Ok, back on track. We had the most stunning ocean crossing the night we crossed from Boot Key to Bimini. Usually we go up the keys a way then do a day trip but maybe this will be our route from now on. We don't mind sailing at night and we arrived in plenty of light to negotiate the difficult entry to Bimini. The moon was almost full and the seas were flat. The water was as if a huge spotlight was on it with moonbeams dancing off the water. We scooted across quickly thanks to the Gulf Stream, always good for 2-4 knots of North flowing current. Once we arrived, we found a slip in Bluewater Marina and flew the Quarantine flag until we could get cleared in and officially arrive. The Q flag came down and the Bahamian courtesy flag went up. We met folks from all around and swapped tales of where we had come from and where we were going. Always a good tradition on a foreign dock.
We arrived in Bimini to wait out a storm and boy did it blow!
Sombrero Lighthouse as we were leaving the keys. It marks
the reef between Hawk Channel and the Atlantic Ocean
Large boats were constant companions. It made us
very grateful for radar and AIS especially at night.
One safety item is the yellow line you see here called a jackline.
It runs from the bow back to the cockpit. When either of us needs to move about
we clip in with tethers to stay attached to the boat in case of a big wave. The tethers
are short enough that we can't go over the side.
Passing the Bimini fishing fleet on the way to our marina.
The Catholic church, Holy Name Parish. They were all so
friendly and welcoming. The shape of the church gives it
wonderful acoustics and seems to hold up well to hurricanes.
Our marina. We were not the largest boat in there.
Farewell for now Bimini, on to Great Harbor Cay.
Bimini in the distance.
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