We left Chub Cay anchorage about 8am this morning. We decided for several reasons to head back to the USA. Not the least of which is one of our sons is leaving NC soon to move to Denver and we want to see him before he moves to Colorado, and when it takes 2 plane tickets to go visit him instead of a day's drive. We spent most of the day on the Bahama Bank. We had no wind so could not sail but the seas were only about 1 to 2 feet so not too rough. About 9:30pm we passed Great Isaac Light and Hens and Chickens, left the bank and went off into the really deep blue sea. It got a little rolly and pitching at times. It was partly overcast and only a half moon so it was pretty dark compared to going over.
Valentines Day may be happy for people but deadly for sea life. We saw numerous plastic and mylar balloons floating on the surface. At least after 4 days nothing had eaten the ones we saw but could not help but think how many had probably been eaten and did or will do harm to sea creatures. Lee saw a pod of 6 or 8 dolphins jumping around the boat and they rode our bow wake for a bit.
Day 64 Sunday. 2/19/17. North Palm Beach, FL at anchor
At 1am Sunday we were crossing the Atlantic heading toward Florida. We had more wind this part of our trip but the angle was dead on out bow. We saw many boat lights, most large boats like container ships or cruise ships. We also saw (which we always do) boats whose light patterns are not on the charts. Always wonder what they are but no way to know in the dark. A few smaller boats like ours were out and properly lit for identification.
We both stayed up all night, Lee took a couple of 15 min naps but I could not sleep at all. We came in sight of land shortly after dawn and into the inlet to North Palm Beach around 10am. As soon as we got in we the grabbed the first nearby anchorage, dropped our hook and went below for a nap. We both slept 2 or 3 hours and rested the remainder of the day.
We used WindyTV.com (web site) and Grib files for weather prediction on off shore passages. Both sites were fairly accurate. If you have not looked at WindyTV you should. It is something special.
Day 65. Monday. 2/20/17. S. Of Ft Pierce at Anchor
We left North Palm Beach anchorage early and headed north on the ICW. We did 7 bridges today.
We anchored just south of Ft Pierce and we had not even finished anchoring before a parade of boats went past us heading south on the waterway. It was small 12' sail boat all pretty identical with main sail and colorful little spinnaker out on the bow. There were 50 or 60 of them. It looked like mostly youth. Must be kids sailing clubs or lessons around and this was like their recital, like piano students have. Their own little regatta . I tried to get some pictures, the line of boats stretched as far as you could see.
We were hanging out in the cockpit reading and I asked Lee if he was cold. We had front and one side canvas panel open. I was a little chilly. He looked up and said, "No my side panel is closed. You are getting the wind from the front blowing back and out your side. I can see the breeze blowing your hair. See my hair is not blowing" then he gestured to his hair. I died laughing. I clipped his hair completely off yesterday. He does not have 1/8" on hair. I would have had to use a razor to get it any shorter. ( and then there is that thinning issue too) He was so sincere, then when I started laughing he realized how silly he sounded.
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