Well we've finally done it. We've crossed the gulf stream to the Bahamas! We love the Albin Vega. Even HEAVILY LOADED she took the stream like a champ!
We left from southern Florida and set the nose on 90 degrees for 18 hours and ended up in Bimini, Bahamas. We sailed 90% of the way and made it across the 85 nm trip in less time than others who motored across from a closer spot in a longer boat!!! not only that, but we ended up within 100 yards of our destination waypoint without having to modify or correct our course near the end! Amazing for our first time! Old school manual navigation really works, even for beginners!
I am consisntently impressed with how well our little vessel handles the waters. We were close hauled against SE winds and cutting across 6 foot swells from the SE the entire trip under an almost full moon. We left before the sun set and arrived after the sun rise.
Photos and video on our blog now and over the next few days.
Next: crossing the Great Bahamas Bank to either the Berry's or the Exumas or Andros, depending on the winds. We want to sail, not motor. It's amazing how many "sailors" really just motor wherever they want to go and only sail if the winds are exactly what they want in that moment rather than taking what is offered and making their plans based on that!
Capt'n K
s.v. wee happy
We left from southern Florida and set the nose on 90 degrees for 18 hours and ended up in Bimini, Bahamas. We sailed 90% of the way and made it across the 85 nm trip in less time than others who motored across from a closer spot in a longer boat!!! not only that, but we ended up within 100 yards of our destination waypoint without having to modify or correct our course near the end! Amazing for our first time! Old school manual navigation really works, even for beginners!
I am consisntently impressed with how well our little vessel handles the waters. We were close hauled against SE winds and cutting across 6 foot swells from the SE the entire trip under an almost full moon. We left before the sun set and arrived after the sun rise.
Photos and video on our blog now and over the next few days.
Next: crossing the Great Bahamas Bank to either the Berry's or the Exumas or Andros, depending on the winds. We want to sail, not motor. It's amazing how many "sailors" really just motor wherever they want to go and only sail if the winds are exactly what they want in that moment rather than taking what is offered and making their plans based on that!
Capt'n K
s.v. wee happy