December 15-16

Welcome to the Bahamas !!!!!!

Today, Sunday we left the Stadium in Key Biscayne at 5:45 to head out by the stilt houses in Key Biscayne. We Bo had a place here 13 years ago this was a big thing. All the hurricanes have destroyed some homes and others they have redone and people are in them. If you use to watch CSI Miami they started the show with a quick pan shot of the stilt house in Key Biscayne.(pictures stilt houses)Beautiful sun rise.

John and Denise left with us and it was perfect, winds so sailed the entire day and night, then about about 1 am the wind switched and we took the sails in and motored.

I wish each one of you could have been with me on my midnight-5 shift. Stars, full moon , light winds. As I looked over the big ocean I thought how blessed we are to have so much.

As we left Key Biscayne it was traffic in New York City with all the sailboats headed out. People call each other to chat and see where they are going on their VHF Radio to be in contact with people and the coast guard.

We thought we would stop in Bimini as our first port of call but the weather was to perfect so kept going, a thunderstorm passed behind us and the lightening was awesome.

As is grew dark all the lights came on from the sailboats, you had to laugh at the traffic lights and it was like a race.

In the afternoon I got to take the helm and my favorite thing to do is race and see who I can beat and we did!! In the picture with me at the helm look at the blue water, in sailing hair styles are a goner.

As we approached Nassau the sun was just coming up, you had to hail the harbor master to ask permission to come into the harbor, you had to give the boat documentation number and tell them where you came from and where you were going to stay while in Nassau.

As we approached the harbor Atlantis was on our port side, all I have to say is WOW !! We would like to go over there and look around as they are suppose to have a fabulous aquarium. 

After we checked into the marina and did a wash job to get layer 1-2-3 of salt off the boat we (the 4 of us) walked to the phone store to get Bahamian phone. John and Denise had one from last year so just put minutes on their phone. We have to buy a phone for service.

We had to fly a yellow flag (quarantine )from one of our halyards meaning we had not had customs and immigration come to our boat and check all our papers and they could board us. We had to pay X amount to enter the Bahamas, we had already had Butterscotch papers from the vet and board of agriculture that Butter could enter and paid for him to come. After immigration checked us out and we filled out the papers and they asked how long we wanted to stay (6 months) we had those papers, then later customs came and we had to fill out more papers and pay again to come into the country. Bo got a fishing permit so he can do lobster and other fish that goes until April.

We then walked and looked for a marine store as we broke a block putting up our dinghy Saturday night in preparation for leaving, if it is not one thing it is something else. So need to get parts again but think we will order some and have them sent to Jaymi’s ,Bo’s sister who is coming down in for a week in January. 

We are now trying to set up sort of a schedule of what we want to do for the 3 days we are here then move on. John and Denise are staying as the daughter and family and son are coming for the week before Christmas.

Thank you to all the people that have sent us messages on

share.delorne.com/HerbertChesney  password  Peacock. 

Yes Lee we were in the middle of the ocean, not really but the depth was 5000 ft. holly smoke could not touch bottom and the sea temp. was 90 degrees. (Gulf Stream)

Lee and Mary Pat your friends from Glory Days called us on VHF and they are at a dock over from us so will see them, they were getting in at the same time we were>

Clear skies and fair winds.