Heading Back.

     We had planned to stay in Hope Town for ten more days after John & Alex left, but a five day 'weather window' changed our minds.  March had been a mixed month for weather, with a few cold fronts (from Canada we are always told!) paying the Bahamas  weekly visits. When this happens all the harbours, docks and sheltered anchorages are filled with boats patiently waiting out the storms.   Then, towards the end of March, boats start moving north, beginning their migration back up the east coast of the U.S. to their summer cruising grounds in Chesapeake Bay or further north. 'Weather windows' for crossing the Gulf Stream have been few and far between this spring, so if one comes along it's wise to take it. And we did.

     We had a final game of Bingo at Capt'n Jack's with Ron & Jane, and Steve and Debby and left on a high note as Steve won one of the games. He shared his winnings in the form of wine! Then, on April Fool's Day we said a fond farewell to Hope Town, and sailed out with the tide. We weren't alone.  At least twenty boats were sailing along with us, all heading to cross through 'The Whale' inlet on the first leg of their homeward journeys.

     The weather held for the entire six days of our trip back to Fort Pierce.  The Sea of Abaco sparkled, the waves lapped the hull, and there was even enough wind to sail. Our two anchorages - at beautiful Powell Cay and at Great Sale Cay - were peaceful.  At Great Sale Cay we anchored on the west side of the cay with about ten boats, and met up with Pat and Pete on 'Dreamseeker' for a drink at sundown. They were planning to sleep for about 5 hours and then set off at midnight to cross straight over to Fort Pierce - a trip of about 20 hours.  Many boats go this route, but not 'Southern Vectis'!  Eight to ten hour days suit us better. Night sailing is not on our agenda!

     From Great Sale Cay we made it through the shallow Indian Cay Channel into Old Bahama Bay Marina at West End. It was two and a half hours after high tide, but we managed to sneak through without running aground or hitting a rock! The marina was packed with boats waiting to cross to Lake Worth. We had never seen it so full, and felt lucky to get a dock.  As usual before a 'crossing', people get together and compare weather forecasts and their own predictions. The general consensus this time was to wait an extra day and cross on Saturday.  The waves and swell outside the marina had built to four to five feet and looked uncomfortably choppy, but it would all 'lay down' by Saturday morning.  So we had a lovely day, sitting on the beach, swimming and snorkelling, and chatting with many of the boaters we knew from our trips around the Abacos.  That evening we had a 'Last Party in Paradise', swapped stories, drank wine, and generally got up our courage for the next day's crossing.  By 7:30 a.m. the next morning most of the docks were empty and the marina was left to slumber in the sunshine. The flotilla had set sail.

     Our crossing was fine. It was 'lumpy' to start off, but soon the waves calmed down and the wind blew from the right direction.  The flotilla chatted happily to each other on the VHF radios, and we made it to Lake Worth's peaceful northern anchorage in ten and a half hours. The next day we travelled up the Intra-Coastal Waterway to 'home base' - Harbortown Marina at Fort Pierce.

     We've been here at our dock for just over a week. Many of the Bahamas boaters are docked here, or have called off here on their trips north. The Tiki Bar is buzzing with tales of the sea.  Our friends, Gloria and Frank from Toronto, are staying nearby in Vero Beach, and we'll be seeing more of them during the rest of our stay. Otherwise we are trying to 'party down'!  Even the marina held a barbecue party last Saturday.......and so the festivities continue and the sun shines......though not all the time. We've had a few gray days, and stormy winds, but no snow so far!  We haven't set a date yet for the boat to be hauled out, but we will probably have it done by the end of next week - 26/27 April.
Another wonderful winter is comng to an end, but no one around here says "goodbye" at the end of the season, just "same time next year".