Nipper's Beach, Great Guana Cay
- Details
- Written by Dave Dave
- Category: Logbook Logbook
- Published: 24 May 2022 24 May 2022
- Hits: 273 273
Golf carts are the main mode of transportation on the out islands, the roads are narrow and the distances short. We take a short ride over to the beach by Nipper's where ocean swells roll over the barrier reef to break on white sand beaches.
Homeward: The Gulf Stream
- Details
- Written by Dave Dave
- Category: Captain's Log Captain's Log
- Published: 09 May 2022 09 May 2022
- Hits: 347 347
Weather has rhythms and patterns. In a land-based life, the usual rhythms and patterns are more of a convenience or inconvenience, for cruisers the patterns command our lives. We were moored in Hope Town in the far northeastern corner of the Bahamas when we decided to begin our journey back to Lake Ontario. For the next week or two we would have to weave our plans into the patterns of the weather.
Before setting sail for home we would have to traverse over 125 nautical miles to the northwestern corner of the Little Bahamas Bank. Prior to leaving it would be necessary to clear customs and immigration, the Bahamians want to know when we leave, refuel, and prepare for a 400-mile offshore passage in the Gulf Stream, our longest passage yet. The passage would take 48 to 60 hours on a course as much as 100 miles offshore; a passage not to be taken lightly.
We committed to the crossing on April 26 with a forecast for a weather window later that week, one which we could not make, and another early the next week. We would leave the Bahamas in the second window, one month after our arrival.
The Gulf Stream
- Details
- Written by Dave Dave
- Category: Logbook Logbook
- Published: 08 May 2022 08 May 2022
- Hits: 365 365
Spend two minutes with us as we sail north on the Gulf Stream from Great Sale Cay to Charleston, SC. We completed the 396 nm passage in 54.5 hours, our longest passage. For about half the way we were 90 nm off the coast. It was a great sail.
Green Turtle Cay
- Details
- Written by Dave Dave
- Category: Logbook Logbook
- Published: 23 April 2022 23 April 2022
- Hits: 291 291
Enjoy a quiet moment at the beach on Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas. We did.
Memories: Lamb's Marina and Elizabeth City
- Details
- Written by Dave Dave
- Category: Captain's Log Captain's Log
- Published: 15 April 2022 15 April 2022
- Hits: 299 299
Water levels in Eastern North Carolina are driven by wind more than tide. As it is on the Chesapeake, winds from the North draw water out of the creeks, rivers, bays, and sounds while south winds flood these areas. Awakening early at our Goat Island anchorage we hurried to reach Lamb’s Grocery and Marina before the levels dropped further blocking our entrance to the marina.
Under gray skies, building north winds and cold, we motored the few miles to Lamb’s Grocery and Marina, racing the lowering water levels. Reaching the creek leading to the marina, we slowed down. The creek’s depth was reported to be 5 feet, precisely the amount of water Second Star needs to remain afloat. Gingerly crept up the creek as the water become shallow. The last few yards found Second Star plowing a furrow in the creek’s soft mud bottom; the five-foot depth was an optimistic estimate. After a few tense moments, we were once again afloat and, in the marina, secure from the ensuing foul weather.
Sailing Abaco Bight
- Details
- Written by Dave Dave
- Category: Logbook Logbook
- Published: 11 April 2022 11 April 2022
- Hits: 259 259
A short video of Second Star sailing across the Abaco Bight on April 6, 2022. Sailing with just the genoa we were making between 6 and 7 knots in the 15 knot breeze on the port quarter. A great relaxing sail.