We made our first blue water passage! We left this morning at 7:00am even thought the forecast had gotten a bit worse, calling for 4-6 seas for sure, with higher waves in areas of squalls. Our plan was to get the heck out of dodge early before the winds started picking up and the thunder storms were to begin (early afternoon). It took us about 3 hours, door to door.
It is at times like these that you learn things about yourself. I learned that a) I am stoic (meaning I don't shriek) in the face of fear, b) I close my eyes when frightened, even if that means for 30 minutes at a time, and c) I'm thankful that Martin does not close his eyes in 6 foot seas as well! I also learned that you can pee in 3-5 foot seas without killing yourself even though it severely tests the efficacy of seasick pills.
In truth, I don't think the passage was all that bad but also in truth, I was really scared. This part of the learning curve required grappling hooks for me. We hit seas as high as 6 feet and it was "choppy". Martin assures me that I have yet to experience "rollers" or rolling seas. I think it would be nice to roll rather than smack... One in particular was memorable because it hit us "beam side" - meaning at 90 degrees and we then kind of slid down it sideways. I think that's when the air freshener and dish detergent took flight, or maybe that's when the cabinet door came unhinged and spilled it's contents across the floor :) Maybe why the heavy plastic crate tipped over, saved an ill fortune by falling onto our store of potato chips and pretzels? The constant banging also loosened a faucet handle and door handle, both of which we found rolling across the floor. The shower caddie took a dive as did the hand held shower head. Poor Lucky looked ravaged by the time we got in. I think Martin and I only earned a "C-" in Battening the Hatches 201. Well, now we know...and I'm sure we can by chips in the Bahamas, though I don't know that they'll be baked...
The relief I feel is overwhelming. We crossed the golf stream so that big "first" is over.
We are 1/3 of the way to Nassau but it's the toughest third. The winds should die down over the next few days, the banks are shallow and our 2nd leg of the journey shouldn't be bad at all.
We've now checked in at immigration and the marina. Ate lunch. Now there is a pool, thatch-covered chairs and a bar that awaits us...
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3 comments:
Congratulations! It was with great anticipation I was awaiting this news. I'm glad all the planning paid off.
Hey guys, glad you finally made it.
I guess Louise already told you the N-43 is on our short list. But that boat takes ~10 hours to make the voyage you did in three...
-Sean
Thanks Rob! Sean I know...I really would love to ride in an N-43 in comparable seas and what it's like...with the stabilizers and all. I wonder if it's a more comfortable/albeit longer trip?
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