May 30, 2014
Squalls and lightning remained around us, but not over us, throughout the night. We were convinced the correct decision was made to seek the marina’s refuge for the night.
Rarely do we set an alarm, but for our return trip to the U.S., we awakened to a pleasant tune from our cell phone. By 6:10 AM, we were motoring out of Old Bahama Bay Marina, leaving a “red” sunrise in our wake. (Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning!) The forecast indicated there was a chance of rain and thunderstorms. Towering clouds billowed on the northern horizon, also indicating the possibility of rain. Time would tell ….
“Red sky at morning…”
Leaving Old Bahama Bay Marina at 6:10 AM
Towering clouds on the horizon
The wind remained SE at 7-10 MPH for the first 3-4 hours as we motored across the Gulf Stream. The swells and light chop made for a slightly bumpy ride, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. During the remaining 10 hours of the trip, the wind speed dropped to 4 MPH. The seas calmed down, and we had gentle rolling swells during the rest of our journey. All in all, it was a good trip. No rain or thunderstorms made it even better. We saw storms here and there on the horizon, but thankfully, we got none.
Bradley’s Restaurant in West Palm Beach, FL, across the street from the waterfront
When we arrived safely back in West Palm Beach, we called to get our phone service reconnected and then called the Customs Office to get registered back into the U.S. We felt satisfied that we made the trip to the Bahamas and back— uneventfully—all by ourselves. To celebrate, we went to Bradley’s Restaurant near the waterfront for a nice dinner. It appeared as though the American flag welcomed us home as it fluttered on its pole at Bradley’s, and the live music with an island rhythm reminded us of what a small, assimilated place this part of the world really is.
Though we left the islands of the Bahamas behind us, the memories of all the great times we had there and the new friends that we made will always be with us.
Hi
I let the water out of your dingy. The bungies were still there but stretched. there was a pocket in the dingy cover so they stretched, filling the cover with lots of water. I untied the aft end of the cover so it will drain into the dingy.(plug is out). May need a tighter bungie or make a small (quarter inch) hole in the cover so if it fills, it will drain.
We had the leopard Spot On that was a few slips down from you and on the other side. Have a power cat now in the same place.
Stan