Whenever we have a big body of open water to cross , our senses begin to heighten subtly, we become attuned to the slightest wind shifts and start scanning all sources of weather data (NOAA, passageweather.com, Caribbean Weather net, etc. ) rather obsessively. The problem is that they do not necessarily agree, or you think you have a great forecast for the next day and then overnight big winds and waves blow in. You are so ready, and then have to stop abruptly and inertia sets in. You second guess yourself that the forecast for the day before that you rejected as too dangerous “wasn’t so bad.” It can go on like this for a few cycles. This is the hard part of cruising.
It was great to have the company of Loopers, Dave and Peg Miller aboard “See Ya’” and Bill aboard “Tortuga” as well as non-Loopers, Deb and Dan aboard “Freedom.” We’ve been together here at West End for the past few days reviewing all the data and possibilities as well as sharing refreshments and fun. We all agreed on Wednesday night that this would be our last Captains’ Meeting here as our lucky day would be tomorrow. We adjourned to our boats for a restless night (waking up hourly to make sure the wind was still from the east and not the dreaded north—still east, listening for crashing waves in the distance--none, answering the questions about whether we were ready to face the 2,000 foot deep ocean in a 1985 single engine, 32 foot boat???).
It seems that we finally got to sleep when the 5am alarm clock rudely rang calling us to action. We sleepily looked at each other, consulted NOAA one more time (east winds, 5-10 knots and 2-4 seas) and then got excited that it was a “GO.” The adrenaline kicks in and you start battening down everything, run the checklists, check with your accompanying boat buddies and cast off the dock lines.
We are the slowest boat in the flotilla and left the dock at 6:30 am just before sunrise and noticed immediately that the Bahamian blue water changed to the darker Atlantic Ocean blue rather quickly. We did have east winds 7-9 knots but had 2 foot swells from the S/SE initially. We were pleased to be going west as the blazingly bright sun was not in our eyes. The other boats joined us rather quickly and the Captains’ had ongoing discussions about boat everything—course for the day, whether to go to Lake Worth or Fort Pierce, who has the biggest caliper—they are guys and it is a long day. Bob and I do 1 hour shifts watching the GPS and autopilot but I am not one to talk much on the radio.
We swung into the Gulf Stream at about 9am and it started pushing us north so a boater has to compensate by steering slightly south to make landfall. We all decided to go to Lake Worth (67 miles) as it was the shortest time on the water and it provides more convenient Customs check-in for the boaters in our group who did not have the Local Boater Option. However, the swells increased from 2-4 feet to 5-6 feet from many directions but they were far apart and not breaking. Some of our buddy boaters had not been out in conditions like this so it was one of those learning experiences.
As the FL shore condos came into view at 3pm, we felt the elation and tiredness that overtakes you when you pull an all-nighter for a very important final but we passed!!!!!!
It was great to have the company of Loopers, Dave and Peg Miller aboard “See Ya’” and Bill aboard “Tortuga” as well as non-Loopers, Deb and Dan aboard “Freedom.” We’ve been together here at West End for the past few days reviewing all the data and possibilities as well as sharing refreshments and fun. We all agreed on Wednesday night that this would be our last Captains’ Meeting here as our lucky day would be tomorrow. We adjourned to our boats for a restless night (waking up hourly to make sure the wind was still from the east and not the dreaded north—still east, listening for crashing waves in the distance--none, answering the questions about whether we were ready to face the 2,000 foot deep ocean in a 1985 single engine, 32 foot boat???).
It seems that we finally got to sleep when the 5am alarm clock rudely rang calling us to action. We sleepily looked at each other, consulted NOAA one more time (east winds, 5-10 knots and 2-4 seas) and then got excited that it was a “GO.” The adrenaline kicks in and you start battening down everything, run the checklists, check with your accompanying boat buddies and cast off the dock lines.
We are the slowest boat in the flotilla and left the dock at 6:30 am just before sunrise and noticed immediately that the Bahamian blue water changed to the darker Atlantic Ocean blue rather quickly. We did have east winds 7-9 knots but had 2 foot swells from the S/SE initially. We were pleased to be going west as the blazingly bright sun was not in our eyes. The other boats joined us rather quickly and the Captains’ had ongoing discussions about boat everything—course for the day, whether to go to Lake Worth or Fort Pierce, who has the biggest caliper—they are guys and it is a long day. Bob and I do 1 hour shifts watching the GPS and autopilot but I am not one to talk much on the radio.
We swung into the Gulf Stream at about 9am and it started pushing us north so a boater has to compensate by steering slightly south to make landfall. We all decided to go to Lake Worth (67 miles) as it was the shortest time on the water and it provides more convenient Customs check-in for the boaters in our group who did not have the Local Boater Option. However, the swells increased from 2-4 feet to 5-6 feet from many directions but they were far apart and not breaking. Some of our buddy boaters had not been out in conditions like this so it was one of those learning experiences.
As the FL shore condos came into view at 3pm, we felt the elation and tiredness that overtakes you when you pull an all-nighter for a very important final but we passed!!!!!!
