Made it!

The Gulf Stream is like a river in the middle of the ocean and it flows north at about 2.5-3 knots. When there are winds from any northerly direction, crossing can be miserable, depending on how strong they are, and even treacherous because the wind and current work against each other causing large, turbulent waves. Some cruising boaters wait weeks for the right conditions. Winds from the southeast today provided the green light we needed to cross.

We had a safe passage and docked at Old Bahama Bay in West End of Grand Bahama Island at around 2:30. YAY! Before we could do anything else, we had to clear customs. While Wayne went up to do that and check in, I checked to see if I could pick up a wi-fi signal from the Marina and was successful. YAY again!

All five boats (four catamarans and us) clustered at the bridge in time to make the 4:30 a.m. opening. I think it was around 9:00 a.m. that the sky began to darken and radar showed scattered showers and thunderstorms that didn't produce more than a few drops of rain and minor rumbles where we were.

After motor sailing until late morning, winds picked up and switched direction, so we enjoyed a fabulous sail for the rest of the trip. We were amazed to learn later that we were the only boat that actually sailed; the others all ran their engines the entire trip, but we got in shortly after they did.

The folks from Change and Ginny C are docked directly across from us. Mary and Ginny came over to welcome us, then the whole gang hit the pool. All fourteen enjoyed dinner together to celebrate our crossing and Jeff and Anne Peltier's wedding anniversary. From this point on, some will stay together and some will scatter.

Only we, Ginny C, and Chat-Eau have taken their boats to the Bahamas before.

I know a bunch of people who are going to sleep really well tonight.