We left Miami in the rearview right after the New Year and headed east across the Gulf Stream. Well actually, we had to head southeast (119˚) to make a mostly easterly course (69˚), since the Gulf Stream current had us crabbing sideways putting our course off by 40 degrees!

Several boats were taking this weather window and besides seeing other sailboats on our Automatic Identification System (AIS), we passed close by a Manta catamaran s/v Free Spearit with Chelsea & James aboard. We’ve corresponded with them before about Mantas, but have never met, so this is our closest encounter (so far).

While others checked in at Bimini or Lucaya, we sailed overnight to Great Harbor in the Berries. We caught a little blackfiin tuna as we were coming onto the banks.

Thanks to our fast sail, we arrived at 4 AM for some sleep before the formalities. The marina staff were very nice and let us dock temporarily for check-in, providing us with the papers to fill out. All went well with copies of our approved Bahamas Health Visa in-hand.

As the weather window continued to be favorable, we used the opportunity to keep making our way south. This is where we like to be early in winter, where it’s warmer and the cold fronts often don’t reach down there. But first, we needed to be in an approved location for our 5-day rapid covid test as required.

Another overnight sail brought us to Staniel Cay where we anchored between Big and Little Majors islands. Ahhh, those Bahamas blues!

But, it was a short-lived relaxation. Mark had to check our prop, which we realized had wrapped a fishing line sometime in our departure. Our stomachs sank as we contemplated a fouled saildrive seal. If it was bad, salt-water could enter the oil in the drive, something not fixable in the water. Worst case scenario, we would need a haulout either in the Bahamas or back in the States.

While he was checking the props, he decided to go ahead and replace the old one with our new Flex-o-Fold prop that we had ready and waiting for the next haulout. Since they can go on readily in the [clear/shallow] water, no need to wait. He was going to change both props, but the prop nut on the other one wouldn’t budge.

Luckily, the prop we needed to check came off without issue and the remaining fishing line was removed. Unfortunately, there is evidence of a little bit of water in the saildrive oil by now.

So for now, we are really not using the port engine unless we really have to… and Mark can change the oil from the inside with a pump as many times as needed until we get around to the next haulout. Not a big enough deal to side-track our cruising at this point.

After receiving our negative 5-day antigen tests (visual readout similar to a pregnancy test), we staged for a sail down to the Ragged Islands, our happy place.

On the way down, we decided to stop at Jamaica Cay in the Jumentos, since we’d never been there. This abandoned island used to be a refueling stop for the drug trade in the distant past.

The birds are benefiting from the wild growing plants from the former complex ~ so a great bird fix! We also benefited from the bounty by gathering some coconuts.

The water is warm and we’re in it just about every day. Mark caught us several dinners already, including some of our favorites ~ snapper (gray) and hogfish. It is great to be back on a fish diet.

One lobster was 5 lbs and there is so much meat in the head that we cook it in our big ass pressure cooker, just for lobster and crab. This made enough lobster curry salad for two lunches just in the head alone.