Heading to Grand Bahama Yacht Club

Monday Jan 29th was a very windy day and way too cold to be at the beach or the pool. Nana and Nandad decided to rent a car for the day and take a drive to Freeport and Port Lucaya. The island is about 93 miles long and 17 miles wide. It is about an hours drive to Port Lucaya and along the way there is a lot of evidence of Dorian which caused much destruction in 2022. The International Bazzar at Freeport is now abandoned but just behind it is The Fragrance of the Bahamas Ltd.,Perfume factory which Nana might visit in the next few days. We did visit Port Lucaya Marketplace where we found the Bahamas Maritime Museum. This was a well worth visit and we had a personal docent give us the history of the Bahamas and the artifacts of the shipwreck Maravillas ( lost off the northern islands on January 4th 1656 ). The museum opened in 2022 and is sponsored by Carl and Gigi Allen who purchased Walkers Island in 2018. Carl Allen is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, outdoor sportsman and explorer.

The marina beside the marketplace looks like it is abandoned and the marketplace itself had many empty stores.

We has a very nice lunch at the Ocean Reef Marina - the restaurant at the GBYC was closed - and later once we got back to NH we had dinner at the restaurant here at Old Bahama Bay followed by a quick stroll on the beach.

Tomorrow we will leave for Port Lucaya. 

Tuesday we leave West End at 11 am and head into the seas to Lucaya, Bell Channel approximately 30 sm so a short cruise. It is a beautiful cruise and the winds and waves were as predicted so the passage was comfortable and relaxing - it does make a huge difference cruising during day light! It was interesting to cruise along the coast about two miles off shore passing several channels. There are no anchorage’s along the shoreline only marinas. Freeport is a cruise ship port- of - call and Freeport Harbour is a vast commercial port. There are several super ships waiting to unload their cargo. Bell Channel is the entranceway to Port Lucaya about 9 nm from Freeport. NH enters the channel ( the water is so clear you can see the bottom which is a little weird ) ,proceeds inward and heads to starboard where a slip at Grand Bahama Yacht Club is reserved. We are tied up and plugged in by 2pm. Plenty of time to washdown all the salt from the boat, take a stroll and check in. The marina provides a courtesy drive to the grocery store daily at 2pm, a water taxi that will take you across to the marketplace, a pool, laundry and several water sports for rental. We will stay here until Friday so will become quite familiar with the marina and its facilities. 

Nana and Nandad thought that Tigran would really like this tender docked at the marina.

Old Bahama Bay Marina

A very handsome Captain and a beautiful flag. We are officially legal for 63 days should we decide to stay that long. Once we brought NH into her assigned slip we decided to explore the area. The marina is surrounded by very colorful little villas which all look out on the bay. There is a gym, pool, Teaser Tiki Bar, restaurant and of course the beach. They also have beach volleyball, basketball, chess & checkers and of course cornhole. By the time it’s lunchtime the marina is full mostly with sailboats. 

It’s the perfect afternoon to settle in and enjoy the wonderful breeze onboard. Unfortunately just before sunset our view is obstructed by Destination. I guess it goes to show there are good goods in small parcels. 

Nana took a stroll to catch the sunset. We had a very nice dinner onboard to celebrate our first evening in the Bahamas. Tomorrow we will plan over breakfast our next destination  - no pun intended !! 

New Horizon at West End

NH leaves West Palm Beach at 5pm leaving behind the many small vessels beached on Peanut Island where they had a day filled with the ocean breeze and the warm sunshine. We filled up with water and fuel, secured any loose items down below , as we expect the journey to be a little sloppy especially for the first hour. The seas were predicted to be 2 to 4 foot waves with winds up to 19 knots, for the first hour or two , and then gradually reducing. We had brightness until shortly after sunset and then it was pitch black as the moon was low and hidden behind some dark clouds. Nana had to work very had on her Ujjayi breathing during this period and was unable to go outside due to the spray, wind and choppy seas. After about two hours Nana donned her life jacket and went outside and sat in the cockpit which provided some distraction. It was fascinating to watch the stars that occasionally were able to pop through the clouds and so crystal clear without the light pollution. The darkness was both terrifying and amazing at the same time. The radar picked up clearly any boats that were also cruising and the AIS - automatic identification system - is essential to prevent any collision courses. Nandad was very comfortable behind the helm however Nana found it quite nauseous in the pilot house looking out into blackness. She did much better once the moon finally opened up through the clouds to provide that natural light. The seas calmed somewhat after about 8pm and at a steady speed of 13 knots we could see Grand Bahamas in the distance at around 9.30 pm. Nana was much relieved to realize that we would be in a safe harbor within the hour. Nandad did a fantastic job navigating into the harbor in the dark using the big search light that sits right beside the GPS on the top of the boat. We were docked and settled in by 11 pm and after a wonderful cup of peppermint tea Nana felt normal once again. 

Nandad hoisting the quarantine flag before we check into customs and immigration 

(Temporary Backup) The Flagler Museum

Nana looking very relaxed sitting in the porch of The Flagler Museum right in front of the Coconut Grove. Completed in 1902 Whitehall was proclaimed more wonderful than any palace in Europe. Flagler built it for his third wife Mary Lily Kenan Flagler and handed her the deeds as a wedding gift. Railcar No. 91 has been fully restored and can be viewed inside the magnificent Pavilion where they also serve afternoon tea. The property overlooks Lake Worth.

After a wonderful afternoon Nana and Nandad take an Uber to meet Ellie and Richard at Malakor Thai Cafe for dinner. I have never seen a restaurant so well decorated for Valentines Day and the food was yummy. We were back onboard by 10 pm ready to get a good nights sleep before we leave on our big journey to the Grand Bahamas. 

After consulting with our weather reports we have decided that we will leave for the Bahamas tomorrow after sunset. It will be one day after the full moon so we should have some nice natural light. Our journey should not take more that six hours which will have us tying up at the dock at Old Bahamas Bay Resort and Yacht Harbor.

(Temporary Backup) New Port Cove

Ellie and Richard are our gracious hosts for the next several days. In the picture above we are looking out into the Atlantic Ocean from the deck at their condo facility which is in the most picture perfect setting of Palm City. There are no high rise buildings blocking their view as most of the condos here can only be 6 stories. They are on the second floor and have direct water views of both the ocean and the ICW. A perfect spot to relax and soak up the wonderful sound of the ocean waves while swimming in the warm pool or soaking in the jacuzzi. Ellie made us the most delicious dinner of salmon, roasted potatoes and beans followed by apple pie -  what a treat. She also gave us Audrey her Mercedes E350 which was a big help is assisting in our reprovisioning on Wednesday so we will have lots of groceries before we cross to the Bahamas. When we got back to the boat there was lots of activity out on the mooring field where unfortunately a boat was on fire. Lots of pilot boats keeping the area clear and a police helicopter overhead to provide strong light for visibility. 

You can see the dark smoke and flames. This was about 10pm.

On Wednesday evening we had reservations at Henry’s which is part of The Breakers conglomerate. The Breakers was built in 1896 by railroad tycoon Henry Morrison Flagler so the restaurant is filled with wonderful photographs of the railroad etc. The patio landscape surrounding the restaurant is just magnificent  as are many of the buildings , shops, galleries , etc. The Breakers is 140 acre oceanfront resort that has six restaurants within the complex and is an epicenter of old- Palm Beach. The full moon also provides some natural lighting.

Thursday Nana and Nandad took the water taxi from Rivera Beach Marina over to Peanut Island which is directly across from where the boat is docked. 
Peanut Island was originally created in 1918 with material dredged during the digging of Lake Worth Inlet. The plan was to use it as a terminal for shipping  peanut oil however this plan was abandoned but the name stuck. Hidden on the island is the secret bunker that was built in December 1961 for President John F Kennedy. The bunker was constructed quickly during the run up to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Unfortunately it closed in 2017 and has not reopened yet. 

The picture from the ICW guide shows Peanut Island which is the circle you see between Riveria Beach and Singer Island. NH is docked where the blue M is at number 83 and Lake Worth Inlet is marker by the white channel that leads out to the ocean. We are getting very excited as our window for crossing might very well be this Saturday. Nandad has studied the weather patterns very carefully daily,  we have diligently written out three day forecast from three different weather reports using our criterion and we have reached out to Chris Parker for a professional weather custom report. Safe Harbor at New Port Cove has been very accommodating and we have remained at our slip the entire time. 

Here is a rough outline of our potential trip of which the first part will be heading to West End on the Grand Bahamas which is the red dot before Freeport. We successfully completed our Click2CleR documentation. 

Nandad looking very dapper after our shopping spree at West Marine. He is so excited to be wearing shorts.

Sunset overlooking the marinas as we sit in the cockpit on the dock.

Layday at SH New Port Cove

It was a long cruise to New Port Cove which was approximately 58 statute miles. The Indian River continues to be quite wide for about 10 miles so we could maintain a steady speed at 12 Knots. Hutchinson Island is to our port for several miles and is quite built up on the southern side. Our good friend Mona celebrated her 80th birthday here a few years back with all her family. We cruised for many years with Roland and Mona and miss their companionship. 

Once we reached St Lucie Inlet we had to reduce speed due to lots of homes with boat docks etc It really is quite amazing at the size of these homes and the variety of water toys right in their front yard. The ICW narrows along the  Jupiter Island stretch but the homes continue to impress. 

Nana was unable to get a picture of the kayakers however further up the river there were several surfers enjoying the wind and waves.

It was entertaining to watch seatow and the working skiff pass us by both on their cell phones ! 

This is the Jupiter Inlet  Lighthouse as we cruise past the Loxahatchee River and into Lake Worth. The wind has suddenly picked up so once again Nandad’s skills  at getting NH into her slip are put to the test. We were very happy that expert dockhands were also ready to tuck us into our slip. Once again happy to be safe and tied up so that we can relax, listen to the wind and watch the boats on the moorings swing back and forth. A quite night onboard , tomorrow we will explore our options.

NH arrives at Harbortown Marina Fort Pierce

The sun is setting behind the flock of pelican and snowy egrets at Harbortown Fort Pierce which is a Safe Harbor Marina. An early start this morning and a steady speed of 15 knots meant that NH cruised beautifully and was docked by 2pm after our 92 statute miles. Today we passed more  boats than in the last few days and the weather continues to be sunny but chilly. The homes along the way continue to get bigger and bigger and Nana decided that this one as we approached Vero Beach deserved the blog entry.

As mentioned we passed many boats, went under multiple bridges, continued on the Indian River with Merritt Island to port for some 46 miles. NASA’s John F. Kennedy Center is located to the north of the island and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. 

Boats were cruising both north and south so we had plenty of practice with one whistle ( for port pass ) and two whistle ( for starboard pass ). While on the helm Nana thought she saw several dolphin on her bow so a quick check with the binoculars revealed a group of single and double kayakers working very hard to get across the river. Naturally she reduced speed as the wake would not have been very pleasant and could even put them in the water. They were really getting quite the workout. 

We were fascinated at the new construction taking place to replace the bascule bridge. There are many bridges being replaced and old ones being demolished. 

We spent the afternoon listening to a great band playing at Skippers Cove, which is right at the dock, and it was fun to watch the patrons sing and dance the afternoon away. Nandad took a picture of this classic in the parking lot. We had a delicious dinner later but it was a much quieter atmosphere. A fun, colorful, Caribbean style bar.

Tomorrow we plan to stay at New Port Cove SH for two nights where we will meet with our good friends Ellie and Richard and start the process of looking at the weather and hopefully make the crossing to West End. We will look at the Click2Clear - the Bahamas Customs and Excise Department - online and check in with the weather expert Chris Parker. So excited at being so close to our ultimate destination. 

NH docks at Titusville Marina MM 878

Nana and Nandad were very happy to dock at Palm Coast Marina after a long stressful day. We took a wonderful scenic walk around the condos and across the busy road to the European village. This area is designed with the Italian piazza in mind with lots of colorful balconies and a central gazebo where music is played while people walk around the various restaurants. We had the most delicious pizza at Mezzaluna Pizzeria. Palm Valley is a very wealthy area filled with big beautiful homes along the waterways and many condos with their dockage for their boat which means they have direct access to the water. I imagine this place it like a zoo during busy season. 

Here is one of the modest homes with its infinity pool.

Saturday : New Hiorizon cruised approximately 74 statute miles along the ICW for several hours today. We passed many sailboats and they were all wrapped up in their warmest gear. This stretch of the ICW passed through Palm Valley, Tomaka Basin, Hailfax River, Ponce De Lion Inlet, Indian River, Mosquito Lagoon, through the Haulover Canal and into a very wide section of the River under the NASA Florida East Coast RR Bridge and finally into our slip. Nana had fun watching the homes along the way with their multiple toys SUB’s, kayaks, fishing boats, jet ski’s. The picture below is a very creative way to store your boards.

And yes this is a private backyard. It’s hard to capture the style as the boat cruises by at 10 knots however here is an example of a very nice fast speed boat.

We continue to pass many pods of white pelican and also the fishermen have their share looking for scraps.

When we had finished tying up NH in her slip - which by the way Nana continues to be in awe of how skillful Nandad is in backing in NH into these tight slips with their raised pylons - we headed to the local store for some basic groceries. Now every days brings new experiences however this one was a first. Nandad went to get the cart but was unable to release it only to discover that you had to put a quarter into the slot in order to get your cart! Well you can imagine how much mileage Nandad got from this scenario but thank goodness the lady in the store had a great sense of humor. 

After a lovely dinner onboard we will have an early night as tomorrow our goal is to get to Fort Pierce which is 92 statute miles so it will be a long day. 

The pictures show a flock of white ibis perched on the bare branches of the tree while the massive heron look on.

St Augustine and Palm Coast

On our way finally and heading for St Augustine which is approximately 60 NM. As we leave Fernandina Nana had the opportunity to take a picture of the paper mill with the hill of pulp that will eventually become cardboard boxes! Depending on where you are on the Island and which direction the wind is blowing will determine the type of odor you will experience.

 The train takes the pulp from the mill almost hourly to the harbor where it whistles for all to hear.

We also pass several shrimp boats docked along the way which I believe is primarily for local consumption. 

Nandad looking yonder as the blue sky turns to grey.

It turns into a cold, dark , rainy afternoon. Along the way Nana spotted several pods of white pelican, several dolphin playing at dodging the bow spray , and white snowy egrets perched high in the dead branches that line the banks of the ICW. Todays  cruise requires concentration as it is very narrow, shallow in many areas, and tricky navigation. We are safely docked by 4.30pm at the Municipal Marina and we are ready for a stroll into historic downtown with its beautiful shops, bars, restaurants and festive lights. 

The familiar towers of the Bridge of Lions as you approach St Augustine is always so spectacular. The Lions that guard the bridge are modeled after the historic Medici Lions that once adorned the Villa Medici in Rome. The Lions on the western side of the bridge are called Faithful and Firm, and the Lions on the eastern side Peace and Happiness. 

We had a wonderful dinner at Columbia Restaurant downtown. We have eaten at their restaurant on St Armand’s Circle and Tampa and very much enjoy their service, food, decor and ambiance.

Friday NH leaves for Daytona MM 833 however due to a slight deviation our destination was switched to Palm Coast Marina which is MM 803. While cruising we heard several instructions on the radio warning boats of a shallow passage however we were not aware of where or why this area was having difficulty. Nana handed over the helm to Nandad at about 1.30pm and shortly thereafter we discovered what the problem was! Dredging was taking place right before the Matanzas Inlet at the tip of Rattlesnake Island and close to Fort Matanzas. Unfortunately for us we did not follow instructions quickly enough and ran aground and literally were stuck in the mud at low tide. Needless to say we were not happy campers - or cruisers for that matter. For two hours Nandad attempted several times to free us from the sandbank without much success. Sea tow was called and while we patiently wait - well maybe not quite so patient - the tide rose and a very nice Captain in a Boston Whaler tugged us off the bank. We were so grateful especially as sea tow were not due to arrive for at least another hour. All is well that ends well - no vibrations felt or heard and so we dock at Palm Coast Marina for the night. A reminder that boating may not always go smoothly. 

In the background you can see the area that the dredging was taking place. Happy to be on our way.

NH gets a power wash

It’s always a little stressful when your boat is being placed on the lift watching the expert taking charge. Today is a very rainy, thunder and lightening day and Nana and Nandad spent most of it in their rental mini while the Marina worked on the boat - boating certainly can test one’s patience! We did manage to have breakfast at T-Rays Burger Station which is an old garage turned funky diner so despite the rain we had a delicious breakfast. We finally got called to make a run to West Marine to pick up a part for the head so I guess being available does help when it comes to boating. New Horizon is back in the water by late afternoon and after some boat cleaning we are happy to have a relaxing evening eating onboard.

Wednesday Jan 17th. Today Matt will work on fixing the main head and we will wait for a delivery from Fed Ex. After all that we will be finally ready to have an early start tomorrow for St.,Augustine. We took the opportunity this morning to review the history of Old Fernandina and as you can tell from the pictures the weather is cold !

This canon is part of the armament of Fort San Carlos. This 6-pound canon was used by the Spanish, English and French and was found in the marsh and donated to the Florida Park Service. The canons were used during the Battle of Amelia in 1817, and were also used to protect the harbor and inlet from invaders. This particular canon was in service from the mid-1700’s to the 1830’s ( according to the information on the board which is erected on the site of the historic plaza grounds that once laid in front of the Spanish Fort San Carlos.

Old Town Fernandina

Sunset at Egan Creek

Nana and Nandad return to NH

Nana and Nandad return to NH after a wonderful Christmas and New Years. New Horizon has done well at Tiger Point Marina and Nandads attempts to stop the birds from pooping on deck has worked. He placed fine netting on the bow, fine wiring on the stern and the high pitched sound bird repellant swinging from the dodger. When we arrived at around midday the tide was fully in and the current very strong. Three hours later the creek looks like a mud bath and the tide has dropped by about six feet. 

In the picture you can see the mud banks and also if you look closely you will see the fine netting on the bow. Tomorrow we will take NH up the creek into the lift where they will haul her out to power wash etc before we continue our cruising. Our plan is to get to West Palm Beach by the end of next week and from there cross over to the Bahamas. 

Today we took the trolly tour around Historic downtown Fernandina and our driver had some wonderful stories to share about the magnificent great homes of which there are many. We also watched the Nao Trinidad, which is part of the Nao Victoria Foundation’s fleet from Huelva Spain, dock at the Marina right downtown. Nana often wondered how the crew threw those very large lines onto the dock only to discover that they throw a very fine line that is attached to the mainline which has a weighted ball at its end. Once they throw this line the dock hands pull it in with the big line attached and simply wrap it around the cleat. 
If you are watching from the dock you need to be careful that you stay out of the reach of the throw ! 

Looking up her bow she is very intimidating.

Nandad providing a birds eye view of her stern.

Her approach to the dock was very slow, smooth, and with perfect accuracy. Obviously a skilled Captain and crew.