The Crossing

1.31.11 Monday

We leave at 11 pm to head offshore from the Rivera Marina which is located on Lake Worth just inside the inlet west of Peanut Island.  The island has gone through some changes and was formed originally as a spoils bank from dredging the inlet.  The Coast Guard station has since moved off but John F. Kennedy’s fallout bunker is still there.  It is now a park with nice beaches and a small marina for day tripper use.  Just some historical tidbits.  Out into the ocean we go with a light ESE breeze, motoring into the darkness.  Our course to West End is about 100 degrees but we have to account for the Gulf Stream which moves north at around 3 knots in the center. We decide to take a more southerly course before entering the stream so it will carry us north as we pass through.  We’re watching the course over ground on the GPS and sure enough, as we enter the stream we have a considerable set to the north.  Passing through is really not a problem but the wind is now more east and building a bit, of course on the nose.  The big problem is that the waves are very close together with a period of about 4 seconds making for a very bumpy ride.  The main goes up at around 4 in the morning, drop the centerboard and this smooths things out a bit, still slamming around in the short chop.  Now the breeze builds into the 10 to 15 knot range and its ENE, here we go again.  Make it until about 6:30 in the morning when I detect a little slowing of engine RPM.  No, no, no; not now.  Of course it packs it in so we head south and roll out the jib, reef the main and we’re sailing, sailing over the Bounding Main.  As soon as the jib is trimmed tight, the lead block slides all the way aft and the jib is almost ineffective upwind.  Clip in and reset it, grind it back in only to have it happen again, leave it to Lewmar.  Out comes the short sheet and I crawl back up to secure the jib in it’s present angle so I don’t have to grind so much sheet in again.  I’ve got it all the way forward now and tie it to the chainplate so as not to have to repeat this exercise.  Alright already, 20 knots upwind again and not to our destination.  We call the layline and tack at about 9:30 am, turns out we overstood a wee bit.  Cracked the sheets and we’re rocketing along at 7 knots.  Land Ho, our first sight of a sparse coastline in the morning sun.  Now it’s time to be a mechanic and get the engine to run again.  A check of the filter reveals no water, there is fuel in the tank (didn’t fill before leaving, a mistake), so it must be air in the lines.  This is the case but this engine is not a friendly beast when it comes to bleeding.  We have arrived  without an engine and I don’t dare to sail into the harbor so we tack and leave the jib backed to slow us and the motion as I crawl in and out of the engine compartment.  Success finally (did you have any doubt?) at just before noon then back to West End after dumping the sails unceremoniously and hoisting the quarantine flag.  At 1230 we’re in the harbor and tied up at the fuel dock next to the customs house.  Forms are filled out, a short walk with passports to customs and we’re here in the beautiful Bahamas.  After topping off the tank, we get a slip for the night at the most beautiful Old Bahama Bay Marina (40 foot minimum @ $2.00/ft. plus the mandatory $15 water charge).  Worth every penny.  Welcome, Mon.