The following starts a series of emails chronicling Dennis and Georgia Ojard’s 2007 - 2008 Winter Cruise to the Bahamas, Abaco Beach Resort.  Dennis added to the adventure in early March and  wrapped it up in May!

Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 6:31 PM

Subject: The trip has begun

We are back in Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas for the winter, but this time, on my brother Richard and wife, Nancy's boat.  As I start this, it is 6:30AM, perfectly calm with a temperature of about 77.  The temp the last few days has been a high of about 80 and a low about 77 which is not too hard to take.

Richard and Nancy bought a used boat in Florida this fall, too late to take it to Lake Superior, but needed to get it out of Florida in 90 days so they wouldn't be double taxed.  We had a dock reserved at Marsh Harbour, so volunteered to let them use it.  Richard is still working and they needed someone to move the boat and watch over it, so it seems to be working out great for both of us.  We drove down to Florida and met them at Key Biscayne.  We spent one day going over the systems on the boat and getting supplies and then they flew home.  As with most newly purchased boats, there are items needing repairs and this was no exception.  We spent the next 5 days working on the boat, troubleshooting and getting items repaired, including a refrigerator which needed to be working before we left the US.  Although we can get much of what we need here, it has to be shipped in at substantial extra cost, although we can avoid the even more substantial duty if you have a cruising permit and the items needed are for the engines on the boat. 

On Thanksgiving day, after lunch, we finally had the boat provisioned and critical items working, so we drove to Pompano Beach, found one of the rare open restaurants which turned out to be Zaggat rated and had a superb meal, the left overs of which fed us two more main meals.  We dropped our car at a friends place, had an expensive and relatively wild ride back to the boat by taxi and left early Friday morning.

The weather was forecast very good for the crossing and as we went by Miami, decided to run down the main channel by the cruise ships to sea.  After we were by the ships, we were called by the Coast Guard that the channel was closed to all pleasure craft.  Shortly after, here comes an armed Coast Guard boat with flashing blue lights, a crew of 4 and we were advised we were being boarded  (In 30,000 plus nautical miles, a first for us).  We were told that the channel is closed when more than one cruise ship is docked.  We didn't know that and the only sign that gave an indication was a banner hanging on the bridge of one ship that the channel was closed.  I didn't see it, but Georgia noticed it as we were going by.  Later, talking to the very well mannered young Coast Guard men, I noted that along the waterway, there are sign's all over warning of slow speed, no wake, or Manatee zones.  And why isn't something posted in the 4 quadrants of the channel.  They said they tried to get signs posted but the final decision maker decided they were not necessary.  Anyhow, after a 20 minute delay, and a warning citation we were on our way. 

We had a very pleasant 90NM crossing to West End, where we fueled, cleared customs and spent the night.  We anchored out the second night and arrived at Marsh Harbour on Sunday, 11/25.  Diesel fuel prices are $4.26 per gallon here, making for relatively expensive cruising.  Many of our friends from last year are already here with many more expected this week.  (The weather for crossing from the US has been very good for the last several days, and the forecast is for more of the same).

This boat, named Superior Lady is far more comfortable than ours.  It is 15 ft. longer, over 2 ft. wider with the result of over twice the space we have on Njord.  There is a washer and dryer, 3 very nice showers, good storage, making for a very comfortable boat to live and cruise on.  The boat has stabilizers which provide relatively stable cruising in rougher seas, an ice maker, 4 zone air conditioning, and a bow thruster, which we have not found necessary to use.  The thruster will be desirable when trying to dock in high winds or a cross current.

As is customary, included are a couple of photos from the trip:

Miami waterfront about 7 AM with a cruise ship in the back ground.  We could have turned and went to sea in the channel this side of the island where the cruise ships dock, had we known about the rules.

Superior Lady docked at West End, Grand Bahama Island next to a 120 ft. yacht.

Sent:  March 12, 2008

Subject:  Winter in the Abacos

Greetings,  We hope this report finds all our friends in good health and spirits.  Since we have not been traveling this winter, but rather staying in the Abacos plus a two week trip to Florida, we have not sent out any trip reports.  We are now getting the boat ready to cross back to Florida and expect to leave sometime the third week in March, contingent on the weather conditions for crossing the Gulf Stream.

The Bahamas consists of several groups of islands, the Abacos being the most northern.  The Abacos have the most protected cruising grounds and it is very easy to reliably meet people.  We know many folks here and find it a great spot to winter.  After bringing my brother Richard and wife Nancy's boat across and spending several weeks maintaining systems on the boat, we flew to Florida and drove home for Christmas, returning on January 6.  We had 3 couples join us this winter, each for about a week.  The weather was poor except for about 2 days for the first couple, but was in general good for the others.  Rich and Nancy were here for 2 weeks after Christmas and again the last two weeks in February.  We flew to Florida and visited friends for the two weeks that they and their friends and family were on the boat in February. 

Our time here the past several months has been spent, besides maintaining the boat, visiting various islands, attending dock parties or yacht club functions, preparing conch shells for horns or lamps, walking to town for supplies and other means of keeping busy.  Georgia has read several books, but I have only had time to read about two, so have not got bored.

When we leave here, we will take Superior Lady to our marina on the Sassafras River in NE Maryland, where we will have some work done on it and prepare our boat for launching.  We have not determined if Richard will take it to Lake Superior from there or if we will take it up as far as Lake Ontario before turning it over to him and Nancy.  The boat is running well and all systems except the washing machine are working.

As usual, accompanying are some photos from this winter:

Georgia by a ship mooring buoy that got loose several years ago.

A 50ft yacht that got driven up on a reef near Marsh Harbour in a hurricane last fall. 

Sunrise at Nippers on Great Guana.

Two gals posing on rocks in front of Nippers during the Barefoot Man concert.

Typical scenery during the Barefoot Man concert at Nippers.

The Barefoot Man and his backup female singer, at Nippers.

Double rainbow at our marina in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas.

Several folks have asked for photos of Georgia and me.  This is the only one I found.  Left to Right, Dennis, Fred See, Georgia, LaVone See at Nippers.

Hopetown Harbour on Elbow Cay as seen from the top of the lighthouse.

Superior Lady docked at Hopetown Harbour marina with the lighthouse in the background. 

The Guana Cay Harbour at low tide.

Trip Home Summary

Dennis Ojard  (Belated May 2, 2008)

We arrived home on April 14th and have spent the last two weeks either working on the yard and garden or installing and repairing items on Superior Lady.  We had my brother’s boat hauled on 4/28, and it went back in the water today with new bottom paint, cutlass bearings, shaft seals, depth sounder and more. 

We had an uneventful trip north except for being stopped by the Coast Guard for the 2nd time in 6 months for an inspection "of the bilge."  Fortunately it was clean.  Our boat is still under cover, but hope to launch it in 3 weeks.  The first week we got back has been shorts weather, but this past week, the high temps have been in the low 60's, until today where it must have got close to 80.

I have not had time to get bored.  We are glad to be home and to see our daughter and family again.  Richard and Nancy fly here on 5/16 to take the boat to Western Lake Superior. 

We are still looking ahead to 2009 and what we do.  Current plans are to go to New Zealand and Australia in January but do not know if we will also take our boat back to the Bahamas.  Fuel prices in this area are about $4.80/gal which is worse than when we left Marsh Harbour.  The fuel prices on the Sassafras are about $1.00 per gallon higher than what we have seen elsewhere.  Needless to say, we will avoid purchasing fuel for our boat here. 

Accompanying are a couple of photos from the trip north:

A typical evening cocktail party on Dock 6, Boat Harbour marina.

A ship coming towards us as we crossed the Gulf Stream to Florida.

We had to stop again for a Trident Submarine going to sea down the St. Marys River.  The tug behind served as an escort, along with other armed patrol craft and helicopters.

Superior Lady at anchor off Cumberland Island, Georgia.

An old Carnegie Estate, now part of the National Park system on Cumberland Island, Georgia.

The Coast Guard boarding party leaving Superior Lady near Georgetown, SC.

At the Norfolk Navy base.  I believe this is a British aircraft carrier designed for the Harrier vertical take off and landing fighters.  A US nuclear powered carrier is in the back ground.