We made it Home! Back to the US, at least.

Left Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island at 1000 Thursday for the 410 nm trip to Charleston.  Our start was timed to assure Georgia E that the rising tide would keep us off the rocks in the skinny entrance to Sunrise Marina.  We even had a dinghy escort to be sure we all stayed in line.  Once outside the cut, Georgia E went head to wind and raised their mainsail.  Thinking the race was on, Endurance did the same, set a preventer and then turned its stern to the wind to head West.  Georgia E immediately called to find out where we were going.  “West” we say, “and you”.  Our first shared waypoint was apparently mis-keyed on Georgia E and they were going East.  A funny start to our adventure.

Swinging West then North around Grand Bahama Island, we were at West End and then Memory Rock in about three hours and then, out of the Bahamas.  Wow!  Bittersweet.  We so much wanted to be home; but so badly hated leaving the Bahamas.  What a great trip it has been.  We seriously thought that we would have a three week window after which we would grow bored and want to return to the States.  As it turned out, December 17 to April 7 gave us sixteen great weeks of sailing, relaxing, just having fun, and ignoring the world which you all call “reality”.  We met great new cruising friends, and helpful and friendly Bahamians.  We were also assured that we could get a Bahamian residency card “in 20 minutes, citizenship in half a day”.  Tempting; yes.  Practical; no.  Are we coming back?  Certainly.  Here, or somewhere else.  Whether it’s the Bahamas, the Caribbean, or some other sailing destination, we certainly feel that we can take Endurance, and more importantly, ourselves, there.  Can’t wait.

But, on to our passage.

George arrived on Wednesday afternoon, so we had a full crew complement (three).  Unfortunately, Wednesday night we entered the US versus Canada International Rules Eight Ball Tournament.  George, anxious to show the Canadians how to manage the felt field, became at first surprised, then concerned, then outraged, then too drunk to care that we were actually playing Canadian Rules (who knew there was a difference?  Look it up!).  In shock and horror, we adjourned (late) to the cockpit of Endurance where the evil Canadians proceeded to finish off the Havana Club which I had so carefully hidden from US Customs and Border Protection.  CBP should hire Canadians to ferret out smugglers.  No pay.  They’ll just drink their finds.

In the morning, George was useless as a deck hand.  Once off the dock, he was back in his berth.  How does the song go?  What do you do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning?

Light winds from the East and South are predicted for the next four days.  A perfect weather window that could take us all the way to Norfolk.  If we had a hankering for being colder, sooner; rather than later.  So where did the Northwest wind come from?  Never mind.  We sailed a good twelve hours from Memory Rock into the Gulf Stream, until about two in the morning on Friday.  Then in the morning, we are sailing again.  Our 52 hour trip had us sailing at least half the time.  At one point, we were sailing over 10 knots in ten knots of wind.  Thank you to the three and a half knot current of the Gulf Stream.  Tess suggested we reef down so that Georgia E could catch up.  I was concerned that if anyone saw an Island Packet reefed in ten knots of wind, we would be forced to go to Remedial Sailing School. 

In any event, we had what should be considered a perfect Gulf Stream passage.  Light wind.  Good current.  Great weather.  On the dock in Charleston by 2:00 p.m. Saturday.  I had planned a six knot per hour passage getting us in on Sunday afternoon.  Not bad for first timers.  And Georgia E was right behind us.  Stu says that they always caught up on Tess’ watch, since she would throttle down to let them catch up.  George and I would then pull ahead.  But, all in all, we had a great joint venture.

Also boarded an unexpected passenger about midway through our passage.  While we thought we were safe bringing home an American Gold Finch, when Sibleys’s showed us we had a common House Finch (yellow variant) aboard, we withdrew apple, oatmeal and granola bar service and shooed it away before CBP started asking questions.

George asked as we approached Charleston whether it was more exciting to leave a port or arrive, we unanimously agreed that getting there was what it was all about.  And it is.  Being on the Charleston City Marina Megadock is like being home.  Restaurants, groceries, Tuesday Mornings, massages (for one), credit card usage; this is what America is all about.  Our Crew Dinner at Slightly North of Broad (on King Street) was extraordinary.  Our Passage Sunday Breakfast with (and compliments of) Georgia E was fantastic.  And our final dinner at Poogan’s Porch was what Charleston is all about.

Monday, after buying new spinning rods and reels, we are off the Megadock at 2:00 p.m., through our first swing bridge (the Ben Sawyer) by 3:00, under our first fixed bridge (barely 65 feet), and now (by 6:30) anchored in the Harbor River (not Harbour, anymore), on the ICW.  Headed to Georgetown (South Carolina) so that George can see the ICW north of Ft. Lauderdale. We are truly “Headed Home”.

See you all soon!