WEATHER WINDOW #2

Over the next few days we enjoyed the lovely 80 degree weather in Key Biscayne—swimming, shopping and strolling along the beach. On Saturday night “Salty Goose” invited us over for tacos and sangria and a chance to meet Barb & Ike aboard “Carefree” old friends who had been their neighbours in Key West more than twenty years ago. They hadn’t seen each other since and were surprised to say the least, to find them anchored out at No Name Harbour also waiting for an opportunity to cross. We spent a wonderful evening together and, if at all possible, are hoping to form our own little convoy for the Bahamas on Tuesday.

When the big day finally arrived, everyone planning on leaving busied themselves with last-minute preparations. We washed clothes, strolled into town for fresh groceries and spent time at the library on our computer checking the latest weather updates. I was so jittery that I was actually nauseous and will be SO glad when this is all over and we finally get across! At 4:00pm an informal group gathered at the beach BBQ pit for a pot-luck get-together and planning session for the crossing. We agreed to weigh anchor about 4:30am which would put us into the channel and well out to sea by 5:00am. We are a convoy of seven with Salty Goose, Fortnight and Carefree forming the “core” and “Highlander”(Delaware), “Propensity”(Kentucky), “Allergic to Cities”(Colorado), and “Snow Goose”(Quebec City), joining along. As we said goodnight, making our way back to boats and bed, we were happy, excited and a little afraid. But there is strength, and courage, in numbers, and we are seven.

By 2:00am the wind unexpectedly picked up and by 3:00 it was blowing at 15knots out of the northeast. There are two cardinal rules for slow boats attempting a crossing of the Gulf Stream:
1. Never cross in 15plus knots from any direction
2. Don’t ever go out in any wind with a northerly component.
These conditions violated both rules and we knew we would not go. “Highlander” however left on schedule closely followed by “Allergic to Cities.” We listened to their chatter on channel 16 as they entered the Gulf Stream and were surprised to hear that conditions there were actually relatively calm despite the discouraging NOAA reports. Those of us left behind were beginning to have 2nd thoughts as we anxiously tuned in for a weather update. When it finally arrived, “Propensity” with her big fast engine sped off to catch up with the others—now more than an hour ahead and barely visible on the horizon. But it was too late for us. We’d never catch up and couldn’t risk crossing alone with the possibility of arriving on the banks after dark.

The updated forecast promised benign conditions for our friends who had already ventured out. But it also predicted even better weather for this evening and tomorrow with winds out of the south at 5knots and seas less than 2 feet! And if they would “hold,” our crossing would be almost ideal. We contacted the remaining boats and, after beating up on ourselves with “should’ves, could’ves, and if only’s” vowed that tonight would be different and at 10:00pm we’d actually leave.