Bahamas 2012

Gulfstream Crossing Marathon – Bimini

January 7^th, 2012, “Kaos” and buddy boat “Orion” departed Banana Bay Resort in Marathon, Florida at first light for the start of a new adventure. The Bahamas are this seasons cruising destination, with the first port of call being North Bimini, where the crews will rest, and do their inbound clearance with Bahamian Customs and Immigration.

Our good friends Tim and Jan were out on the point at Black Fin Marina to wave goodbye and wish us bon voyage. It was sad to bid farewell and leave them waving on the shore. “Lamb Chop” and Tim and Jan were our buddy boat for seven months in 2011, when we travelled to the British Virgin Islands and back. It seems strange to look behind “Kaos” and not see “Lamb Chop” and it’s burgundy top. Tim and Jan are planning and preparing for an extended cruise to Hawaii, aboard a friend’s sailing catamaran.

Our Gulfstream crossing to the Bahamas was calm and uneventful, and we were ecstatic that the forecast wind and wave heights were exactly as predicted.

Waves were one foot or less with light and variable winds. Crossings don’t get any better than this !

In order to capitalize on these favorable conditions, we opted to do the 14 hour run to Bimini in one shot, since conditions were forecast to deteriorate overnight.

Dinner at sea was enjoyed watching another magnificent sunset. We never tire of this natuaral beauty, no matter how many we have seen.

This was our first visit to Bimini, and with an after dark arrival, and the approach not well marked, and wrought with shoals, we elected to head straight into Nixon’s Harbor and drop anchor for the night, where we were treated to a calm and peaceful nights sleep.

We awoke to brilliant sunshine, a cool breeze and gin clear, crystal Bahamian waters, where everything on the ocean floor was clearly visible. Our morning coffee tasted especially good today! After breakfast, we upped anchor and headed into Alice Town on North Bimini for our inbound clearance.