT A SIGHT! Turquoise blue water! My favorite color all around us, and the sun shining. I’m sorry you couldn’t all be here to experience it, but maybe a trip to the Bahamas later? Love you all, and wish you were here. We're off soon early Sunday morning for Hawks Nest Marina on Cat Island, and then to Rum Cay to hole up before the big blow comes in on Monday night. Love you all, thinking of you, Berit and Paul Hugs and kisses to Betty and Lois.....

---

Photos

29 knots
Bahama Banks in fast forward

Comments

[LOS ALVAREZ]

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET????
LOVE AND HUGS AND ALOHA..CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL.... RICKY,KIMBA,AND THE REST OF OLINDA ZOO...

[Joe T.]

We-On-Way = WOW!
Looks wonderful, and what a nice new "shop" for work. Try not to toil too hard on the job, and remember to take all required breaks to comply with the labor laws. Mark needs a little down time for cigars (Sorry, Al), and Paul needs down time to look-at-but-not-smoke cigars (Sorry, Paul).

[Kelly]

Rum Cay
Nice stern wake! I hope you found a good place to hole up and have some rum while the big blow came over! Speaking of big blow... we continued our racing this week and were well surprised at Steen's Christmas party... we won our ocean racing class this summer and got a nice trophy for it! Now for a few more. I love a miss you all and can't wait to see you for Christmas...I'm dreaming of a White Christmas and a Tan New Year.... you will all already have your tans intact!