We've crossed over...greetings from Paradise!

It has taken us a day of hot sun, fine white sand beaches, and 'Bahama Mama' rum c0cktails to really relax enough to be able to tell the true tale of our crossing from Fort Lauderdale to the Old Bahama Bay Marina at the northern tip of Grand Bahama Island. The true tale........it was a piece of cake! Truly, the build up, and the midnight flit from U.S. waters.....which included some of us going aground briefly, but not permanently, while exiting our Lake Sylvia anchorage (not telling who!), and a bridgemaster who was asleep at his job of letting us out into Port Everglades Harbour....tested our mettle so much that nothing could phase us on the actual trip. And nothing did. We stuck together and in contact by VHF. John helped us avoid the cruise ships and tankers by using his latest navigational toy - an AIS (Automatic Identification System), which told him the name of the vessels and what speed they were making. It got a little cool, so we put on a sweater plus socks, then peeled them off when the sun rose. Some of us slept more than others (see attached photo), while the cruel seas of the Gulf Stream lapped gently against our hulls.
We spotted land about 8 miles out, and were tied up at our docks by about midday. John ('Somewhere in Time') had made the Marina bookings for us all, and was the first one to negotiate the almost invisible, rock strewn entrance to the harbour. We followed him like lambs once we saw that he had not come to grief! Thank you, John.
Last night we were asleep by 8 p.m., but woke up starving hungry and cooked bacon, eggs and....fried bread (again!) - a breakfast to fortify us for the tough day of swimming, reading and exploring ahead.
The Old Bahamas Bay Marina is a lovely resort. It has rented or owned condo cottages, and a lovely pool area, a beach, restaurants, and a marina. There is an immigration and customs office here, so when we arrived only one person was allowed to get off the boat (in theory) and trot round to fill out forms and pay the $300 fee. While we waited to see if we were allowed in (!), we flew a yellow 'quarantine' flag, which we exchanged for a Bahamas flag once formalities were completed.
The marina is quite empty, and there aren't many people around. We were all offered a special docking rate of $1 per foot per day if we stayed for four nights (otherwise $1.75 per foot per day.) This is an unheard of rate....so we will all stay for four nights, particularly as a strong winds are expected tomorrow with a 'cold' front for the next few days.
Must finish now as Carol and Bob are hosting a champagne and caviar party, and I have to get into my cocktail shorts and T-shirt. Talk soon. Bye.