At 6:30 am before sunrise, Dream Chaser pulled away from the dock at Black Sound Marina bound for Mangrove Cay. After motoring for 11 hours in 3 ft. gentle following seas, we anchored in Mangrove Cay (a tiny mangrove island). This cay is a western overnight anchoring point for some boats traveling to and from the Bahamas It gives some protection from winds out of the east. After we anchored, the winds and waves changed direction creating not the most desirable conditions for the overnight. Tired from a long day of motoring, we were hoping the stiff wind and continuous waves will calm during the night. We are sharing the anchorage with a 80 ft. trawler who due to a deeper draft is anchored farther from shore and wind protection. The large boat bobbed from the continuous wave action. Around midnight, when it was high tide, the waves seemed to lessen and sleep finally came.
Friday, March 28, 2014
At dawn, Dream Chaser was on her way to West End, Grand Bahama Island. The sun was rising as we pulled anchor, headed west, and left our trawler friends to catch up on their sleep.
Dinner tonight was at Lil T's, a local liquor store/eating establishment. Some of us piled into the back of a pick up truck while others biked into the village. We chatted with six other couples (from Quebec, Newfoundland, Venezuela, and the states), and as the sun began to set, the conch horn was blown. After enjoying a tasty BBQ pork meal, the music began outside, dancers began jiving, and people stood in line to do the Limbo!
(above) This is Dream Chaser’s slip until 2 am when we pull lines and head into the Atlantic Ocean and back to Florida. The plan was to have a southeast wind on the stern for about four hours, and then it was predicted to turn to the south hitting us again on the stern as we make our way north to Ft. Pierce. The wind changes in a clockwise direction, and we need to be in Florida before it comes out of the north. When the wind out of the north combines with the gulf current from the south, you don't want to be crossing the Atlantic Ocean!
Saturday, March 29, 2014
At 2 am in pitch blackness, Dream Chaser pulled out from Old Bahama Bay Marina, Grand Bahama and pointed her bow toward Ft. Pierce, FL. The winds were out of the SE at 12-16 mph and the waves were 1-2 ft. Not bad at all. Mary's Plan 1 for the crossing: CONCENTRATE ON THE SKYLINE TO AVOID SEASICKNESS didn't work since it was dark, but sitting in the upper helm worked out fine with the fresh air blowing in our faces. As time passed, the winds and waves began to increase in strength and size.
About half way across on our journey to the U.S., still in darkness, the winds shifted to SW and waves grew to 4-6 ft. and the rollers turned 6-10 ft. The stabilizers never stopped to rest- there was no time. The friendly lights of a freighter and then a cruise ship were a welcomed sight in the dark night. We passed a sailboat seeing only its dim little navigational light atop bobbing in the darkness and were glad for the company. However, we could only image how miserable these boaters had to be from being bounced around by a forceful ocean like a toy boat in the bathtub. The captain of this sailboat did not have AIS (Automatic Identification System) so, he didn't know if we were a fishing boat or a multi-ton freighter. He sounded a bit frazzled as we conversed over the marine radio. We reassured him that we knew he was there, and we would pass by allowing for plenty of space.
Steve was running on adrenaline and didn't want any conversation while he navigated. So, hearing something crash downstairs, Mary made her way down, clinging to the ladder, and into the salon. We had secured items inside before the trip, but now she took it to the next level-bracing and jamming things together. That done, Mary decided to try and get some rest making a nice bed on the salon bench sofa and had almost drifted off, when in an instant, she was flipped face down on the floor from the jolt of a huge wave. The table was tossed on its side and items were thrown everywhere. So much for Mary's Plan 2: SLEEP MY WAY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC-WAKE UP WHEN ITS OVER!
Now this adventure wasn't like following Steve down a double black diamond run at Vail-Duh! Most of us, limited skill skiers, have learned and know better than to walk into that situation. This was different. We had been following trusted, multiple reports on predicted wave and wind conditions for days which indicated great conditions for crossing. There were several boats leaving a little later in the day for the states, so it was a decision with much input. However, Mother Nature had other plans and the winds shifted to out of the SW and wave action increased by 25% (bigger, tougher, uncomfortable)!
Our plans for a Ft. Pierce port stop were adjusted by the captain, and we headed to Port St. Lucie (closer), but still three hours away. We will spare you the details of those next three hours, but we came to a consensus that flying into the Bahamas and, perhaps, renting a boat is probably a much better idea, for us, if and when we return. The Bahamas are truly an experience and beautiful.
At 11:30 am, Dream Chaser entered the inlet at Port Lucie, and we were instantly grateful for the calm waters. We hadn't had anything to eat or drink since 2 am, so we ate breakfast as we made our way up the ICW. Nick phoned Steve, during our motoring, and made him aware of storms coming into the area, so Steve kicked up the speed by 4 mph (that's a lot for Dream Chaser). At about 2:30 pm, Dream Chaser slid into a dock at Pelican Yacht Club in Ft. Pierce, FL. After registering at the marina, spraying down the boat, and starting some washing, we took a long nap while soaking rains began to fall from the dark skies. We are very thankful for a safe return!
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