Back in the U.S. of A.

Having left the Sea of Abaco three days ago, we have just anchored in Ft. Pierce, Florida.

Abaco

New Plymouth, Green Turtle

When we left Treasure Cay three days ago, we had a pleasant sail around the "Whale" and anchored in Manjack Harbour and spent a quiet night at anchor.

We woke up in the morning, got the weather forecast for the 55 mile run to Great Sale Cay, and were looking forward to a downwind sail with winds from the south.  Once underway with a great start, the winds veered to the north by the time we dropped anchor on the north side of Great Sale Cay. Foolish us, we believed the weather forecast which was still insisting on winds from the south overnight so we decided to stay put.  By sunset, we learned that the forecast was calling for winds to blow from the north and veer to the east.  Duh!  By now we were pitching in the chop along with two other boats at anchor, and it was too late to move.  We had confidence in our anchor, good holding and sea room abaft, so we decided to watch a movie and go to sleep.  I listened to the 30-plus-knot winds and the three-foot waves for awhile, and the next thing I know I awoke at 1:30 am to dead calm - I guess that was what woke me up after sleeping in a carnival ride.  Maggie managed to get some sleep as well.

Leaving Great Sale

Bahama Bank

We feel back to sleep as the winds filled in from the east.  The forecast was for them to continue to clock around to the south, so we had a hardy breakfast and set sail for Florida.  Unfortunately the winds were too light to sail, so we ended up motor sailing all 110 miles.

In the afternoon, before we entered the Gulf Stream, Maggie had made a delicious roast beef dinner and we enjoyed that before night fall.  It was an uneventful trip and we entered the inlet at sunrise with the tide.  Now here we are and here we will be until we are ready to move on to Bermuda.

Sailing to Florida

Branko