N 25 04 53, W 77 18 99, Nassau

We had a great sail from Lucaya to Bullocks Harbor in the Berry Islands. 15 to 20 knot winds all day with 4-6 foot waves. It sure felt good to get the sails up and get a good heel on Johesa. She was like a race horse out of the gates, we averaged 7.5 knots and hit 9.2 knots. You power boaters may not be impressed but it is good speed for us. And the best part is we didn't use any fuel.
Made it Bullocks Harbor and were stuck there for 5 days with high winds out of the East. We had good protection where we were anchored but 20-30 knots winds start to get on your nerves after awhile. The rides to shore for dog walking were pretty wet. I did get the snorkel gear out for the first time. The water is unbelievably clear and getting better the further out we get.
On the way to Nassau we were finally able to catch some fish that you might actually want to eat. The green one is a Mahi Mahi and the other is a Wahoo. I caught a Barracuda also, not good eating, but something ate half of him before I landed it. They put up a lot less fight that way. Cleaning your catch is quite messy on-board while sailing. We are getting much better at it but the first one was like "what are we going to do with this thing, what is it, and can we eat it"? We are getting a system down but the cockpit is still a mess when we are done but the freezer is getting full.
We will leave Nassau on Thursday for the Exumas and points south. It has been fun here, we spent Christmas with some cruising friends we met along the way. It was nice but we kind of missed the cold and snow, not a lot but kind of. We especially missed our family and friends over the holidays but there are many people in the same boat, so to speak, so we can get together and talk of home.
Until next year, this is Johesa clear.
Love Bill and Cindy

N 26 31 W 78 38 WE DID IT!!!

Hullo Mon! We crossed from Palm Beach to Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island leaving Friday at noon and arriving Saturday at 0800. 3 other boats joined us: Sea Holly (the boat we have been traveling with since Elizabeth City, NC), Slow Dancin' and Cygnus. The weather cooperated. The wind started out W at 5 knots, moved through NE, E, and ended up NE. We never saw more than 14 knots, mostly 8 the whole time. Seas 2-4 feet, some showers but nothing threatening. YEA!! We are staying at a fancy marina The Grand Bahama Yacht Club. Tomorrow about 5 of us will head out to the Berry Islands about a 60 nm trip. We hope to be in Nassau for Christmas.

N26 50 29 W80 03 30, Palm Beach, FL

Since our last post we have put many miles under our keel. We left St. Augustine on November 16 and made our way to Fort Matanzas. They used this to guard the entrance to the inlet in the early days. We found one of the soldiers still on duty, he was glad for the company.

From there we went to New Smyrna Beach. On the way we saw a rocket go off from Cape Canaveral. While at New Smyrna I got to go up the mast to replace our anchor light. This is the view the gulls have of Johesa before they poop on us. Spent the next night anchored at Dragon Point (Indian Harbor Beach) and on to Vero Beach. We have been plagued by a starter problem for the last few weeks. After numerous false fixes we think we traced it down to a relay that was sticking at the most inopportune moments. Hopefully we have seen the last of this gremlin.

Vero Beach was a zoo of other cruisers trying to provision before heading to the Bahamas. All the good box wine was gone! We spent every day taking the bus into town for more stuff. Cindy can only carry so many canned goods and TP at one time. I should have gotten her a yoke before we left, put that on her Christmas list. All the cruisers got together for Thanksgiving. Each boat brought a dish to share. There were about 130 of us for the feed.

After about a week at Vero we moved on to Fort Pierce and spent the night then on to Peck Lake for a much deserved break. Peck Lake was great after we got off the sand bar while trying to anchor. It was a short walk over a sand spit to the Ocean for beach combing and dog walking. The winds were very strong for most of our stay and one power boat was aground on the beach. While walking the beach we were talking to a couple and it turns out that he was my first sailing instructor from Lake Superior about 20 years ago. It IS a small world after all. Wait, is that a Parallel flag flying on the Johesa?

Now we are holed up in North Palm Beach waiting for weather to cross over to the islands. While we were here we got visits from Bob Gagner (Cindy's brother-in law), Vickie and Mark Cary (cruisers from Lake Superior) and Bruce Payette (a good friend we met on the Erie Canal). But we are ready to get moving again. We plan to leave the Lake Worth Inlet and check into the Bahamas at Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island. Our tentative plan is to go to the Berry Island, Nassau then the Exumas. From there we will head north to the Abacos via Cat and Eluthra islands.

Additional Update: Looks like we will be able to cross to the Bahamas tomorrow evening!

That is all for now. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the crew of Johesa.