Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Bahamas Year 3 Completed

Year #3 Bahamas Run completed...
WE DID IT! We launched our boat from the Island Packet Yachts Factory Refit program on November 4, 2013. We trucked it back to Snead Island Boat Works where we rebuilt all systems and re-installed the canvas, solar panels, mast, new rigging and all reworked wiring. On December 30, we sailed south from near Tampa Bay on the west coast, heading for Biscayne Bay on the east coast of Florida. We based in Biscayne Bay for two months and learned the beauty and diversity of the Bay from South Beach to Boca Chita to Coconut Grove to Key Biscayne. We sailed and enjoyed great anchorages and beautiful sunsets. On March 5th, we set sail for the Bahamas along with two new buddy boats, IP32 Morning Grace with Dixie and Julie and IP38 Moondance with Bob and Nina. Together we all three explored the Exumas south to Black Point, focusing on the Exumas Land and Sea Park. Moving north we sailed to Eleuthera and on to Abaco where we enjoyed relaxing for the month of April. In May, we blasted for home, running offshore legs from Ft. Pierce, FL to Charleston, SC and then onto the Outer Banks of North Carolina. From there we traveled the ICW north to the Chesapeake Bay to our home dock in Rock Hall, MD.

This is our SPOT Trip map, Click to Enlarge
https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=880352c229a6c9074
We traveled 2,100+ nautical miles in five months. We had a slip in Bimini for 3 days and a dock in Charleston for 4 days, otherwise we lived on anchor or an occasional mooring ball and loved it. It was another wonderful season cruising and reviewing the Bahamas and learning Biscayne Bay. We will now take a one month break, to work on the boat and visit family and friends.

Our next voyage will begin on June 26th when we depart Rock Hall for New England.

Thank you for sailing along, it was a great trip!




Here are some HOME Photos....
Mooring Ball #50, Spa Creek Bridge, these are our home waters

Good Boat Buddies and Friends: IP40 TINTEAN
Sara and Ken invited us for a BBQ Steak dinner!

An Annapolis MD tradition, Chick & Ruth's Delly
Of course we went out for breakfast!

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge north of Annapolis, MD....HOME

Spring Cove Marina, Rock Hall, MD is our home dock

This is the place where we built our cruising dreams, we love it here

The loop is closed....time to run home for a quick break
Please take a look at our SPOT map here:
https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=880352c229a6c9074
This map allows you to zoom in and see the beautiful islands, beaches and locations where we sailed. Spotwalla.com picks up where the SPOT company dropped the ball by not allowing users to easily save their pins.

4 comments:

Mike said...

Congrats! Recalling all the preparation, rightly so, I might add, you should consider Trip 3 a "shake-down cruise". I think you two should do a "circum". Sure you can...allowing yourselves three years or so! Seriously, have really enjoyed your blog. All the best at y'all.

Bearboat said...

An Excellent Adventure, Hayden! Congratulations indeed! Helps us wage slaves be armchair tourists.

--sb

DandD said...

Congrats. Maybe we'll see you in New England if you make it to Portland, Me or Marblehead. In Marblehead you can use our mooring. Our boat is in VA getting the bright work done.
Deb Twombly and Drew

Unknown said...

Nice ending to another season you two. We just arrived in our home waters today at Watch Hill, RI! Plan a haul out for a couple of weeks then splash once again. Since we didn't catch up in the Bahamas let's try New England. Give us a shout when you arrive in RI. Safe travels.
Michele and Joe
SV Simple Life