.... but I'm getting ahead of myself. The plan was to leave West Palm Beach for West End, Grand Bahama Island. On the eve of our Nov 18th departure the weather was calling for light east winds going SE to 10-15. Accordingly we left the dock at 0300 and put to sea. The wind was as forecast and we headed south along the coast and turned left off of Boynton Beach. About two hours out the wind went ENE at 10 - 15 and we slogged through the Gulf Stream with a 6 ft swell and a 2-3 ft wind wave coming across the swell. Yucch. Anyway, once clear of the stream the wind went further NE and we were able to motor sail all the way into Old Bahama Bay Marina. We cleared in, cleaned the boat and went over to The Conch Shack for a conch burger and a Goombay Smash. All-in-all a successful crossing. Now, the purpose of this trip was to be anyplace other than here. So there aren't any cruising tales, no far away exotic ports in the story. Just sail to the Bahamas, tie up, and kick back. I'm just fortunate enough to live someplace where it's easier to sail to the Bahamas than it is to sail to Miami or the Keys. The next day brought the first of two cold fronts and nasty wind and waves. My daughter and I took off on the dinghy for a little beachcombing and fishing on Indian and Wood Cays. While she was fishing off the beach and standing in mid-calf depth water she happened to look down to see a 4' shark patrolling its beach near her legs. Needless to say she jumped, the shark bolted and we had the Bahamas Shark Experience of the trip. She had to fly out so it was back to the marina, grab her gear and head for the airport. When I got back the remains of that day's crossing fleet were staggering into port. Apparently they got hit by the new wind and really got beat up. There were two other h37.5s in the group making a total of three in the marina which I'm sure is some kind of record. I met all the newcomers, grilled up some dogs and kicked back. The next day was still nice so I went out lobstering and snagged two in about 10 minutes. After dispatching and processing them I went back looking for some more but came up empty handed. I did have the great experience of sticking my head in a likely looking cave and peering into the beady eyes of a green moray eel. I didn't bother going back in to see if it had any lobsters. After all this effort I was beat so I ended up back at the Conch Shack for another conch burger and Goombay Smash. Ah, the tough life. Monday night the second, stronger cold front came through so Tuesday turned into boat maintenance and socializing. Everybody else in the marina was outbound on multi-month cruises. This, of course, depressed me severely as I was only there for the week. The crews of the three Hunters got together and compared customizations and everybody got some good ideas to add to "the List". Wednesday was still blustery so I finished off the metal polishing as the big activity of the day. My wife was flying in to join the fun so it was back to Freeport, using the extremely (no really) punctual and efficient bus service to meet her at the airport. We were able to get out in the dinghy and snuck around to the south side of the island to get out of the wind and had a look at some spectacular reefs just offshore. The rest of the afternoon was expended just lazing about the dock (hmmm. I see a pattern developing). This busy schedule was interrupted by sundowners aboard Rum Runner, one of the other 37.5s. Thursday was Thanksgiving and started with a group of us going down to the point to try (and fail) to catch some fish. Dinner was a potluck with 12 people off of 6 boats, turkey, stuffing, veggies, homebaked bread and pies. Nap. On Friday my depression deepened as EVERYBODY left for the Abacos. We got one more chance to snorkel and fish. Took lunch to Indian Cay and beachcombed all the way around the island. Anchored off Settlement Point to have lunch and spent an hour floating above some spectacular soft coral reefs. Then it was back to the boat, pack up the dinghy and get ready for sea. Sniff. On Saturday morning the weather was for SE winds (GOOD!) at 20 kt (NO AS GOOD!) turning lighter (GOOD!) by afternoon when we would be entering the Gulf Stream. We left West End at 0730 and set the main with a single reef and about 2/3 of the jib and motor sailed back to Florida. The wind was light out of the east. Then Mr. Toad showed up. The wind picked up to about 15 and we could shut off the engine. Then it picked up to about 20 and the waves started building so we threw another reef in the main. It kept building to about 25 with 10 ft breakers in sets. The surf was up. We doused the main and were flying along at 8 kts under reefed jib alone. The GPS recorded a max speed of 10.3 kt! What a ride. I've never felt like 7kt was slow before. As predicted the wind dropped to 15-20 by afternoon, except for the thunderstorm. We had to skirt some very nasty looking cloud to surface lightning which cost us 4 miles of northing and an hour and a half of slogging into the current at the end. When we cleared the storm the wind clocked around to SW (i.e. on-the-nose) and we motored the rest of the way to Palm Beach Inlet. On the good side we didn't have to dodge much traffic. Tied back up at our dock at 1800. All-in-all a successful crossing. So that was the trip. The boat's clean (and dry) again and now it's time to cross a couple things off "the List". Oh yeah, and start planning the next trip, to the Abacos (or maybe the Keys), this spring. Jim h37.5 "Prospect"