Chinook is Bahamas Bound

[Chinook]

I remember when we cruised the Abacos pulling into a shallow anchorage at Allens-Pensacola Cay, well inside the other boats, and with the limited tidal range, being able to hop off the boat and walking out with anchor in hand, and manually setting it. I love being able to float in a foot of water at low tide.

Sorry we'll miss seeing you, Alice and Stew. Hope you make it out to the Northwest one of these days. Warmest regards.

Mike and Sandy

[fishstalker7]

Congrats on the successful cross country, I can't wait to read about your adventures again! Call me if you need any Florida support and have a safe passage!

[Chinook]

Hi all, we've safely arrived in Florida. We're with friends in Ft. Pierce, putting the final touches on preparations. We plan on launching tomorrow for our run down the ICW to Key Biscayne. Forecast sounds favorable for a Wednesday crossing to Bimini. I'll continue monitoring as the jumpoff point and date draw closer. Our road trip cross country is now posted on the website. Keep tuned for on the water reports from now on.

[Sumner]

Looking forward to the reports when we can get on the Internet. Be safe.

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[shanker]

Congrats on your xcountry travel. Good luck on the water, I'll be following your journey.

Shanker

[Chinook]

Hello again,

We launched the boat 4 days ago, and were amazed it actually floated, after all the gear and provisions we put aboard. The 3 day cruise down the ICW went very well, and we had a great sail today from the Miami Beach Marina to here, which is No Name Harbor at the south end of Key Biscayne. We intended this initial cruise to serve as a shake down cruise, and it's served perfectly. We've successfully made the transition from land based boat towers to water based boat cruisers. Thus far, the boat has performed very well. The engine runs well, and all critical systems are in operating properly. I have encountered a few small glitches, but have managed successful repairs of them. The web site now includes posts for the cross country drive as well as the drive down to Florida. I think the ICW cruise will soon also be posted.

This is our jump off point for Bimini in the Bahamas. The weather is behaving in close to idean fashion. A front passed through Florida two nights ago, with some rain and lightning. Yesterday was blustery, with 20 to 30 knots out of the northeast, and 8 to 9 feet seas in the Gulf Stream. Things have settled considerably today, with high pressure building, and wind around 10 knots out of the east. We had a great sail from Miami Beach Marina, where we stayed last night, to No Name Harbor. The forecast for tomorrow is 7 to 10 knots of wind out of the south, with seas 2 to 3 feet. That's about as good as it gets, in terms of a good crossing forecast. We plan on pulling anchor around 5 am, and hope to arrive in Bimini by mid afternoon. We'll post more when we can.

Mike and Sandy, aboard Chinook

[kasmith21]

Good luck on your crossing. Sounds like you have all your ducks in a row. Looking forward to hearing more about your journey....I am hoping to visit Bimini in early July so I am living vicariously through your posts

[Obelix]

Hello Chinook,

Maybe your last upload did not work, the blog is till ending on the 10th.

Have a save crossing

Obelix

[DaveB]

Looks good for the crossing, 5-11mph winds from the SE.
Have a great trip and when you think you need to reef, you do it!
Looking forward to your trip report.
Tuck in and may the winds be on your side.
Dave

Hello again,

We launched the boat 4 days ago, and were amazed it actually floated, after all the gear and provisions we put aboard. The 3 day cruise down the ICW went very well, and we had a great sail today from the Miami Beach Marina to here, which is No Name Harbor at the south end of Key Biscayne. We intended this initial cruise to serve as a shake down cruise, and it's served perfectly. We've successfully made the transition from land based boat towers to water based boat cruisers. Thus far, the boat has performed very well. The engine runs well, and all critical systems are in operating properly. I have encountered a few small glitches, but have managed successful repairs of them. The web site now includes posts for the cross country drive as well as the drive down to Florida. I think the ICW cruise will soon also be posted.

This is our jump off point for Bimini in the Bahamas. The weather is behaving in close to idean fashion. A front passed through Florida two nights ago, with some rain and lightning. Yesterday was blustery, with 20 to 30 knots out of the northeast, and 8 to 9 feet seas in the Gulf Stream. Things have settled considerably today, with high pressure building, and wind around 10 knots out of the east. We had a great sail from Miami Beach Marina, where we stayed last night, to No Name Harbor. The forecast for tomorrow is 7 to 10 knots of wind out of the south, with seas 2 to 3 feet. That's about as good as it gets, in terms of a good crossing forecast. We plan on pulling anchor around 5 am, and hope to arrive in Bimini by mid afternoon. We'll post more when we can.

Mike and Sandy, aboard Chinook

[fishstalker7]

Keeping you in prayer for a safe and enjoyable crossing! Have fun and God speed!

[Bassco66]

Hello Chinook,
Greetings From Tasmania, Australia
Looking forward to the reports I couldn't turn the computer off after finding your post on the inside passage
All the best
Regards Andrew

[Chinook]

Hi all,

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I almost hesitate to say this, especially to those in cold climates with boats in storage, but we're sitting by the pool in Bimini, rum cokes in hand, temp mid 80's and water temp 76. The crossing was close to ideal today. 3/4 moon overhead when we left at 5am, seas 2 feet all the way, wind 5 knots or less. Only downside was we had nothing to work with as far as sailing goes, and also, I didn't get any hits on the fishing lure I was dragging. We'll hang out here in Bimini for a day or two, and then get ready to cross the Grand Bahama Banks to the Berry Islands. Sorry I'm a little behind with website posts. I e'mail them to our son and he puts them on the website. I haven't been in a situation where I could send him the entries and pictures for a while. I send him a bunch of days before we left No Name Harbor, and we'll get more to him in the next day or so.

Stay tuned, Mike and Sandy aboard Chinook

[bobmonroe]

Chinook,
My wife and I were walking on the beach here in Vero this morning and I was hoping you
started across this morning, perfect conditions ! How in the world could you travel thousands
of miles and pick the perfect day to cross the Gulfstream, in March !! One of the most windy months.
We've made about 65 round trips to the Bahamas in various boats over the last 40 years.
But I also always planned crossing on full moon nights, at 5 kts. So, we usally left FTL about 11 PM.
Morgans Bluff, Andros is noisy, due to the water boats, hauling water to Nassau.
Bob

[bobmonroe]

Wow ! Now you all are getting a sleigh ride across the banks !
You should be in Chub Cay before dark. The Mac flies downwind !
We used to have to anchor south of NW Channel light.
bob

[C Striker]

Your in the perfect boat place, on perfect boat time!! And you are always a knee deep splash from some serious toe time on the beach!

Oh I feel some envy

Enjoy it !!!