Bahamas! We Have Arrived!

Leaving Marathon in our wake, we set off for the Bahamas at 12 noon December 6th.  The winds were favorable and the gulf stream was kind to us as we sailed through the night.  Since we wanted to arrive on the Great Bahama Bank in daylight, we had to slow down by reducing sail between 4:00 and 6:30 am, (which made for a sloppy and, dare I say, uncomfortable ride) but that aside, it was a great crossing. 

Once on the banks we were in our glory.  We sailed for another nine hours with no land in sight in only fourteen feet of beautiful turquoise gin-clear water.  It was 3:30 when we called it a day and dropped our anchor out there, on the bank, in the middle of nowhere.  This is not the first time we've done that and, believe me, it was just as freaky the second time as it was the first.  Nassau is where we were headed to clear through customs but we knew we wouldn't be able to make it there before sunset so.. the bank was our cozy anchorage for the night. 

The anchor had barley touched the bottom off the bow when I was jumping off the stern into 84° water!   Within minutes Harley joined me and it was fabulous!  We'd been waiting to do that for a very long time and it will be the first of many.  We ate dinner in the cockpit watching our first Bahamian sunset.....*sigh*  life is good!....and soon after we both dropped like stones into bed and slept like rocks.

At the crack of dawn today we set off again.  The sea condition was flat calm giving us lots of time to relax and contemplate life and such when it dawned on me.... we have crossed our wake!  We have completed America's Great Loop.  Cool.  This wasn't really a goal of ours so it's no big deal but, hey, it gives us bragging rights if nothing else.

Presently, we are sailing towards Nassau Harbour so I will post this now so our family (and friends that care) know we are here safe.  We have yet to clear customs....here's hoping we don't get deported....but....more about that....next time.

Here Harley is raising the customary quarantine flag.
Second picture us at dawn sailing towards Nassau.