Our original “plan” this season had been to cruise down to the Dominican Republic, and then head over to Puerto Rico to let the boat ride out a few hurricanes while we visited family. I put plan in quotes because we never really had anything set up. We had a couple ideas about where we might go, but upon contacting the marinas there we were running into all sorts of insurance issues—i.e. they wanted us to have some. I’m not a fan of boat insurance, and I’m even less a fan of marine surveyors, so the idea of getting temporary insurance for a haul-out so that some surveyor could act knowledgeable about my boat (and value it at whatever I asked him to), then pay an additional insane amount of money for full insurance so I could pay a ridiculous amount of money to have my boat sit in the hurricane zone, probably wasn’t a great plan to begin with. Note: we buy boats that we can afford to lose for two reasons: no debt, and no need for full insurance.
Eventually, the weather decided what we’d do for us. We got stalled out for about a month earlier in the season with the transmission problem, but when we got down to the Turks and Caicos we still seemed to be on track to get further south, for the most part. Somehow, though, our seven to ten days there turned into six weeks as we waited for weather to cross to the DR.
That weather never came. The trades filled in early and nothing came through to disrupt them, leaving us with six full weeks of SE 20+ knot winds, when we needed to move SE to get where we were going. As June crept up on us, it was time to make a new plan. A NW bound sleigh-ride back through the Bahamas en-route to the States seemed like the only viable option, so we took it.
Dinner for four with not a lot of counter space.
The kids saw something about how to shine up their sea beans, and went to work with some 220 grit to try to make it happen. Didn’t pan out in the end, but it was worth a shot.
JoJo visited us for one more ride across Grace Bay.
We pulled in to Turtle Cove Marina for a hectic laundry, grocery, boat wash day. Getting in this spot with a current and a twenty-knot crosswind was fun.
Abraham’s Bay, Mayaguana, where we checked back in to the Bahamas. Seas were running eight feet from behind us the whole way up. This boat can get a little squirrelly when it’s squared up to following seas and gets surfing, but generally handles it pretty well. The autopilot alarm goes off as the boat gets off course too far and can’t correct itself. I hand steer for a minute, get us straight, and hit the auto button again. Easy enough.
Unfortunately, Abraham’s Bay relies on an outer reef to protect it from the south, and that wasn’t going to do the trick with seas like we had.
It’s impossible to see here, but big waves were rolling though the anchorage. It basically felt like we were out at sea.
Not that the kids care about a few waves. While I ran in to check us in they got a swim in. Then I returned to put an end to the fun with the bad news that the immigration lady wanted to see everyone in person. Oh well, we’re back underway, and back in the Bahamas.
24 Comments on “Running Downwind”
I thought I saw Bumfuzzle in Calabash Bay! We’re still hopeful for a weather break to get south. Good luck with the downwinding!
Barrett
SV Soulstice
Hi! We were on the move daily down there – get in, picked up, eat and bed. Long days but good to be moving after sitting still for weeks.
I love your rebel pirate spirit Pat! Ha.
I think I remember Mexico requiring proof of insurance when first sailing into one of their ports.
That’s liability insurance in case you run into some multi-million dollar yacht or leave the dock w/o remembering to unplug the shore power cord or something. Fairly cheap but you still have to be able to afford repairs, etc. to your own boat.
Yes, most marinas require liability insurance. We do have that ($1000 for a year) but do not carry hull coverage. We had liability in Mexico as well.
That picture of dinner prep is the most clutter I’ve ever seen on this blog! You are human! 🙂
HA! It doesn’t take long for the one and only kitchen counter to look like that.
Seaspray Marina on Elbow Cay, Abaco would be a good place to leave a boat for the season. It is on the Abaco side just south of Hope Town where our boat lives. In a week we head out to the Exumas, down to Georgetown and back. What is a “sea bean”? Hope you find a nice spot in the states for the boat. Chesapeake might be nice but expensive. Happy trails,
Stephen
Sea beans are the seeds of tropical plants that float in the ocean and get washed ashore on the beach.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/nonpwdpubs/young_naturalist/plants/sea_beans/
We’ve found many on South Caicos and in Mexico. They are fun to find and add to their collections. However when they found out that people buy the shiny ones, they got to work…for 2 minutes.
We spent a storm season at Brunswick Marina, GA:
https://brunswicklandingmarina.com
Really nice people and an interesting area to explore! Good luck! Stay safe & keep having fun!
Gail
Our good friends are heading there, and we did consider it, but we are staying south. Get off the boat, visit family, get all the boat work done, and get moving again.
Brunswick is a solid recommendation, Gail. I looked at a cat there once and really liked the area. For some reason, Brunswick seems almost immune to hurricanes. St. Augustine proved to be a good choice for them last year and would be familiar. Many cruisers, though, prefer the NE for hurricane season, but that means the same crowds that you see in the Caribbean in the winter months.
Yes, it looks nice and has good recommendation. But we are staying south – hoping for an in-and-out off season.
Brunswick being almost immune to hurricanes… that’s one of the reasons why the Kings Bay Sub Base is there…
It is an amazing area. Spent my youth there, with a girl from St. Simon’s Island…lunch at the Sea Island Club… all in the surreal 80’s…
Not this season, and would be surprised if they had room for us with all these wonderful recommendations on the place.
Have guys thought about going north (way north) for the summer? The Hudson River looks like it would be a great respite from the crazy hot weather. It could also be the start of a Great Loop voyage.
Way north, is right. But nope after this backtracking, we are staying south, enjoying family, boat work truly (mostly) done, and get outta there.
I like your views on insurance, risk and loss.
I was going to invite you guys to our marina here at Brunswick Landing Marina, but see others have already recommended this marina. I’m the dock master here and have been following you since the first circumnavigation. I would definitely find a slip for you here despite our current waiting list. I’m sure you already have sockeye arranged, but if anything changes, please contact us!
Thank you so much, Ralph. Very kind of you to welcome us to your place. It is appreciated and maybe you just might see us at some point.
Since you’re staying in Florida don’t forget to take your mer-children to visit the mermaids at Weeki Wachee!
https://weekiwachee.com/mermaids/
A fun hokey show from the ‘old Florida’ days, before it became Disney-ized! The water park is also fantastic fun!
Enjoy!
Gail
Thanks, Gail. But unfortunately Florida is a LONG state, the mermaids are 200 miles from us. Probably not this time, but thanks for thinking are pod would enjoy seeing them.