Bahamas, On the Banks

We decide to leave around 8:30AM after some rain squalls past through. A number of boats leave around 7:00 AM. In the past we have left around 5AM to get to Bimini by 2:00 PM. We are not going to Bimini a 55 mile trip, but will pass Bimini and head to Great Harbour across the shallow banks which is about 150 miles. If possible we will anchor on the banks or worst case sail all night to Great Harbour. 

 

Stiltsville, south of Key Biscayne

Leaving Miami

Sea Vu Play before entering the Gulf Stream

Conditions are not ideal for crossing the Gulf Stream the winds are out of the west to northwest at 10-15 knots. Ideal conditions are moderate winds out of the south. Chris Parker, our weather service says it will be “Moderate-brisk East bound sailing” on Saturday. If we don’t go today it may be awhile for another opportunity to cross. It is brisk alright. With following 6 foot seas and waves close to 3 seconds apart, we have water frequently climbing in our open stern washing our cockpit floor. On the ocean we have had much bigger waves, but with periods of 8-9 seconds we never had a problem with water in the cockpit. Only once before have I had following wave run into the cockpit and that was on the Neuse River in North Carolina. Those waves were only a couple feet. Our auto pilot can not handle following seas of this magnitude and I have to hand steer all the way across the Gulf Stream, quite the upper body workout. My hands are getting a little cramped from gripping the wheel for so long. Finally we get on the Great Bahama Bank around 3:00 PM and get relief from the swells. Ocean swells do not get onto the shallow banks. Finally we can relax and are back to running in pleasant conditions on autopilot, what a relief. 

Steering through the Gulf Stream

This stuff was already on the floor

We have been seeing floating mats of sea weeds and have been steering around them. After about hour the engine suddenly sounds like it is about to die. I look behind and see pieces of sea weed and realize we must of plowed into a big mat when I wasn’t paying attention. I put the boat into reverse which clears the crap off the prop and then continue on our way. Sea Vu Play hits one later too, but for now they can’t figure out what we are doing until we talk on the radio. A little concerned about hitting these in the dark. 
 

Sunset on the Banks

We decide to drop anchor on Mackie shoal in 12-16 feet of water around 8:30PM and call it a day. It is fairly choppy, but fine enough for us to get a good nights sleep. I sleep on my back and Linda is wedged in by pillows so neither one of us moves around too much to sleep.