Across the Stream

At 2:30 AM on Super Bowl Sunday, we raised the anchor and motorsailed out the Lake Worth Inlet. There was a southeast wind and 2-3 foot seas. We had spent the day getting ready. One last stop at Publix, hoist the dinghy onto the deck and pack up the rapid ditch bag. Call the insurance company to get our offshore insurance rider and give our float plan to Kevin. We went to sleep at 8:30 and got up at 2:00. The first part of the trip in darkness seems interminable. We head south to position ourselves to maximise the gulf stream current. The waves, though not steep, give us a rocking ride with the extra weight of the dinghy on the bow. We amuse ourselves by keeping an eye on the radar and watching the lights of Palm Beach slowly sink beneath the horizon. We are all alone on a dark sea.

Four hours later, the moon rises, a golden crescent at our bow. As the clouds clear away, we are treated to a gorgeous sight. Jupiter and Venus shining down on us just beside the moon, like two diamonds beside a brilliant crescent. Soon the sun rises. We are in the bright blue water of the gulf stream with the wind on the nose. The hours drift by, the waves flatten out and the motor throbs on. Six, eight, ten, hours and breakfast, lunch and snacks and sixties music on the XM radio. Then we spot the water tower at West End. We are nine miles from our landfall. Exactly twelve hours after leaving Lake Worth we tie up at the dock at Old Bahama Bay Marina.

Though we're tired, we've had a good crossing and even better, the marina has cable, so showered and tired we stretch out in the cabin and watch the Giants stun the Patriots. A good day.