Log 18: Finding Rainbows and Farewell to the Bahamas, Part 1: The Game Plan

As I type the words you now read, processing their chronology, I sit with numb butt cheeks, listening to Buddy Guy, Rememberin’ Stevie, lightly swaying under the Milky Way, sailing through the Caribbean Sea. Attempting to process what in the world we are doing… I wonder what the next 24 hours will bring.

*Side note, this is a three part story. If you prefer to read them all together, all three will be up by August 1st! Alright, back to the story…

When I say this is a quick round up, I resolve to admit my current penmanship cannot keep up. But what’s the use? My mind flutters to the new great adventure knocking on the front door, and we are turning the knob!

However, I do need to back up, and take you back to Long Island, Bahamas…

After our arrival, we spent several days exploring the quiet island packed with wonder, history, and stunning views. We met up with our friends on S/V Amy Renae (whom I will from now on refer to as Motherload Sailing), and we had a blast exploring hidden surf breaks, the world’s deepest saltwater blue hole, and hanging out with their big loving family making likewise big plans.

Big plans? That’s right. Hurricane season plans.

We start to discuss, (drumroll)…

PANAMA!!!

Again, let me back up even further…

We left Florida much later than our initial plans warranted, but we didn’t let that hold us back from untying the lines from the dock. Instead, we had to be choosy on our Bahamas exploration with the knowledge that hurricane season is right around the corner. We decided to explore the Exumas territory, but the more time we spent, the more we didn’t want to rush things, so we didn’t. However, that meant we had to decide where to go for hurricane season (mid-May ~ end of October). Because like many, we initially planned to head east and down the Caribbean chain aiming for Granada. But there was no way we could get there this late in the season, as the prevailing winds shift and the fronts that would push us through were now becoming fewer and further in between.

Brendan spent time in Bocas del Toro, Panama many years ago, and loved it. The destination was always on the table seeing as our aim leaving Florida was to ultimately get to Panama, but we imagined getting there sometime in 2024. We certainly didn’t think it would be the second country we would sail to! Sparing the details of debate, Panama was indeed our answer.

We were not alone! We met the crew of Motherload Sailing in Fort Pierce, Florida, while visiting dear friends on our way south before the Gulf Stream Crossing. We ran into them again in Georgetown, Bahamas, when the Panama idea sparked. The adventurous spirits below their sails are Amy and MJ and their wild troop of five boys between ages 2-12. Yep, aaall boys. As fate would have it, they were planning to head to Bocas del Toro too. While we never considered buddy-boating before, it was a strategic move, especially for this long passage. If an emergency happened on either boat, the other would not be too far to assist. Plus, we genuinely enjoyed hanging out with them, so it was too easy! We found our Panama-bound boat buds.

Ok, back to Long Island…

Plans get real from this point on, as the sail from Long Island to Great Inagua, (the southernmost end of the beautiful Bahamas island chain), is about a 36-hour passage, and we knew this would be the last shake down before the big crossing. Would it be enough? Are we forgetting anything important? Are we ready to make a jump as big as crossing the Caribbean Sea?

“Shake down” departure day arrived. I whipped up a quick lunch as Brendan finished prepping the lines. Before we knew it, we were off and heading to Great Inagua. We tossed a yoyo handline behind the boat, and with luck, we caught a skipjack tuna for dinner.

The day passed quickly as the full moon arose from the sea’s glimmering horizon. I squeezed some writing in before Brendan went below to nap, and my shift started. Swells brought rolling waves, so we bucked around a bit, but it wasn’t as bad as our previous night passage. Soon I switched shifts with Brendan, as the moon did with the sun, and we pressed forward through the day until a squall rolled into our sights.

We looked at each other, thinking the same thing, “It’s just a little squall. They come on you fast and leave you fast.” – Captain Ron

And so, it was. We reefed the mainsail down and continued until land was in sight.

Afterwards, a rainbow shined down, and we soon dropped the hook on the west side of the island in Man O’ War Bay, Great Inagua, Bahamas. We watch the rainbow’s colors gleam while we tie things up from the passage.

Read on for, “Log 19: Finding Rainbows and Farewell to the Bahamas, Part 2: The Preparations”