THE BAHAMAS ADVENTURE

Page 5

12/12/00 (Tuesday)

What do you get when you have a strong current caused by an out-going tide moving East and large waves being pushed by strong winds heading West?  You get really large waves that are very steep!  That's what we headed out into when we left the Port of Miami around midnight.  ( I which I had pictures of this but I was using a digital camcorder and I was not going to get it wet! )

We were heading straight into these waves.  The boat was thrown up pointing toward the sky with each 10 footer.  Heavy spray and some green water rolled over the topside and into the cockpit.  I tried to duck these and most of the water sailed over my head.  We sat in the open cockpit and wondered how long this could continue.  This was nuts!  It lasted 20 minutes and eventually we pulled clear of the current.  But it was scary in the dark.  Not seeing the big waves until they were either upon you or the wave starts to break and you see the foaming top 8 - 10 feet above the boat!

Gradually the seas settled and a rhythm was established.  Even in the dark, the way seems much easier then the night before.  We were heading at a better angle into the waves and the direction of the waves had moved more to the Southeast allowing Seaclusion to cut easily through them.  Hour after hour passed and the lights of Miami disappeared to stern.  We took turns steering which basically means staring at the compass and keeping Seaclusion on course.  It was still hours before dawn and we really felt alone at sea.  No other boats could be see in any direction.  Both Ron and I were very tired.  But the adrenalin of the situation was more than enough to stay wide awake.

Dawn was at 6:54 AM.  The sun rose from below the horizon to full view in less then 10 seconds!  It just popped up into the sky! 

What a difference a day (light) makes.  Everything was much less tense once the sun was up.  We now could see larger waves and steer to approach them from better angles.  The other effect was to send home the idea that you were alone on the sea.  There was nothing but water in all directions as far as the eye could see.

Ron was exhausted and took a 2 hour nap below decks during my turn at the wheel.  As the sun rose higher in the sky, I could see what I thought to be a cruise ship in the distance to the South.  I figured it was heading for Freeport or maybe Nassau.  Around noon we spotted a US Coast Guard cruiser in the distance to the North apparently escorting or maybe towing a sail boat.

Finally around 2PM we sighted the low lying land of West End on the island of Grand Bahama.  It was a perfect landing, exactly on target if I do say so myself.  All of a sudden the crossing seemed easy and in retrospect, it was.

Gradually we pulled into the Old Bahamas Marina ( it used to be called the Jack Tar Marina ) around 4PM and headed for customs.  After filling out several forms about ourselves, our boat and the weapons we had aboard we were cleared.  There was a $100.00 entry fee for the boat that had to be paid in cash.  (I wonder how many times the paper work is lost and the fee pocketed?)

We headed for our slip in the marina and there was a couple waiting to take our lines.  They turned out to be the owners of QuickStep.  This was to boat we talked to on the radio during our first attempt the night before.  It's nice to see that they kept an eye out for us but sailors are like that.

After tying off Seaclusion in her slip and taking a hot shower, I felt the worries of the world lift off my shoulders.  Then the little no-see-um bugs came out and started biting.  These little bastards don't quit and I was forced to take refuge back in the boat for some protection.

Next store to where we have the boat tied up there are guys working on building some new condos.  They work until dark but we can hear them talking long into the night.  It turns out that the also sleep at the job site in the partially completed buildings and start work at first light in the morning.  After dinner we both turn in and sleep like we were dead until 8AM the next morning when the hammers and saws of the workmen woke us.

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© 2001, Donald R. Swartz