Paradise Found…..Bimini and Nassau Bahamas

By First Mate – Tamera Buckley

After a uneventful crossing of the Gulf Stream we arrived in paradise.  We came across the Gulf Stream with Sailing Vessel Alice Mae (crew David and Alice Woods).  We left Marathon FL at 14:00 on January 20, 2015 and arrived in Bimini at 12:00 January 21, 2015. We sailed within VHF radio distance and along the way we added two other boats to our flotilla.  Soul Serenade (crew Jimmy and Sue) and Sonara (Crew Craig and Joy).
Alice Mae                                 Soul Serenade                       Sonara
 
As we arrived in Bimini Mother Nature had one little squall she wanted to throw at us….we waited about 10 minutes for it to pass then went into Bimini with nerves a shaken. 

Arriving at Bimini with Alice Mae in the lead boat…..


We stayed at Blue water Marina and got to know the other two boats (Soul Serenade & Sonara).  We also made friends with the crew of OZ (crew Toby and Dana) and they decided to join us on our journey across the Great Bahama Banks.
OZ

We decided to leave Bimini on the next weather window which was on January 25, 2015.  We decided to make it an overnight journey so we left of the 25th at 09:00 and arrived on January 26, 2015 at 05:35.
We had a great trip across the Great Bahama Banks and an easy passage through the NW channel.  The seas got a little bit of rock and roll attitude around midnight and stayed that way till we got into Nassau Harbor.
 


Of course mother nature and wildlife did not disappoint…..

Here we are in Nassau…..these are the daily views we get from our “back porch”

 

So far it has been a great trip and we have made some wonderful new friends.  We will be in Nassau until Friday (January 30th) and then we will be off to another great island or two or three….
Internet will be spotty while we are in the Bahamas but when we find at hot spot we will update our position and photos.
Last Shot………A few photos of Bimini……..