The End of Cruising Season #1

With more stringent lockdowns getting announced, rising numbers of cases in the Bahamas, and a weather window in sight, Monday we left Hatchet Bay to begin our trip back to the states. We had a great sail most of the way and slid through Current Cut at 10.5 knots over ground! I spent the day cooking for our transit—cold pasta salad, beans and rice, bread, and cut cheese and sausage. We spent our last night on the hook in Bahamas at Royal Island in northern Eleuthera.

Hatchet Bay to Royal Island 

Tuesday morning we checked the forecast one more time and decided it was time. We weighed anchor for the last time in The Bahamas this season and set a course for Lake Worth (West Palm Beach), FL via a track that would take us north of the Berry Islands. We had a good sail for most of the journey, we didn't have to motor much, a full moon lit up our overnight transit, the Gulf Stream crossing was WAY more chill than it was on the way over in December, and we were accompanied by dolphins as we approached Florida.

Royal Island to Lake Worth, FL

By 1700 EDT Wednesday we were anchored, the Bahamian courtesy flag was down, and we were enjoying the last two Kalik beers. We checked in to the U.S. using the Customs and Border Patrol "ROAM" app and it was super easy.

As we officially end our first season in The Bahamas, a few reflections:
- The Bahamas was the beautiful, friendly country that I remembered from my youth.
- We met quite a few wonderful cruisers and cruising families before COVID-19 took over. We have stayed in touch with many of them as we all navigate the future and we are thankful for their friendship. We have really loved seeing familiar boat names in anchorages and on AIS as we make our way north, too!
- Wetsuits = Happy Snorkelers
- There is so much more to see. We all loved our time in the Exumas, but didn't get as much time in Eleuthera or the Berrys as we wanted, nor did we get out to Rum and Conception Cay. Next time!
- Our dried provisions worked well. I will tweak the exact items we bring next season, but I never felt like we were desperately out of food. Now rum, on the other hand...
- Our kids weren't entirely ready to let go of their core group of friends, but did start to make new cruising friends. Again, COVID-19 came to play a role in that.
- The decision to leave was extremely tough for us. We felt safe in The Bahamas and wanted to continue to support their economy. Our plan had also been to spend April volunteering in the Abacos with Hurricane Dorian recovery efforts--all four of us had something to bring to the effort. COVID-19 put a stop to that and it was really tough to want to help both physically and economically, but doing so safely and without impact to their fragile healthcare system was not going to happen. You know something is serious when a community that needs help asks you not to come help so that they can remain safe. We respected their wishes and didn't stop there.
- Sometimes you just need a $4 avocado.