What follows is the log from our crossing the gulf stream from Great Sale Cay on the Little Bahama Banks to Florida.
0630 June 12, Monday
Winds were light here overnight. They picked up enough to start the wind generator around 0730. The plan is to leave here around noon and go straight to Ft Pierce arriving after daybreak tomorrow morning.
Meander left a little after 0700 headed West. Bedoncadonk and a small trawler remain anchored in the bight. Lila is on the west side of the Island and plans to wait here for Jodie from GTC and leave tomorrow for Ft. Pierce.
Mike and Giselle from Lyla came over by dinghy and gave us their extra gasoline since they are leaving the boat in Ft Pierce. They talked us into leaving an hour earlier so we can see as we exit the banks. We can slow down if we are approaching ft Pierce before dawn.
1035 water temp 77.2, air 85.6, engine on.
1400 27°2′7″ N 78°34′60″ W
Wind on our stern, so furled the genoa. SOG 6.2 kts. Wind E @ 10-12
1500 27°3′19″ N 78°42′34″
SOG 6.7 kts Wind E @ 7-8
Sailboat off port bow running wing on wing. We are still a motorboat.
1530 Earl added 26 gallons of diesel, from jugs, to the main fuel tank.
1700 27°5′43″ N 78°57′2″ W
SOG 6.6 kts. Trawler passed us going East.
1720 Earl sent position report Using SSB radio.
Water temp 77.9
1813 27°7′7″ N 79°5′49″ W
Leftover fettuccini with ground beef.
Sailboat is still following us in the distance. SOG 6.3 kts
1900 27°8′2″ N 79°10′58″ W
Depth 114 ft
Leaving the banks and heading into deep water. We had been running 20-30 ft for the last ten hours.
1902 depth “last” 350 ft
1914 tried the jib, but just snapped as we rolled side to side. Even tried a 10 degree course adjustment. Rolled it up until conditions change.
Running 5.7 kts at 2100 rpm. Reduced from 2300 rpm. Engine room temp was 122.
Water temp 78.8
2000 27°9′44″ N 79°17′35″ W
Sun is behind clouds. Looks like rain to our northwest. Three ships are on AIS about 11 miles away. COG 296 SOG 6.0 at 2000 rpm.
2030 half genoa out and reduced engine to 1900 rpm.
2037 furled the genoa. Can see a thunderstorm moving from south to north in front of us. Freighter just passed behind us.
2100 27°11′46″ N 79°23′35″ W
Just a hint of light remains in the western sky. We’re seeing occasional lightning flashes to the WSW.
2245 moonrise
1236. 27°18′51″ N 79°44′45″ W
SOG 5.6 kts. COG 297
Very rolly, but lightning subsided.
0100 27°19′36″ N 79°47′19″ W
Track 296 SOG 5.0 2000 RPM
Earl trying to nap
0130 Turned Cell Phone on 1 bar 1x, but not really.
0211 27°21′21″ N 79°53′25″ W
Seeing lighted towers on the FL coast.
Clouds hiding the moon and stars. Still rolling.
0238 on soundings 438 ft
27°21′21″ N 79°53′25″ W
Wind directly behind us has been blowing diesel fumes into the cockpit since Great Sale 🙁
0300 27°22′10″ N 79°55′59″ W
Turned north to avoid artificial reefs and tide rips.
0336 27°25′3″ N 80°0′24″ W
Returned to 289 track
0400 27°25′31″ N 80°2′33″ W
Depth 105
Earl taking the helm. Passing a Navy Ship. Maybe diving or salvage related.
0500 27°25′31″ N 80°2′33″ W
Much smoother since exiting Gulf Stream
0617 Ft Pierce Sea Buoy
0929 Vero Beach City Marina
27°39′37″ N 80°22′15″ W
Crashed for an hour then showered and enjoyed a soft shell crab lunch at Riverside Cafe next to the bridge by the marina. Both Earl and I felt uncomfortable eating at a table that didn’t pitch or yaw.
Ubered out to the Ft Pierce airport to check in with customs and immigration. It took less than five minutes and we were back in the same Uber for the half-hour drive back to the marina.
No plans for the remainder of today on mooring #30 in Vero Beach. Three dolphins are swimming around providing all the entertainment we need.