A Long Time Coming

Just noticed that I haven't blogged since we left Key Largo.  Shame on me.  We actually left Key Largo on January 3rd and anchored in a local bay called Thursday Harbor.  The next day we sailed to Card Sound and anchored at Pumpkin Key.  When we woke up the wind had switched and just before breakfast we noticed our anchor was dragging.  We  quickly moved to the west side of the key for more protection and re-anchored.  From there we sailed into the Biscayne Bay and headed for the Herbert Hoover Marina (named after the vacuum cleaner inventor not the president).  They didn't have much in the way of services but at least Marilyn could watch the Pakers in the playoffs.  From there we sailed to Miami and took a mooring at the Dinner Key mooring field.  The first couple of nights were fine and then the wind started blowing from the east all the way across the bay and into the mooring field.  We knew we weren't going to move since we were on the mooring, but we had a rocky few nights.  Dinner Key did have a transfer boat so at least we could be picked up and transferred to shore.  It was a good location with good local transportation and lots of stores close by.  I think we'll look for something with a little more protection on the return.

On January 12, we left the mooring at 7:45am headed for Fort Lauderdale.  We couldn't go out the Miami Harbor because it was closed for cruise ship security.  We arrived at about 3:00pm but had to wait for a bridge opening at 3:15pm.  Stayed at the Las Olas City Marina.  The marina was very nice with great rates and a great location.  The facilities were in wonderful shape with a nice laundromat, wifi and super showers.

We waited several days for a good weather window to leave for the Bahamas.  During that time we met Stan and Diana Pendelton aboard "West Wind" who were from Maine and were looking for the same good weather to make the crossing.  Originally we had planned to go to West Palm Beach for the crossing to West End, but after talking with several people we were convinced that it would take no more time from Ft Lauderdale with the help of the gulf stream.  So, on January 16 at 9:40pm, La Contessa VII, West Wind and 9 Lives made the 10:00pm bridge opening and headed for West End.  As we left Port Everglades, we were met by rain, rolling seas and a pilot boat ordering us out of the channel because of an arriving freighter.  Not what NOAA had predicted.  After about 30 minutes La Contressa turned around and returned to port.  After talking with West Wind we decided to give it another half hour and if things didn't get better we'd turn back too.  Things did settle down a little but still nothing like the predictions.  We continued on motor-sailing since the wind was more easterly than southerly as predicted and also stronger.  We made good progress, but at 2:20am we lost power to our engine.  I was able to restart it, but was concerned about having the engine when we got to West End.  So, we put up more sail and kept going under sail alone.  The winds never did get light and even strengthened as the sun came up.  The boat handled the winds very well and we kept pace with West Wind who continued to motor sail.  We arrived at West End, took the sails down and tried the engine.  It started; life is good!!  We tied up at 11:30 am.  We've decided that all marine weather forecasters should be required to be an off coast sailor for at least two years.  After changing the fuel filters I found them full of some ugly looking stuff which caused the engine to shut down.  Feel pretty confident that we've solved the problem at least for the time being.

After 2 nights at West End and their exorbitant rates, we headed across the Little Bahama Bank for Great Sale Cay.  We left at 7:00am and arrived at 6:00pm just as the sun was setting.  We had a long trip because we had to motor the entire distance with the wind directly on our nose.  On January 20, we left Great Sale Cay for Alans-Pensacola Cay with absolutely no wind.  Motored all the way and arrived about 2:00pm.  As at Great Sale Cay, there were no other boats except ours at anchor.  We finally got in the water to check the anchor, fiddle with a rudder that was up a little and to cool down.  The water was refreshing, not cold, but felt good and it was crystal clear.

The next day January 21, we pulled anchor and headed for Green Turtle Cay.  Again, there were light winds.  We arrived and decided to go to the Bluff House Marina.  Their rates were great and the facility was wonderful.  Today, January 22 we're still at Green Turtle Cay.  Weather kind of went to pot, and may not be any better for a few days.  This is a great place to be stuck.  We rented a golf cart to explore the island and found a bakery, so life is good again!!!  Our next goal is to get to Marsh Harbor, which is not too far away, but we still need good weather to do it comfortably.  We hope to get a rate at one of the marinas and maybe stay there for about a month.  Weather tends to be kind of ugly in the Abacos the first part of the winter and slowly moderate as you head for spring, so we'll do some more moving around as we get into March.  Our Bahamas cruising permit is good until April 17, so we'll most likely start to head back to Key Largo on or about the 1st of April.  Once again "everything depends on weather"!!