Back in the USA

We had a wonderful sail from Rock Sound to Palm Beach Florida. It was 250 nautical miles and we did it in less than 48 hours. Conditions were great and we were able to sail 75% of it. There was a period of no wind between the Berry Islands and Bimini where we motored. Other than that, we sailed. As we approached Florida, I had to reduce sail to slow us down to avoid arriving in the dark.

The leg from the Northern Berry Islands to the Great Isaac Lighthouse is about 60 miles. We stayed in deep water running about 2 miles off the shallow bank. Along that stretch we must have seen at least 30 cruise ships anchored on the bank. It was a giant cruise ship parking lot organized by company. So, if you wondered where the cruise ships went, lots are anchored in the western Bahamas.

At sunup, we passed through the Palm Beach inlet and anchored in Lake Worth. I used the Customs and Border Controls ROAM app on our phones to clear customs. We ate some breakfast and took a long nap. Once we woke, we headed to a marina.

We try to stay at marinas regularly so we can run the air conditioner to dry out the inside of the boat. But the lockdowns prevented us from traveling and the humidity and high temperatures have left everything feeling wet. Before we left Rock Sound, Sue was searching for a marina for us to stay at. It was a challenge because many marinas are closed or will not take new transients. And, we also wanted a marina that was close to resources like groceries, fuel, and marine supplies.

Sue’s perseverance paid off and she found us the perfect spot in Palm Beach Gardens. We decided to book a slip for a month since it’s still too early (i.e too cold) to start heading home. You also get a better rate the longer you book.

The marina complex has several impressive restaurants that are take out only. There’s also a high end Italian Market here. They have groceries, prepared foods, and most importantly, they have deserts.

Having been in The Bahamas for more than four months, I had forgotten how nice a grocery store could be. We were both in awe walking up and down the aisles wanting to buy everything.

Come May 20th, we’ll start our trek home. If all goes well, we’ll be home in July.