AquaFennatic Great Loop Blog: Waiting for low winds/waves for a Bahamas crossing - Boot Key FL

Feb 27^th – It was a hot windy sunny day. We went into town by dingy to go to the Library to use their internet and printer to do some administrative things that we needed to catch up on. We also visited the bank, post office, Publix and a liquor store. We definitely got some exercise today with all the walking we did while we carried supplies. Once we got back to the boat we packed away our supplies and relaxed. One of the things that we learned yesterday is that it will be difficult to get the marine weather forecast in the Exumas since there is no weather broadcasted on the VHF weather channels and the cell signal and internet is iffy at best. A number of the people that have visited the Exumas used a SSB radio receiver to listen to an early morning weather broadcast done by a guy named Chris Parker on 4045 kHz at 6:30am. Another option may be to have satellite radio. You are always learning on the Loop! (Note that our actual experience was that we had good cell signal during our Bahamas trip … thus it was easy to get the weather online)

Feb 28^th – It was another hot and sunny day. I spent the morning completing our Canadian taxes while also doing tax returns for our kids. We then went into town by dingy so I could get a hair cut while Maria did a last load of laundry. When we got to the dingy dock we found out that Maria forgot the laundry soap thus she walked up to Home Depot to buy some while I got my haircut by a lady that has a little barbershop close by. Afterwards we headed back to the boat to put the stuff away and then returned to town with “Over Ice” for a great prime rib dinner at the Florida Keys Steak and Lobster house. Next we went by dingy over to “Leap of Faith” to discuss our Bahamas crossing plan with them and “Over Ice”. So far the weather looks good for a Friday crossing thus we plan to leave here on Thursday morning to move to the staging point north of here to prepare for our jump.

Mar 1^st – It was once again a hot and sunny day. Maria and I went to town to do a final shopping before we leave here tomorrow morning. After we loaded all of the groceries on the boat we headed back to the marina one more time to file all of our tax returns and do some weather checks to ensure that Friday is a good day to cross to the Bahamas as well as to determine if we should head north on the inside or outside route tomorrow morning.

Mar 2^nd – It was a very hot humid day with a mix of sun and clouds. Friday’s weather window for the Bahamas has disappeared thus we made a no-go decision to move today. As a result, 3 Looper boats managed to catch up with us and rafted to us. Brian and Judy from “Valentine”, Lee and Janice from “Relax Now” and Jack and Judy from “Regalita”. Unfortunately Tom and Cathy from "Reveille" weren't with them since they are having problems getting boat insurance for the Bahamas thus they stayed behind. After they were all settled we headed over to Sombrero Beach for some beach time. All 3 boats are also planning on heading to the Bahamas as well thus our plan is to go together during the next available weather window which looks like it will be over 1 week away :(