Approaching Titusville Muni Marina, Bill on deck.
Man this is getting too much like fun...Just returned from Bahamas
(twice this year via s/v Island Time, in
April
with Judy, once via
B-I-G SHIP with in-laws, and the
Big Trip in 2002).
A long story, but I had an old friend pay to fly here from New Orleans and we were both non-refundable ticketed to Marsh Harbour to bring back a "B" but at last minute ABORT.
So Bill Kelly (friends since 4th grade) is on his way here and what to do...Well, I have a boat so let's go anyway. A roundtrip to Abacos in a week is nearly impossible. SO. let's just go to West End (Old Bahama Bay) and back. My Cruising Permit purchased in April is still good, wx is not bad. Voila, we go.
Boat Stuff | Customs & Immigration | Guy & Judy Home Page
Stock up on gro-trees, water, clothes, etc. Pick up Bill at Daytona Beach Airport. Place 3 jugs of Diesel (15 gal) in Stbd Lazarette.
NSB (mm845.5) depart 0730...coulda left earlier, but the Titusville Swing bridge is on 3 hour sched (7-10-1-4) whilst under repair.
Arrive Titusville 1130, top diesel tanks, make lunch, drift around till 1300 opening. In place as bridge first creaks to life. (NAG: 5 sailboats waiting with us, 2 hang back and go under bridge almost 5+ minutes after it opens, to annoyance of bridge tender).
Approaching Titusville Muni Marina, Bill on deck.
Heavy thunderstorms forecast and visible on scope, closest was 6 miles away to West, but it was moving very slowly and it missed us.
Motoring at 2,900rpm (3GM30F, 3,600Max, 3,400Sustained). making 7STW & SOG (no current here) make it to Eau Gallie Yacht Club at 1830. Plug in, turn on A/C, Martini's and Burgers at club house.
Eau Gallie YC to Stuart Marriott
Motorsailed most of day, winds clocking with lots of thunderstorms on scope.
The Marriott simmer rates make it a good deal...A/C, fuel, week-end dock parties. The day was not to hot, cloudy but we dodged again any showers.
Stuart to West Palm (Palm Harbor Marina).
Not even enough wind to motorsail, plus the many bridges between Stuart and Palm. Arrived Palm Harbor Marina (way cheap summer rates) and hauled dink on deck, napped, dinner in town. This marina is in downtown West Palm and has access to all city stuff.
Forecast for Monday is SE-SSE 10-15...it's a go.
Palm to West End
Left dock at 0530, to catch sunrise outside.
Sunrise in Gulf Stream
A few showers, but early in day so little wind or lightning
Arrived West End at 1500. Cleared Customs, got bikes and went to town for some stuff, Rum & Gin.
I had a Cruising Permit from my trip in April, so we got in Lagnaippe. BUT it is only good for one (1) re-visit.
The road to town is hard by the Great Bahama Bank
West End
Bill got up and caught our dinner, a nice 4lb Mangrove
Snapper.
Chef Andre prepared the fish-Bill digs in.
We did the beach-bum thing, snorkle, rum, lunch, rum, nap, rum.
West End to Ft. Pierce and to Vero Yacht Club
Track to Ft. Pierce #2 from West End is 82NM, then ~12NM to Vero Yacht Club
Motored till 1200, then motorsailed till 1500, motor off till 1700 (really sailing WOW).
50 miles to go @ 9.3SOG-9.0VMG
West End to Ft. Pierce is only a few hours longer than to Palm Beach...and in anything but a NW wind, is somewhat smoother. Palm is 56NM, Pierce is 82NM, but VMG's are much higher. The Stream does vary in Velocity and the last 20 miles are almost out of the stream, but for 40 to 60 miles threre is a nice lift. We made it to the #2 buoy in ~10 hours, motoring most of the way. With some help from the wind and 7.5kts STW, we'd see over 10 KTS VMG.
Vero YC to NSB Home. ICW 107SM
We were getting good E wind able to motorsail 7.5 - 8.2 STW and 7.5+SOG all day. The NASA Causeway bridge goes into Car-Only mode every day from 1530 till 1700. Miss this bridge and can't make it home today. But we made it at 1527 (honest); I called on 09 1 mille out and tender said, "...if you're not here at 1530, too bad" The swing bridge began opening on demand after 4:30, so we only waited 20 minutes.
Bubba-Burgers and Martini's on ICW for dinner, and home at 2045.
Unload and clean.
We chose Ft. Pierce because it is a day closer home (vs. Palm Beach). As we entered Cell range, I called the 800 number (Miami) for Customs, gave them a bunch of Info which was already on file from the Customs Sticker and got a clearence Number.
I was told to goto Immigration...Ft. Pierce had an office, but he didn't know the number. So, I waited till we docked at Vero YC, and got a phone book and called the Airport office...no answer and no message.
We departed early in the AM and go home late at night.
Called Daytona Beach Customs Inspector...(we have a few International flights daily)...he was glib and said the guy's in Miami are full of it...once you clear customs, and are US Citizens, there is no need to see Immigration, after all, since merging under Department of Homeland Security, we're all on the same team.
He said, "... what the hay, you guys are citizens, park the boat at your condo and jsut spent a few day's in the Bahamas, got a Customs Sticker...Did you bring back anything, or a few gals, or something I need to know about?"
This is not a real answer to any questions others may have, but I'll run back to Ponce Inlet in the future (wx permitting).