With Oso anchored in Puerto Rico, and friends scheduled to meet us 500nm away in the Bahamas, a lot of mental energy was spent focusing on the weather. And as is often the case with sailing, we needed to cut our time in San Juan short to take best advantage of the forecast. While sailing conditions were not predicted to be great, it was the best forecast for the next 10 days. Anchor up and on our way!
The three day passage to the northwest panned out nearly exactly as we expected from the forecast – some very nice reaching, some white-knuckled sailing through lines of thunderstorms, a large, uncomfortable swell bumping the boat (and the crew) around off the Dominican Republic coast, and a bit of motoring through calms when the wind died between weather systems.
But when we arrived in the crystal-clear waters of the island of Mayaguana in the southeastern Bahamas, the difficulties were forgotten. Sharks made leisurely circles under the boat, and the sand bottom was easily visible under the boat even by moonlight.
After an evening at anchor to let a frontal system pass, it was one more overnight sail to Clarence Town on Long Island to clear Bahamian immigration and customs to formally check into the country. The small settlement features the best-protected anchorage on the island, but no government offices for checking in.
But in a sign of how much the country caters to visiting boaters, a customs officer drove an hour and a half each way from the north tip of Long Island to Clarence Town, reviewed our paperwork, stamped our passports, and then drove back. Fantastic service!
Another passage, and another country. We’re happy to arrive in the Bahamas.
