Thursday 03 February PM

Thursday 03 February PM
Waypoint for Abacos 41 miles
When sailing offshore the wind in the sails is usually strong enough to keep the sails full and drawing. When the wind drops it takes a long time for the seas to calm down. The motion of the boat slaps the sails back and forth, flogging, very hard on the equipment, sails and crew. So most of the time when the wind drops I just drop the sails and start the engine. sailing in the Bahamas these last few days, however, the seas have been very calm, and I can keep sailing without flogging right down to losing steerage. It is amazing to me that the boat will be moving at 2.5 knots when the windspeed indicator shows 4-6. And it is really comfortable! Sailing is so peaceful.
I was just a little late getting to Current Cut and had to buck the incoming current to get out, but I made it. The significance of Current Cut is that it is the last of the "white knuckle" situations I will have to deal with until I get to inlets when I get back to the mainland. Not only is the current in the Cut faster than the boat will go, but the access channel is not but about 8 feet deep with rocky shallows just off the channel. If you run aground and the current gets you things can get damaging. That is true on the flood as well as the ebb. The only good time to run the cut is at the slack. The US inlets have swift currents, but it is generally OK to make the entrance on the incoming current. So, I am happy to have the worst of the bad locations behind me.
This morning, after I left Hatchet Bay, I was going about 3 knots using the dinghy motor. There was no wind. The water had not a ripple, was about 12 feet deep, and was absolutely clear. Looking down at the bottom I couldn't see the surface of the water. With no ripples there was nothing to see at the surface of the water. It looked like I was sailing up in the air! It was a little disorienting. Then some dolphins came to say hello. They did not stay long, but for a few minutes it was like a movie animation, like they were swimming in air. Wow.
Tomorrow I hope to be in Marsh Harbour, my final destination before crossing over to the mainland. The trip is not over yet, but the end is in sight.
Reef Early
Bill Doar
s/v Advent II