Crossing the Gulf Stream

We weighted anchor at 6am in the dark and motored out into the North Atlantic and then motor sailed for almost 8 hours in closed haul occasionally heading upwind to get a better sail shape. 

Chiheb did not seem to understand my tactic, complaining we were off track. But we were making good headway. 

All port tack with a southerly wind

Most of the other sailboat were to our port side ahead and they were all bigger and thus faster. 

First time out of view of land

The last 40 minutes we turned off the motor because we could. 

Slowly we motored into Alicetown, staying clear of the shallows.  Arriving at Big Game Club. They quoted us 3.75 a foot but the bill came out to 160. 

I cleared immigration and customs and got out fishing license.  The click 2 clear was troublesome - especially on the iPad but it worked. But I never got my drone license which I had paid for and had the receipt. 

Chiheb really wanted to take a shower so we did, had supper and walked the town at night

Next morning we walked the entire North Bimini from the marina to the south cut and north to the Hilton resort.  

We picked up a loaf of Coconut bread at Nate’s for $10. Don’t know if that was expensive or not but I fulfilled the ritual. 

Chiheb wanted to go to the New Year’s party at the resort and I wasn’t interested. The Eventbrite site said it was sold out anyways. 

We got back to the mariana I went for a swim, tried to fly my drone but we were in restricted air space.  

I noted the bilge pump ran about 8 times and realized I had to tighten the shaft packing again.  Chiheb was at the marina using the final wifi. 

I decided to anchor just north of the marina instead of going further north and I got us deeply stuck in the mud.  A local worker on a wreck came and towed us out and suggested a place near the shore and it was tight. 

I had never intended to use less than 50 foot of chain and Chiheb argued that I had too much scope.  I took my time before agreeing to less scope and used a line to make a snubber with a bowline.  

I still preferred to take my time to change my mind and I still would have preferred to set the anchor with more scope. 

It was only then I realized how clear the water was that I could see the whole chain and where the anchor was.  Spectacular!