Monday December 28
I know it has been awhile since the last post but a lot has happened and this is the first time we have been near an internet connection so I will try to catch up.
It was about a weeks wait for weather after Todd Harris arrived on the 16th. The weather was cold and blustery with 20 to 25 knots of wind out of the north which is not good for a gulf stream crossing. We finally got a window where it blew from the north at 5-10 knots with the wind clocking to the east the next day.
We staged ourselves outside of No Name harbor and at 4:30 set out. The seas were settled as we left and as predicted the wind clocked and blew at 15 to 20 knots out of the east. The seas in the gulf stream weren't too bad at 5 to 6 feet and we made it to Bimini at about 3:30.
We anchored off the beach of South Bimini and I motored in to check in. The check in went smoothly and I made it back to Legacy at about 4:30AM. We decided to push on as we wanted to be at Warderick Wells by the 25th.
As we went onto the banks we passed the wreck of the Sapona and continued on towards the Northwest channel light.
At 12:00 AM we could push no more and decided to wait for morning to make our way onto the Tongue of the Ocean. The wind and seas freshened and when we got up at 5:00 AM we found that the snubber had chaffed through and all the chain ( 150') was out and the windless just spun. After much work in the dark we finally got the anchor up and at 6:30AM we were on our way. There was about a 1.5 knot current heading us and way was made slowly.
At about 11:00 AM we finally made it through the Northwest Channel and were in over 2000 feet of water. The wind was out of the East at 20-25 knots and we were able to unfurl the sails and move out at about 7 plus knots just a little to the south of our desired rhumb line. Later that day the seas started buliding and we were in 10 to 15 foot sea. Legacy handled the seas well although the same can't be said for the crew. As we pounded through the seas we disovered that the forward hatch cover wasn't completely closed and both my computers are now toast as salt water got to them. Fortunately Kathleen's Apple is still alive as it was protected in the salon and I am writing this on her computer.
We finally made it to West Bay on New Providence ( Nassau ) at about 10:00 PM totally exhausted and anchored in about 10 feet of water over sand. In the morning we also discovered that the front nav light lens was missing ( probably due to the high seas ), and the mainsail was torn between the sunbrella and the sail fabric. After so much the crew was exhausted and we chose to rest for the day.
The crew woke early and we set out for Allan's Cay. The winds had moderated out of the east and on the shallow water of the banks the seas were somewhat calm and we were able to move at a good pace. Legacy arrived at Allan's Cay at about 4:00PM and we on our anchorage in 12 feet over sand. In the morning we dingied over to Highbourne Cay and were able to get a few supplies and some sail thread and a needle to repair our Mainsail. As we were relaxing on the beach a Seaplane landed with some fishing guests for the marina.
As we returned from Highbourne Cay we dingied close to shore on Leaf Cay and four or five Iguanas came on to the beach. From a distance they looked like small dogs and some of them were at least 3 feet long! Apparently a lot of people land on the beach and feed the lizards and they must associate the sound of an outboard motor with food.
Later that day Todd went snorking and returned with enough conch for dinner. Kathleen made a wonderful meal that was enjoyed by all.
After much research through the Lewmar users guide I found a small sentence that gave me a clue as to the windless problem. When we were on the banks and the anchor snubber let loose the strain on the chain caused the upper nut on the windless to back off and allow the gypsy to slip. After retightening the nut the windless started to perform without slipping.
Kathleen was able to stitch up the mainsail and we able to unkink the sail and the furler and another problem is survived. They say the cruising is performing boat maintenance in exotic locations, and that has certainly been true for this voyage.
In the morning we set off for Warderick Wells ( Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park) with almost flat seas and light winds. Legacy was in rare form and we were able to motor into light south winds at 6.5 knots. As we approached Warderick Wells I was able to raise them and we got a mooring assignment for the same day.
So here we are at Warderick Wells, safely on a mooring ball and taking a day or two rest.
Right now Todd is busy on his computer so I will try to update this post later with pictures. Please forgive the lack of pictures but I need to edit the ones we took to be able to post and Kathleens Apple has no image editing software so please be patient.

South Miami Harbor












Gaffed rigged schooner coming out of Government Cut Miami











Cruise ship moving out to sea down Governement Cut










Coast Guard Protecting the cruise ships in Miami Harbor
Dec 12

We had to leave the harbor here at No Name as the were closing the harbor to allow the parade of boats ( a Christmas type boat parade) so we went to South Miami Beach. It is a wide open anchorage with plenty of room and a Publix supermarket just 3 blocks away from the dingy dock- so much for the good news. All Sunday go fast boats and PWC's were tearing up and down the harbor creating much rock and rolling. Monday was much more peacefull.

December 15.

We moved back to day to an anchorage outside of No Name and are waiting for a friend to join us who wishes to cross over the Gulf Stream with us and experience the Bahama's for a few weeks. The plan is to leave very early Thursday morning ( weather permitting ) and cross over to Bimini. We've got our fingers crossed!!

December 7, 2009




Homes along Lake Worth













Lake Worth Beach










Another view of the anchorage at Lake Worth












North Bound Sailboat on ICW







Sailing Vessel Bounty at her mooring at lake Worth.

We left our anchorage in Hobe Sound this morning and we are now in Lake Worth right near the outlet to the Atlantic. The distance was only about 14 statute miles but it was also five bridges. We left at about 0930 and got here at 1300. The weather is warm and sunny and there is a light breeze blowing at about 5 knots.

We can tell we are making progress as we are anchored in 15 feet and I can see the bottom, the water is definitely getting clearer!

We will leave at 0600 tomorrow and we should be in Miami by 1900 as we plan to travel the Atlantic. WE will bypass about 18 bridges and the concrete canyon 9 an area just north of Fort Lauderdale where the wakes bounce back and forth from all the stinkpotters who have no consideration for anyone else. Hopefully we will be able to post more day after tomorrow once we get to No Name Harbor.

Friday December 4, 2009



Regatta on Indian River on the way to Hobe Sound





The Pelicans look like Pterodactyls in flight













If you can see the birds legs the water is probably pretty shallow!!











This is the ultimate-- having your cat tied up outside your house on the ICW











These fallen trees look like dominoes fallen.

Friday December 4, 2009

Here we still sit on a mooring ball in Vero Beach. Tuesday and Wednesday we rented a car and got most of out long range errands done. Tuesday we drove to Miami (Key Biscayne actually) and set up our mail forwarding. Our snail mail address is

260 Crandon blvd. suite 32
box 224
Key Biscayne, Florida 33149

We also went to Sam’s club to finish provisioning on paper products and such. Legacy has enough toilet paper and paper towels to make it through to our return. (In Georgetown toilet paper (when you can get it) is $5.00 a roll. We also stocked up on canned goods and coffee and other staples.

Our plan to be to leave in the morning for the next leg but the wind is roaring right now and the rain is falling in buckets so it looks like we might be here till Sunday or Monday.

I got the outboard motor’s oil changed yesterday and wanted to change the oil filter. On our Mercury 4 stroke the filter is situated so that you cannot get your hands around it and it is too small for even a small oil filter wrench to tighten. I went on line and discovered you need a tool from mercury that looks like a giant socket that fits on the end of the filter to take it off. I ordered one and found out it is not in stock and won’t be available for at least seven days. I went ahead and changed the oil but the filter will have to wait.

I have looked at the next legs and the plan is to move from here to Hobe sound ( 40 statute miles) , Then to Lake Worth, and out The Lake Worth inlet to Key Biscayne where we will wait for a weather window to cross to Bimini.

It is important that when we cross the Gulf Stream between Key Biscayne and Bimini that the wind have NO north component. Any wind with a northern component will cause very rough, steep and lumpy seas of 6 to 8 feet high. So we will wait for a front to pass and give the seas 24 hours to calm down before we cross.

Dec. 6

Today we left Vero (Velcro) Beach. We were up early and stowed the dingy outboard, the dingy, put away the generator and generally got ready to move. We were the center boat of out raft and had to get our starboard and port partners to participate in the untying as they would then need to raft together after we had left. Just as all was prepared two vessels came in to the fuel dock were we were going so it was a case of hurry up and wait. Finally the stars aligned and we were able to get to the fuel dock for fuel (for the generator), water, and a pump out. At 9:40 we were able to cast off and head out.

The weather today was O.K. Mostly cloudy, and 15 to 20 knots of wind out of the east, which would have been great on the outside. We were able to motor sail a portion of the time but had to furl our sails to get through the Fort Pierce bridge. Just as we approached the bridge we had a problem with our jib furler and I had to go forward to give it a hand. (Another catastrophe avoided).

As we were going through Jensen Beach there was a sail race going on and also a few sailboarders (boy can those things move in 15 knots of wind!!!).

We are now anchored in Hobe Sound, just off the ICW, and boy does the new Manson anchor we got work well. It set the first time and set fully – no muss no fuss. Normally in 15 to 20 knots when we try to set the fortress it can be a trial to get a good anchor set. Hopefully the windless will have no problem retrieving it in the morning.

Tomorrow we will either move to Lake Worth and stay the day or continue outside to Miami depending on the weather.