Last Stop in Florida

Peace down the ICW

We are lying to anchor in Lake Worth, FL; at long last staging to cross the Gulf Stream to arrive in the Bahamas.  Ever since we left Daytona we have been waiting for a break in the weather to take us over to the Bahamas - only 50 miles away.  Ideally, one wants to cross ahead of a cold front passing south, also known as a "Norther".  When this happens, the wind will veer from the east around to the south, which is when you begin your dash, and will continue to veer to the north.  By then, you have happily crossed the gulf with a tail wind and don't mind the northern wind to move you through the Bahama Banks.

Lake Worth

It looks like we will get the chance tomorrow.  If the forecast holds up, we will leave late in the afternoon to cross the Gulf Stream overnight.  We anticipate reaching the Bahama Banks in the early morning and continuing across them to an anchorage in Great Sale Cay.  The waters in the Bahamas are crystal clear and shallow, or so we are told, and the run from the edge of the banks to the anchorage is about 50 miles.  We do not want to miss any of it in the darkness; even though this is one of the few stretches where one can safely sail at night.

From Great Sale Cay we will head for Green Turtle Cay to meet our friends Terri and Drew who will be arriving  just after Christmas.

Stay tuned: we will post again en route to report on the crossing.

Branko