We are in Nassau! Here is the build up to our arrival.

January 16, 2014

We had a good night's sleep and got up at 0800. The weather was a tad cool (23C) and it had rained during the night and was overcast this morning. After breakfast my boat job was laundry which took me 3 hours to do one load. Appears today was laundry day for everyone! However we had good socializing in the laundromat. Jorge transferred fuel from the jerry cans into the tanks and then went to town to buy more.

The sun started to shine early afternoon through overcast skies. After lunch I caught up on my blogging. The plan was to leaving Nassau tomorrow and make our way to Allen's Cay where we might catch up to Diana and Gilbert.

Again not sure of the internet coverage but continue to check the blog as I will post whenever I have internet.

January 15, 2014

The night on the banks was okay, not as smooth as we had hoped but nothing unbearable. We were anchored in 15’ of water and Jorge put out 150’ of chain – lots of swing room! We left the anchorage with two other boats at 0650, the other two got an earlier start. We motored sailed to the Northwest light (which wasn’t there) and entered the Northwest Channel around 0815. This is where the shallow waters of the Bahamas banks give way to the Tongue of the Ocean, going from 15’ to some 9,000’.

The winds were supposed to reach 14 kts by the afternoon but were already blowing that when we left the anchorage. Oh boy, not a good sign.

We motor sailed, sailed, and motored, alternatively all day. Late morning, around 1100, Jorge visually noticed a large storm cell and the radar indicated heavy rain on our starboard. It was moving quite fast and heading directly for us. Down came the sails, up went the full enclosure, every opening to the inside of the boat was securely fastened and we waited. Fortunately it passed to our stern by less than 1 nm. However . . . there were more storm cells to come and the last one hit us about 2 hours before we reached Nassau. We saw 37.6 kts on the instruments with accompanying rain. It lasted for about an hour. I must admit the boat, captain and even the crew handled the situation well (but I was sure glad when it passed!)

Rainbow after the storm.

Approaching Nassau.

Lighthouse marking channel into Nassau.

 

We cleared into the Nassau Harbour around 1700 and docked at the Nassau Harbour Club at 1730. Most of the boats that had left Bimini were also there.

Colonial Hilton Hotel in Nassau (we stayed here many years ago during a vacation.)

Cruise ship in Nassau Harbour.

 

We had two casualties on the way to Nassau. Firstly, Jorge was lowering the stern of the dinghy while it was on the davits to drain water in case of a down pour when he lost his visor. The second one was when I was getting the bow line ready to dock, I noticed the fortress anchor was not hanging from the bow rail. When I asked Jorge if he had moved it and stored it someplace, his response was “No”. So we lost the anchor somewhere in the Tongue of the Ocean!

Safely secured in the marina (the winds were supposed to pick up again over the next couple of days) we enjoyed hot showers and a short happy hour. The Chinese food restaurant up the street was calling. An 1800 hour group and then a 1900 group headed out for dinner. We joined the 1900 group of five other couples. We were back to the boat, in bed and fast asleep by 2200. 

January 14, 2014

We left Brown’s Marina in Bimini at 0700. Leaving the harbour was not as nerve racking as approaching it was. We motor sailed north along the island of North Bimini to North Rock. At that point we changed course to the east southeast and headed for Mackie Shoal. Once we had made this course change, we were able to put out full sails and turn the engine off. We have waited 5+ months for this! Other cruisers commented over the VHF radio that this was a once in a lifetime sail. Every condition was perfect.

 

Just past North Rock on the Bahamas banks on the way to Nassau.

Nothing but water all around (quite the heel eh?)

Captain Jorge.

The race to Mackie Shoal!

Mackie Shoal in the middle of nowhere.

 

We set anchor on the Bahamas banks around 1830. Quite unbelievable – no land in sight for 360 degrees, only water, water and more water. Four other boats were with us. We anchored just north of Northwest Shoal. Part of the flotilla went on to Nassau, pulling an over-nighter but five of us wanted to stop. Now we can say, “been there, done that!”

 

Sunset on the Bahamas banks.

 

Bedtime was 2100.  Although it had been a wonderful day, we were exhausted.