Ahoy Mates!
By now you have packed your seabag with everything you need for a 38 day trip. Hand it over to me and come on board our Hunter 38 foot cruising sailboat SABA. We’ll stow it in the forward cabin and make sure you settle in. First mate Robin and I have everything ship shape and have filled the larders with enough provisions and adult beverages to choke a horse. Not to worry, we’ll keep you safe and comfortable, no need for Dramamine, Scopalamine or Stugeron to ward off Mal de Mer since you actually will just be experiencing this adventure from your couch.
From St. Petersburg, Florida on Tampa Bay we are headed for the Abacos in the Northern Bahamas and plan on traveling about 1,100 nautical miles over the next 38 days. The weather forecast is favorable for the first leg of our trip in the Gulf of Mexico with wind out of the west at about 10 to 15 knots and 2 to 3 foot seas. There is rain in the forecast, but nothing that should prevent us from reaching Marathon a distance of about 215 nautical miles in about 35 to 36 hours. Our plan is to leave the dock at the Vinoy Marina Friday at 0700 which should put us in Boot Key Harbor on Vaca Key Saturday at 1800. We’ll pick up a mooring, enjoy a sundowner and a leisurely dinner before getting a bit of rest. On Sunday at 0800 we’ll drop the mooring line, top up fuel and water at a local marina and then sail the Hawk Channel in the Florida Keys before turning Northeast to head for the West End of Grand Bahama. We should be abeam of Ft. Lauderdale at midnight getting a lift from the Gulfstream and arriving at West End in the early afternoon on Monday. There we will check into Customs and get a slip at the Old Bahama Bay Resort northwest of Freeport. Let the adventure begin!
Captain Bobby
Robin you have our sympathy, most of us are thinking Captain Bobby would be buried at sea after far less than 38 days. LOL
I’m the Captain…Robin’s the Admiral
Have a great time and looking forward to reading your updates. Stay safe.
Oh, almost forgot. Don’t listen to anything Carter says. He’s usually drunk on cheap beer and can’t think straight. 😉
This is SO cool! I will NEVER get on a long distance sailboat or even a cruise ship in the open sea. A river yes, or close to shore yes, but I was a waiter on the American-Hawaiian Cruise lines years ago, and I vowed I would never go through 7 days of throwing up constantly again! So THIS is great! Because I can see the gorgeous views and beautiful turquoise waters from this website – this will be like I’m right with you – but NO THROWING UP! haha! Love it. Have fun! Greg C.
Seasick for 7 days, Wow…now I don’t want to go!
I’m excited and looking forward to getting away… Have a safe trips!
Have a safe trip, see you two when you get back home. Looking forward to the updates.
Sounds like a wonderful trip. having made a few Crossings myself I think this sounds like the easy and best way to go. Looking forward to following you with the whole time take care Tom Roberts
I can tell already that I’m going to need a dictionary of nautical terms for this trip.
Have a safe, fun filled trip.
So jealous. Wish I could go
Have a wonderful time, you both richly deserve it. Thanks for letting us tag along.
I’m so excited I won’t be able to sleep tonight. Can’t we leave now????
Have a wonderful adventure!! Can’t wait for the updates.
Hi Bob & Robin
When I received your e-mail it said bring your stuff and join us, sad to say I didn’t get to the dock until 10am. Or as you would say OH 10 hundred?
Can’t wait to see what I missed.
Were you hiding? We cast off later than we had planned at ten hundred five.
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/10/11/how-to-tell-time-like-a-soldier/
ahoj friends be safe