Bahamas here we come!

Tonight we sat on 'Southern Vectis' and watched a flaming orange sky fade to deep blue, and listened to the strains of a bagpipe float across the water. It was magical -particularly after cocktails on 'Somewhere in Time' - Eileen and John's luxurious 'Nordic Tug 42'. It was a fitting ending to the many happy days 'Southern Vectis' has spent here, at Las Olas Marina, since our first visit in mid-November.
Tomorrow is IT! The day we've been planning towards for literally years! We cross to the Bahamas! It's all planned...from a perfect (we hope) weather forecast, to a full moon, to non-existent waves in the Gulf Stream for our crossing. We're geared up and raring to go.....and more than a bit nervous, though we don't admit it! Our berths are booked at the 'Bahama Bay Marina', in West End, on the island of Grand Bahama, approximately 68 nautical miles north east of Fort Lauderdale.
Tomorrow (Saturday 10 January, 2009) 'Southern Vectis', 'Sea Change' and 'Somewhere in Time' will slip their moorings at 'Las Olas' and slip gently down the ICW to a temporary anchorage at 'Lake Sylvia'. We will all dinghy to do any last minute shopping, and probably gather at the 'Southport Raw Bar' for oysters and wine some time in the late afternoon. Then back to the boats and a short snooze before we pull anchor around 11:30 p.m. to catch the midnght opening of the 17th Street Bridge. Then our voyage will begin! All being well, and averaging a speed of about 6knots, we should make it to West End in 12 hours, taking into account the 3 + knot current in the Gulf Stream.
I must say that the build up to this crossing is quite something! We feel that we'll be somehow passing over to another existence.......maybe it'll be heaven, or maybe opposite! But tomorrow we'll be be 'crossing over'.....wish us luck!
Next time ......from the Bahamas.