s/v YOLO Swabs Log Blog Day 295 Entry 069 Bahama Bound Boat Buddies Part 3

s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:   Tuesday March 18, 2014
Day 295 Entry 069

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 3

While talking to other cruisers we met the crew of the catamarans; Bliss with Captain Scott and Chris, from Texas; Stray Kat with Captain Alan and Geraldine from Canada and the sailboat Summer Wind with Captain Bruce and Claudette from Maine.  All of us agreed that we needed a good weather window to cross since it would be the first time sailing to the Bahamas for us all!

We diligently checked the weather twice daily for 2 weeks.  

The International Boat Show was being held in Miami, from February 13 to the 17^th. 

http://www.miamiboatshow.com/  

Miami skyline taken looking North from Biscayne Bay.  Taken from s/v YOLO at anchor.  No wonder we stayed a week!!!!

The Boat show was being held at the Miamarina Bayside, which was the same marina that we stayed in just before Christmas. http://www.miamigov.com/marinas/pages/marinas/

s/v YOLO -  one of the very few sailboats - pictures  taken from restaurant on dock in Miami, December 2013.  Disney cruise ship is on the other side of the bridge.

These boats are really packed in there!  Can you find s/v YOLO?

Stray Kat and Summer Wind decided to attend the boat show in Miami Then, head to Bimini from there.   So we wished them bon voyage on Thursday morning as they headed North along the coast.  

Captain Chris and Captain Steve continued to diligently look for the perfect weather window to sail overnight.  Now that we were comfortable with crossing the reef in the dark; we decided to take either route – sail overnight form Marathon or cross from Rodriguez Key.  Which ever route was more suitable for the next weather window.  

On Tuesday, February 18. 2014 the predicted weather for the next 4 days in South Florida and the Keys, was the temps to in the 80’s, with the winds at 15 mph decreasing to 10  and out of the South with 1 to 2 foot waves.  Chris Parker http://www.caribwx.com/  predicted crossing the Gulf to be benign Friday through Tuesday.   This was the best weather window for crossing in the past 3 weeks!!!!  Hopefully the weather will hold true!

Bliss and YOLO agreed if the weather prediction is the same on Thursday morning - it is a go to leave from Rodriguez Key. 

Sea u latter!

Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 4