We have been wireless challenged and busy entertaining for the last week.
So, for a little catch-up of what's been happening on Lapidus:
Leaving Fort Lauderdale Thursday, February 12, we headed across the Gulf Stream with our first way point set for Great Issac, a distance of 83 miles. Our crossing was great and we made super time. Instead of taking the usual route through the shallow Great Bahama Bank, we chose to stay in deep water for our overnight trip. Heading east in the New Providence Channel, we had ships on our radar througout the night, often six at a time. Cruise ships, tugs, tankers, motor yachts and the Nassau mail boat kept us company, but many different routes were being followed; we only talked to two big ships and they both altered their course to stay clear of us.
We were soon taveling south passing the Berry Islands on the deep water side. Our last stretch was south east to Nassau; we were in a slip by 11:30 a.m. Friday, February 13. After checking in with customs, walking around town a while, and enjoying a great dinner at the Poop Deck of Yellow Snapper and Bahamian side dishes, we retired early to be rested for our overnighter to Georgetown. We fueled up and left Nassau for the Highborne Cay Cut by crossing the Bank. We went through the cut in shallow water with the sun over our head and the water much less rough than it can be if the tide, current, and wind are in opposition. In the Exuma Sound (more deep water), with the light wind on our nose), we motored the last 80+ miles. By 8:00 a.m., Sunday morning we were at Conch Cay Cut, then followed the way points into Elizabeth Harbour, and dropped the hook. Our trip was close to 300 miles and 52 hours boat traveling that included two overnighters plus one night in a slip.
We immediately went to work cleaning up the cockpit and boat plus getting the dingy, Lit'l Lap, and motor ready to go. We were in Georgetown enjoying a beer at the Peace & Plenty when our daughter Kenya and friends Sherry and Pam arrived in a taxi from the airport around 3:30.
We made it!
We spent the next week enjoying this beautiful island surrounded by gorgeous turquoise water and enjoying our great times together. Kenya and the girls flew home Saturday and we miss them already.
We have pics and much to talk about. We have to come to town to get on the internet -at least for now. More to come.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Ft. Lauderdale
We left Vero Beach January 24th and snuggled into a slip in Ft. Lauderdale late Wednesday afternoon, January 25th. Vero Beach has no inlet to the ocean, so we followed the Intracoastal Waterway south to the Ft. Pierce inlet, just a reverse of our trip north on the ICW to Vero Beach a week earlier. The latest forecast predicted 20+ knots, but the ICW was OK. After a couple of hours, we turned west off the ICW and soon were through Ft. Pierce and entering the inlet out to the ocean. There, as quickly as we committed to going out the inlet, we faced new circumstances. We could see that the waves were high and the water was rough, but still did not expect what was happening. The bow would rise up high out of the water, then slam back on the water with the bow heading into the water and we had quite a ride. We thought about turning back, but that didn't seem like a good prospect, so we just kept going. We could see the ocean and could tell it was not as rough as the inlet. We just keep moving, and once we got out of the inlet, the gusty wind and whitecaps actually looked good. As we talked through what had happened, we realized that the east wind was meeting the tide going out and causing a nasty inlet.
The wind was becoming south east, and thus, pretty much on our nose, so our progress was not great. Soon, even our slow progress stopped. Around midnight, about the time that we passed the Lake Worth inlet, we were slowed to about one knot. Again, we thought, "What is going on?" We were less than three miles off shore and on the edge of the Gulf Stream, but this powerful current included a weather induced Atlantic rip-tide (didn't figure that out right a way!). We tried both heading further out to sea and closer to land; we could pick up a knot, but were being blown too far off course. This went on for a few hours, so we decided that at dawn we would turn around and go in the Lake Worth inlet. As soon as we turned around, we picked up speed and were soon traveling 11 knots --yup, that's how fast that current was moving. We were only about four miles from the inlet and were there so quickly. Several ships were anchored outside of the inlet; we did not want to have to wait on all of them to go in during daylight. We were lucky (finally). It wasn't quite yet light, one ship started into the inlet, and we followed it. Before long, we were back on the ICW and glad to be there for the rest of our trip to Ft. Lauderdale.
Going south from Lake Worth, much of the the ICW becomes a narrow land cut that is lined with houses, hotels
, and condos on both sides. The views are views and landscapes are quite varied, but all beautiful. 
For the next 41 miles, we had 21 restricted bridges to go through! Most open on the hour and half-hour, while some open on the quarter and three-quarter hour. Two miles to travel before a bridge opens in 30 minutes means adjusting your speed so you don't arrive too early; four miles to travel in 30 minutes means pushing your engine for a bit so you don't have to wait another 30 minutes. We were able to get a good flow going; a couple of times the bridge tenders knew we were coming and kept the bridge open just a little longer.
By 4:30 we were in a slip Bahia Mar marina. We are, like many other cruisers, awaiting a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream and spend a few months in the Bahamas.
The wind was becoming south east, and thus, pretty much on our nose, so our progress was not great. Soon, even our slow progress stopped. Around midnight, about the time that we passed the Lake Worth inlet, we were slowed to about one knot. Again, we thought, "What is going on?" We were less than three miles off shore and on the edge of the Gulf Stream, but this powerful current included a weather induced Atlantic rip-tide (didn't figure that out right a way!). We tried both heading further out to sea and closer to land; we could pick up a knot, but were being blown too far off course. This went on for a few hours, so we decided that at dawn we would turn around and go in the Lake Worth inlet. As soon as we turned around, we picked up speed and were soon traveling 11 knots --yup, that's how fast that current was moving. We were only about four miles from the inlet and were there so quickly. Several ships were anchored outside of the inlet; we did not want to have to wait on all of them to go in during daylight. We were lucky (finally). It wasn't quite yet light, one ship started into the inlet, and we followed it. Before long, we were back on the ICW and glad to be there for the rest of our trip to Ft. Lauderdale.
Going south from Lake Worth, much of the the ICW becomes a narrow land cut that is lined with houses, hotels
, and condos on both sides. The views are views and landscapes are quite varied, but all beautiful. 
For the next 41 miles, we had 21 restricted bridges to go through! Most open on the hour and half-hour, while some open on the quarter and three-quarter hour. Two miles to travel before a bridge opens in 30 minutes means adjusting your speed so you don't arrive too early; four miles to travel in 30 minutes means pushing your engine for a bit so you don't have to wait another 30 minutes. We were able to get a good flow going; a couple of times the bridge tenders knew we were coming and kept the bridge open just a little longer.By 4:30 we were in a slip Bahia Mar marina. We are, like many other cruisers, awaiting a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream and spend a few months in the Bahamas.
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