Battery Day

Today's project is replacing our old 5 AGM batteries  with 7 new Gel Deep Cycles....
This is about a half day project.

The end of our Journey, for now.

We made our crossing back to the states on December 25th.
It was a wonderful trip to the bahamas and we could not have asked for better weather.  Along the way we made new friends, found wonderful spots to anchor, snorkle and even possibly set down some roots.
 Cappie and I plan to return to the Bahamas this fall and continue the journey.  I will be posting all of the photos from our trip, was I have them all on one device.
All in all,  Serena Rose and her crew had a great time and most of the systems we were testing worked great.  The only problem child through this adventure was our generator, having a issues with a faulty selynoid and the wind turbine was not producing the amps we expected.
Cappie is trouble shooting both system and will have them in tip top shape soon.  I have to say the water maker was the highlight of my trip, having unlimited drinking water.
Until our next adventure, fair winds and happy sailing to all.

December 26th

We spent several days in green turtle at Miss Blue Bees bar and Pineapples, enjoying the people and learning more about the island.  Kevin loves the Goombay Smash at Miss Blue Bees's and even brought a liter of it for the trip home.   I was talking with Miss Viola (Miss Emily's grand daughter), her daughter is also a massage therapist and would like to meet with me online and discuss essential oil products
Monday we move to Manjack Cay and meet the owners, Bill and Leslie.  Leslie and I spent several hours talking about bush medicine and she showed me all the native trees and plants they use for healing purposes.  Later in the day we did their nature hick to the atlantic side of the island and went to the beach, then did a dinghy ride throuh the creek that runs the middle of the island.  I would suggest this island to any and all cruisers , it was wonderful.
Wednesday went left early in the morning for Great Sail Cay and spent the night before heading to Mangrove Cay the next morning.
Thursday was off the Mangrove Cay waiting to cross back to the states.
Friday (Christmas day) we left at 0200 and set sail for Fort Pierce, the seas were 2-4 foot rollers with occasional 5 foot, winds were 6-10 knots out of the SE.  We made it to the inlet and anchored around 1700, we were tired, stinky and hungry.    Our friends Dave and Lisa, on board Scallywag were waiting for us in Ft. Pierce.  They came over for drinks and snacks.  Dave was introduced to a Goombay Smash and really liked them, so much he was calling them Gumby smashes at the end of the evening.
Saturday morning we left around 0730 to head home, up the ICW and Dave and Lisa left around 0400 to go on the outside up to port canaveral.  We arrive home around 1330 and went to the airport to clear immagration.

December 20th, 2015

We are anchored still in Green Turtle.  This morning Kevin spent time working on the Generator again.  He has narrowed the problem down to a faulty connection on the engine stop selonid with a corroided wire connection.  He has temporarliy fixed it, enough to use till we get home.  His second project today was Jarvus (our auto pilot), the on off nob came loss while making our crossing and he thought maybe the shaft was broke.  Once he took the front off he found the set screws had losen and the threads for the knob to connect the shaft were stripped so he was able to re connect and tighten the set screw so we can use it on our crossing back. This too will need to be replaced.

We have looked at the weather for cast and it looks like our only weather window to return will be Saturday the 26th, so we will be leaving Green Turtle Tuesday morning and start Island hoping back to Great Sail Cay by Christmas day and start our crossing that night.  If all goes as planned we will be state side by the evening of the 26th.

Today is Sunday and everything is closed, so we are doing cleaning and just hanging out, we may dighy in to town later this afternoon or not.  The winds have been blowing steady out of the NE at 25-30 knot for three days now and it should ease up by Tuesday.  Temprature has been about 77 the last few day, which has been very nice.  Well I must sign off for now.  Happy sailing and fair winds to all and to all a good night.

We Made it

We have made it to green turtle Cay.  My last two post would not send so this will be our update.  Im currently at Pineapples bar in Green Turtle boring their internet.  We had a great crossing and made it to Mangrove cay around 1930 on tuesday night, then Great sail cay on wednesday afternoon.  Thursday we motorsailed to Crab cay and then made the run to Green Turtle on Friday, anchoring around 1330.    The wweather has been in the mid 80's most of the week and we have been swimming .  A front came through today dropping the tempature to 73.
There is a funeral in town today so we are hanging at the only open place for lunch and internet

Making Our Cross to the Bahamas

Tuesday December 15th 0700
We are just making our way out Lake Worth Inlet, the winds are 5 knots due E, waves are about 2-3 feet rollers.  Seafari left about an hour before us and we can just see them on the horizon.   Its a beautiful morning, with Captain Kev on first watch.
1200 we are about 2 hours from the outer bank of White Sand, just north of Memory Rock.  The winds have been about 10 knots out of the SE, waves have increased to about 4 feet, but still a great cross, we are motor sailing to the bank.  Once on the bank we hope to sail to Mangrove Cay and anchore for the night.

Holding for the weather

We are still anchored at West Palm and waiting for the weather to cooperate.  Our plan is to leave at day break tomorrow and make the cross, so this will be my last blog until we find a spot with internet service.   I will keep making my daily post and then submit them when we have service, so several may come at one time.  When you click on the link with facebook, just scroll to the bottom of the page and click the home button.  That will take you to the full blog.   So I'm signing off now and Merry Christmas to all.