For better or for worse, we were getting the heck out of dodge. It was time for this fledgling to fly.
There are four bridges, well six technically, but four that we do not clear that we go under to go outbound down the river to the ocean. The bridges do not open for marine traffic until after 9am to keep rush hour traffic moving. We promptly departed at nine and made our way down the river.
Traffic was light compared to Easter Sunday, we were glad we didn’t stick with our original departure date.
We passed one mega in close quarters right after our first non- opening bridge.
Through The Squiggles and Little Florida, it was like we were old pros.
Andrews Bridge apparently could not hear us on their radio. We waited about fifteen minutes, compared to thirty seconds at the other three.
Waiting for Andrews bridge to acknowledge us.
As we approached 15th Street, where we were supposed to stay last night but we did not finish installing the chocks in time, Tom went below to turn on the stabilizers. Which would not power on.
Tessa continued out the exit to the ocean, which has crazy chop, er, seas, from all the go fast boats. Without stabilizers, and a skiff not prepared for such seas, she started sliding. Tom immediately instructed Tessa to turn Docktails around to head back in the Intercoastal to figure out why our stabilizers were not getting power.
Turns out, there is a breaker under the helm in the pilot house, yes the same helm that we have both contorted under and have never seen this breaker. When Tessa located it, Tom quickly flipped the breaker, and our stabilizers were back in action.
Now, where were we? Right by 15th Street fisheries. We made a 360, and back tracked our way out to sea.
Once past the entrance to the Intercoastal, it was glass and two foot seas. We didn’t see another boat within a couple miles of us. It was delightful.
Somewhere in the middle of the Gulf Stream.
In the middle of the Gulf Stream we stopped to do our autopilot tuning. This is something you can’t do in close waters, and this was the first time we had been in an area, more like an expanse, big enough to conduct it.
It seems just like that we spotted land on the horizon. Bimini Island. We were told to stay towards the red buoy by our mechanic. Well, it’s always best to check noonsite. That first red buoy is no longer in the right spot. Let just say we got cozy with the sand for a handful of seconds, and then followed a parade of sailboats in and another power boat.
Our first choice of marinas did not answer us on the radio- Bluewater Marina. So we tried the next one- Big Game Bimini. They answered right away, had a spot for us, and Tom walked up to take care of immigration and customs.
Meanwhile, Tessa had limited power on the boat because both generators had overheated on the crossing.
Tom spent the afternoon/evening troubleshooting, replacing the water feed impeller, and doing more troubleshooting. Tessa finally pulled him out at 9pm for dinner.
Saw our first shark right off the dock, along with multiple schools of fish.
The good news: we are in The Bahamas, we are making our own water, everything will be ok, mon.