Chinook is Bahamas Bound

[Chinook]

Tomorrow morning we'll be pulling out of the marina here at Alice Town, North Bimini. It will be a short move, around to the northeast side of North Bimini, where there's a strategically located anchorage. It's only usable when the wind is south or west, and that is the prediction for the next 2 days. We plan on staying there for the day and night tomorrow, and weather permitting, will get up very early, around 3 or 4 am, and take off on our Grand Bahama Banks crossing. The distance is 80 miles, so we need to start early if we hope to make it before dark. Many cruisers end up anchoring out on the Banks, but I just don't like the idea of being anchored with no land for 30 or 40 miles in any direction, especially with how the Mac bounces around in the slightest chop when at anchor. After our crossing, we plan to explore the Berry Islands for a week or so, and will probably be out of communication until we reach Nassau. We'll play catch up then.

[Hamin' X]

God bless and enjoy.

~Rich

[fishstalker7]

Thanks for a great Saturday night read! Have a great time and thank you for your updates...living the adventure in spirit with you!

[1st Sail]

I'm nine days behind reading your posts. Have a safe trip. Keep those cards and letters coming (blog). 27F here today and Ole' Miss river is at flood stage. Have to go (read).

[fouz]

Thanks for posting. Really Enjoy reading it.

[vulcan98]

Been reading your posts. Your updates bring a smile to my face. Love to make a trip like yours one day soon. Have fun and a safe adventure. Keep the post coming.

[Chinook]

Hi all,

This will be short. I'm on a very twitchy wifi connection. We had an excellent crossing of the Great Bahama Banks, 82 miles in one day, and sailed 3 1/2 hours on a reach, making 5 knots before the wind failed and we had to motor. We're cruising in the Berry Islands right now. Detailes will show up in the posts, but be prepared to read about conch, lobster and grouper on the menu. More later.

Mike and Sandy on Chinook in the Bahamas

[roger]

Thank you very much for the log. Mike if you don't mind, how much fuel are you carrying? How much did you need after the 55 mile crossing?
Thanks

[Chinook]

We are carrying 36 gallons of gas. We have a pair of 12 gallon tempo tanks, and also have a pair of 5 gallon jerry cans mounted on the stern platform, and another 2 gallon plastic can stored under the steering seat. We filled at Bimini and again here in Nassau today. Used 21 gallons coming from Bimini to the Berrys, cruising the Berrys for nearly a week, and crossing over to Nassau. We averaged 7.4 gallons per mile for this period, and this included several extended sailing periods. We were at 2800 rpm at most during the motoring times, making around 6 knots most times. We have weathered 2 major storms while at anchor, one of which had winds clocked at around 40 knots. That one hit at 2 am and we were all by ourselves. Long night, that one. We made our 3rd major crossing yesterday, from the Berrys to Nassau. We went a day earlier than originally planned, because the weather was especially favorable for a Saturday crossing. We're parked at the Nassau Harbour Club marina right now and expect to stay here for 3 days. Provisioning, clean up, and sightseeing are on the agenda. Several other big cruising boats are here, and like us, bound for the Exumas. A nasty storm is forecast for this coming Tuesday night, and we'll probably all hang here until Wednesday, and then, if the weather cooperates, we'll constitute a cruisers flotilla, crossing the Yellow Banks for the Exumas. We've had excellent conditions on the first 3 crossings, and I'd really like to go 4 for 4. Stay tuned, and we'll fill you in. I think the website is posted up through 3/26, and I just e'mailed entries and photos to son Ken for dates through 4/3. Hopefully he'll get them up soon.

Mike and Sandy aboard Chinook

[Chinook]

We're pulling out of Nassau Harbour Club Marina in the morning. Nice visit here, and the boat is all provisioned up and ready to head for the Exumas. Our next crossing will be the shortest of the 4 it takes to get to the Exumas, around 30 nm. We have modest NE winds forecast, so conditions should be favorable. We'll be out of communication for a while, probably until we reach Georgetown, but check the website in the meantime. I've sent a bunch of journal entries and pictures to my son, and he will be updating the website as his time allows.

Cheers, Mike and Sandy on board Chinook

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Very, very interesting...!

[Chinook]

Hello again,

We're moored at Wardrick Wells, the headquarters for the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. This is kind of the Yellowstone of the Bahamas, a real gem of a place. We've been slowly working our way down the Exuma chain over the past week. We had a great crossing from Nassau to reach the Exumas, sailed a reach for 4 or 5 hours, making up to 6 knots. Since arriving, we are averaging about 7 miles per day, on the days we move. The Mac is made for these waters. We park in water as thin as 1 or 2 feet below keel at low tide. The weather has been outstanding here thus far. Next week is supposed to get a bit windier, but since we're able to stay inside, we'll be out of the swell, and I'll just adjust sails for a comfort level as we work our way southeast in a predicted east wind of 15 to 18 knots. Internet is spottily available around here, and I'm on a time limit here. Keep checking the website for journal updates. I just e'mailed my son the journal updates since leaving Nassau. I won't be able to send him pictures for a few more days, and then he will need some time to post them, but be advised, some good stuff is coming.

Enjoy, Mike Cecka - Chinook

[Trouts Dream]

I really loved my life....till I started reading your journals.

Looking forward to the updates.

[Québec 1]

Mike,
Thanks for posting your trip . You are my most viewed favorite. Your posts are great including your location markings at every post. Wonderful.

I AM SO ENVIOUS I COULD CRY BUT I WON'T...I'll just do it!
Keep up the good work , but please don't make me cry.
Q1

[Chinook]

Hi All,

We've made it to George Town, our goal for this cruise and our intended turn around point. We've cruised 535 nautical miles thus far, and the run down the Exumas was outstanding. Great sailing, great snorkeling, and all kinds of water and anchorages that just seem made for the shallow draft Mac. I only used 10 gallons of gas between Nassau and here, a distance of 177 nautical miles by our route. We sailed better than 60 percent of the way, and had some of the best sails ever. The last run, day before yesterday, took us outside onto Exuma Sound for about 10 miles. The run through the cut was pretty wild, with water breaking on reefs to either side, and some breaking swells in our way. Really glad I had that 50 to bull our way through. Outside, we sailed on a close reach in 5 foot swells with 12 to 15 knots, single reefed main and full genoa, making 4.5 to 5 knots, and 15 to 20 degrees of heel. Good control, and a very nice sail. George Town is a major cruisers hangout. We'll be here for a week or so. We just happened to arrive in time for Family Regatta, which is a big deal around here. The locals race their homemade Exuma racing boats, and it's supposed to be great fun, with some spectacular racing on slender boats with big masts, booms and sails. We intend on pulling out next Thursday, weather permitting, for Long Island as we begin making our way back toward home, taking an out island route via Cat and Eleuthra Islands. I understand the website is updated to the start of our Exuma cruise, and the Exumas should be up fairly soon. More later.

Mike and Sandy aboard Chinook