I didn't mind getting sea spray in my face as I knelt on the bow of the boat while using a rapidly dying (yet new) spot light in order to find day markers and those bizarre houses in Stiltsville (homes just outside of the channel, and really truly built on stilts, and I have to wonder how they feel about spotlights in their houses as many a sailor heads to the Bahamas).
I was okay with the 2 to 3 foot seas that NOAA had predicted, and was quite proud of myself when I waited until we were nine nautical miles from Bimini to puke.
I wasn't overly thrilled with the wind as it remained E SE for most of the day (even though we'd been promised S winds) which meant we had to motor the whole way and never had a chance to sail. Our time in the water went from 8 hours to possibly 12.
I was dismayed when right behind us I saw huge blue black clouds marching across the sky like Nazi soldiers when we were only 7 miles away from Bimini's shore line.
I was more than a bit frightened when the skies opened up and winds hit us clocking up to 51 knots (that's nearly 60 MPH folks!) and visibility went to nearly zero.
I would've liked to puke (but my stomach was empty) when Hans told me to get on the radio NOW and ask for information about entering the Bimini channel.
Thank God some good citizen (as all officials ignored us) answered me, plotted our location, and told us that our best bet was to head into Nixon's Harbour in South Bimini and anchor for the night. I felt a huge sense of relief when he said, "Get yourselves settled and enjoy the evening." Gee, maybe we wouldn't die after all.
Forty five minutes later we rode the wind and waves into Nixon's Harbour and after two attempts at dropping the hook, it stuck. And then we got to spend the rest of the night hoping we wouldn't drag into the ocean.
But when my French Press broke this morning, that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
" I'm. Not. Happy!!!!!" I stated. "Period!"
Welcome to Bimini!
Who would have thought we'd arrive wearing foul weather gear, life jackets, and jack lines!
This morning we navigated the channel into Bimini with 20+ knot winds and hellish waves. I'm not exaggerating! There are boaters here who refused to go out today.
The quarantine flag goes up.
And thank God for miracles, we got through customs and immigration with no problems.
Wilbur our poor little Salty Dog (who hid in our bunk shaking with fear), poses with the Bahamian flag.
Wilbur takes a much deserved rest atop Hans' safety harness.
Of course Internet is expensive and iffy but I'll try to update whenever possible.
I'm surprised by your reaction to the crossing. You've done plenty of blue water, I would have thought you would already have seen much worse. All in all, I'd say it was average to maybe slightly worse.
ReplyDeleteDo you do anything for motion sickness? I use non drowsy dramamin and find that works well. My wife uses nothing and laughs at me. If you did use dramamin maybe you just missed a second doase?
Ghost
I used to take ginger root but after a while I didn't need it anymore. I still get sick in choppy seas but I'm okay with that.
ReplyDeleteAs for seeing worse? In all of Hans years of sailing he's never seen 51 knots of wind. Being off the rocky coast of Bimini and not knowing how long this front was going to last made for a very scary afternoon!
Wow. I love reading your posts. They're so funny and terrifying at the same time. Congratulations on not dying!
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