We're in the Bamahas

After Kent and Karen started on their trip north, we prepared the boat and left the security of the marina the following morning and headed for an anchorage in No Name Harbour across Biscane Bay. It was a very protected area located in a state park. We anchored there for 2 nights where we ran into a couple who we had met on another boat- Molano, on the trip down back in the fall. We arranged to meet with them and another couple - Tom and Jerry for a BBQ the following afternoon. Terry and I did a walking tour of the park and climbed to the top of the lighthouse on Cape Florida. We had a great view of the channel leading out into the ocean and spied schools of rays cavorting in the shallow waters near the beautiful beach.
We felt that the conditions, while not perfect for a crossing, were a bit more promissing than those over the past few days so we decided to go with the crossing of the Gulf Stream on May 3rd. It would be a full day and our destination would be the Island of Bimini. At 6:40 a.m. we pulled the anchor and headed out into SE winds of 10-15 knots. For the first 15 miles or so we dealt with confused seas of around 4 feet. Things settled down a bit once we were into the Stream but it was still a moderately rough crossing since the wind was right on our nose all the way across. We did have the mainsail up and that had a bit of a steadying effect. After about 10 hours, we finally spotted the Island of Bimini and 12 hours after we left, we were tying up at the Bimini Bluewater Marina. We stayed there for 3 nights, and soent the days exploring the island, visiting the local restaurants including Sherry's Bar which was right on the beach of the west side of the island. They fed us a great drink and we enjoyed a sample of her conch fritters. Sherry and Terry struck up a conversation and soon, we had committed to dinner there the following night. It was great. We were joined by another half dozen or so people from boats. A large bonfire was lit on the beach; the local lads brought out their drums, and we had a bit of a "junkanoo" right outside Sherry's bar in the middle of the road.
We struck out for Chub Key - a 2 day trip, on Wednesday morning, crossing the Great Bahama Bank and then about 15 miles of the Tongue of the Ocean. Our choices for wednesday night were to either anchor on the banks, or continue through the night. We elected to anchor on the banks in about 12 feet of water near the Russell Beacon. It was a rocky night since the winds that we have been dealing with were still on our nose about 10 to 15 knots.
We got up about 6 the following morning after a largely sleepless night and continued on to the Chub Cay Club Marina where we took a slip for the night. The location was fabulous; the marina basin very protected, the swimming pool out of this world, but the services for the boater left a lot to be desired. I had a chat with the manager - he had been appointed just a few days earlier; the marina was in receivership, the banks on the hook for $106 million!!!!
We stayed there only 1 night ($190.) and left the next morning for the 35 miles crossing to Nassau which we reached at about 3:45 on Friday afternoon. We tied up at the Harbour Club Marina which is where Dan and Sue leave their dive boat when in Nassau. After arriving, we enjoyed their pool, and made our plans for the work that had to be done here before we left for the Exumas - likely on Monday.