Finally, getting to the Bahamas! Albeit only for a short time, we are heading there for as much time as we can spare. Hurricane season is starting soon, and we can only afford a few weeks away from work for this trip. We needed a solid week to get all of our affairs in order before departure. I was busy getting Empty Pocket ready and Steph was busy taking care of the affairs at home and with the business. Our plan is to leave St. Augustine and sail straight down the coast and make the crossing onto the Little Bahama Bank. We expect to hit as many islands as possible, but prioritize the uninhabited areas as we like to explore the anchorages off the beaten path. This picture is of Steph as she spent a solid two days in our kitchen at home making goodies for the trip.

...the build-up to departure:

Ok, we were supposed to leave at first light on Saturday... yarrite! The week of preparatory activities took its toll on us, and we slept well past 9 oclock! We were literally up all night stowing and provisioning the eve of departure, and at Whispers insistence we slept in. Underway offshore and with the autopilot on, we plan to catch up on our sleep...

...morning of departure:

ready at last. With Steph donning her bikini, and Whisper of course still sleeping below, we groggily cast the lines as our bodies screamed out for caffeine! Once we are underway, that is my first task... for I have been officially deemed the coffeemaker for this trip.

...in launch position:

...and step away from the dock.

(I got fussed at, she REALLY wanted me to get to making coffee and stop taking pictures!)

Put down the camera...

as Steph piloted us out of the inlet, I got busy in the galley. We use an old fashioned percolator to make coffee, and then pour it into an insulated carafe.

...are you happy now??

... a couple of miles out, we made the turn at marker 1 and headed south. Forecast: west winds 10-15 knots, mostly sunny, and this is how it was supposed to be for the next 5 days... GLORIOUS!!

...that first taste of open ocean air!

As we sailed south, the first omen of our day showed itself... love-bugs! For those who dont know, we have a pesky little insect down here in the south commonly known as the love bug... known as such because they swarm for about 3 weeks and they fly around in pairs. The swarms can be so thick that they infiltrate everything. (especially over open water where EVERY insect seems to hunt for a spot to rest, and naturally go to the nearest boat.) We had to shut the companionway and screen off everything for about 3 hours as they attacked. As we sailed in an EAST wind that afternoon, (onshore breeze) the seas began to pick up... 2 feet, 3 feet...

...the last few moments of peace:

...and then came the announcement over the VHF: SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY for winds out of the south at 20-25 kts... (and of course, right in the nose). Another problem arose meanwhile; As we tacked against the sea and wind, trying to make headway, Steph noticed our jib... was coming apart! (BIG lesson here...) The stitching was rotten on the sunbrella, and it was ripping away in the heavy winds. How in the world could I have forgotten to check the stitching on the sails?? After all, I am such a details kinda guy. In this picture, I was still praying for decent wind and an end to the insect invasion. (and I really just wanted to get some sleep...) I am sorry that I did not get pictures of the sail and seas, but it was not really at the forefront of my mind when we were dealing with them.

sloppy seas!

...after three hours of flailing around, making NO headway, and not wanting to further damage our sails, we made the decision to head back to St. Augustine to regroup. Neither of us had a chance to sleep during the day and there was no relenquishing of the wind. We were 30 miles south of St. Augustine inlet when we made the decision. We literally surfed back home with the seas and wind at our back. It is difficult to capture the reality of the moment, but the seas behind us were easily 3-4 feet, making for one helluva ride. The autopilot did surprisingly well, but Whisper did not. The poor ol girl got seasick. It has been a while since she was in seas like this... I piloted Empty Pocket back into the inlet at midnight.

turning around...

...although it was supposed to be on the STARBOARD side! Oh well, we will try again tomorrow... this time in the DITCH!

Ill post installment 2 as soon as we get back to the states!

first sunset...