February 10, 2015
Southern Vectis and Camp David slipped out of Harbortown Marina into the calm and sparkling waters of the Intra-Coastal Waterway (ICW) on Saturday 7th February heading for an overnight anchorage at Lake Worth, Palm Beach. As we moved south, we were joined by a little armada of boats all heading in the same direction with, we guessed, the same aim in mind - to cross the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas on Monday. Our overnight anchorage was peaceful.
The next morning we dinghied to shore to go for a walk, and to pick up some last minute groceries.In the afternoon we motored the five miles south to out 'staging area' for the crossing, just south of Lake Worth Inlet. We were to be joined on our crossing by Paul and Helen on 'Intuition', and Deke and Chris on 'Chris Deke'. The weather window for Monday appeared to be holding, but with a dire warning from the forecasters that all boats should be at their destination by sunset Monday.
We christened our group the 'Harbortown Group' for ease of communicating on the VHF radio as we crossed, and we planned to weigh anchor at 4 a.m. Monday. All went smoothly, as did our crossing, despite the weather forecasts which, when we were about half way across, started changing their tune and talking of thunderstorms, water spouts and damaging winds! Dark clouds built up in the south-east' but kept their distance for our 11 hour crossing. At 3 p.m. we were at our docks at the Old Bahama Bay Marina in West End Grand Bahama Island. Phew!
It was while we were enjoying a well-earned drinks party on 'Intuition' that the first heavy drops of rain fell. We scuttled back to our boats, which were now lit up by brilliant lightning flashes, and tugging on their dock lines in what has turned into a 30 knot blow, with gusts of 50 knots. Even now, 24 hours later, it is still blowing just as strongly, and the skies are filled with angry rushing clouds. The palm trees are doing their best against heavy odds!
But not everyone got off so easily. A 34 foot sailboat didn't quite make it in time, and was wrecked on the rocks just at the mouth of the harbour. The couple on board, who were on their way to the Virgin Islands to get married, managed to get to shore, but the boat, with all their possessions, is now floating on its side and rapidly being broken up by the surf pounding against the rocks. What's left of the boat looks so fragile, like a piece of driftwood. A very sobering sight for us all.
On the bright side, we are enjoying what will probably be an extended stay at this lovely resort. We'll make the most of being stranded on a desert island with lots of good company, fresh fish, and good local 'Kalik' beer. Our next destination will be Green Turtle Cay....some day soon! We are now officially on 'island time'!
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