Chinook's Great Loop

[Flightfollowing]

Chinook, great blog and really informative, it helps me plan my keys trips. This may be a dumb question, but I have a difficult time figuring out where you are each day, or from where to where you went? Is this info somewhere that I am missing it other than reading for it in the text, or can you include it in your loop log?

[Chinook]

I didn't include the date of each post at the start, but it is now in the day's title. By way of progress report, we crossed the Gulf Stream today, from Angelfish Cut to Bimini. Very bouncy trip, with light breeze and swells on the nose. Forecast had them more out of the southeast, and I'd hoped to motor sail with the jib, but that didn't work out, so we got jolted with 2 to 3 foot seas, very close together, and occasional 4 or 5 footers. Not pleasant, but we made it, and we're glad to be here, all checked in with Immigration and Customs. Got some rest to catch up on, since my day started at 2:30am.

[ris]

Glad you got across all right. How long did it take you to make it? Have a great time.

[Sumner]

Great news . I've been thinking about your guys all day. That is a crossing to be thankful that it is done and you are there safe. Thanks for reporting in,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Chinook]

We left Angelfish at 3am and got in around 1:30pm, so make it 10 1/2 hours. Distance was 68 statute miles. Nice angle with the Gulf Stream, starting out that far south. Gulf Stream velocity is apparently a bit lower than usual right now. The SE component to wind didn't take shape, so for the most part we had wind and seas on the nose. Wind fairly light, and seas in the 2 to 4 foot range, but closely spaced, so the ride was uncomfortable a good amount of time. We were very glad to get in. Lots of boats were converging on the marinas here. Several made the crossing from No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne. I think we were the only one coming across from Angelfish. I had wanted to troll a lure coming across, hoping for a mahi mahi, but I didn't want to have to deal with a fish in the choppy water. I'll get better chances later. Not sure how long we'll hang out in Bimini. I definitely want more comfortable conditions for the long passage across the Great Bahama Banks.

[Highlander]

Great to hear u made a safe crossing , I guess u would have just powered @ hull speed in that chop so as not to pound the hull & urselfs , were u,s able to keep reasonably dry , how much fuel u use on that crossing , wish I was there on my boat , hope the rest of ur trip is more pleasurable weather wise

Cheers J

[Chinook]

We cruised at 2800 rpm, which gives us around 6 mph without wind or current. We actually averaged over 7 mph most of the way, with the helpful push of the Gulf Stream, coming out of Angelfish Cut. Fuel consumption was quite modest, around 8 gallons I'm estimating, which gave us around 8 mph. Little hard to say because I had the previous day's run to factor in as well. We didn't pound too often, but did spend hours on end hobby horsing up and down in the closely spaced swells. Kicking up good splash as the hull hit the next swell, but no pounding. I don't like running at high speed because it eats up fuel so badly. At full throttle my gas mileage probably drops down to 3 mph or even slightly lower.

[Spector]

Hey Mike and Sandy,
It's been great following along on your adventures, particularly after meeting you both and seeing your boat at the BWY Rendezvous last year.

Not sure what your itinerary is but we are going to be on Cat Island Bahamas visiting friends (no boat, I wish. Flying in) Feb 23-Mar 3. If it works please drop by and I promise cold beers and maybe even hot showers.

approx coordinates are 24°40' 02.71N 75°44' 41.79W from Google earth.

We'll be in Nassau for a couple of days after this too

Wishing you continued safe travels
Alan and Belinda
Cenoté

[Chinook]

Thanks for the invite, but alas, we won't be going as far out as Cat Island on this trip. We were there in 2011, and it was a great place. Be sure and visit Fr. Jerome's monastery on top of the big hill. It's amazing. To get to Cat, you have to cross the Gulf Stream (60 mile passage), cross the Great Bahama Banks (85 mile passage), cross the Northwest Channel (30 mile passage), cross the Yellow Banks (35 mile passage), cruise the length of the Exumas (110 mile passage), cross Exuma Sound (30 mile passage), then cruise up along Long Island and then reach Cat Island (another 30 or 40 mile passage). Lot of open exposed passages, and this time of year strong winds and rough seas interfere with movement for a great deal of time. We'll also be passing Nassau up. Been there once, saw the sights, and glad we did it, but it's quite hectic and not as secure as elsewhere in the Bahamas (typical urban crime issues). I've talked with Todd about putting together a slide show after we return in September. Perhaps Todd will organize some sort of get together and I can tell the tale of the Great Loop. Have a great time on your trip to the Bahamas. Look forward to catching up with you again in the Northwest.

[dlandersson]

Slide show would be way cool

[1st Sail]

I'll admit. I haven't missed a day and thus traveled every mile.
Thank you for sharing.

[C Buchs]

Perhaps Todd will organize some sort of get together and I can tell the tale of the Great Loop. Have a great time on your trip to the Bahamas. Look forward to catching up with you again in the Northwest.

I'm 180 miles south of Seattle, but would make the trip to hear you "tell the tale of the Great Loop"

Jeff

[Chinook]

The real trick is figuring out how to reduce 6,000 miles and 13 months of cruising into a managable length program.

[1st Sail]

I totally disagree. I think a GoPro mounted on the bow and streaming to an on board 4tb NAS drive then uploaded to the cloud would suffice. For us northerners with our trailer wheels frozen to the ground we have nothing else to do but live real time vicariously thru you. For those with shorter attention spans and lack of dedication to live on a Mac they can fast forward. Problem solved. And add the wireless head set so you can narrate while under sail or power. Just remind your wife you are not actually talking to yourself.

have to go now and log on to http://chinook.cecka.us and get my fix.
Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.
We are shopping motor homes now to pull our Mac to all the great reservoirs and lakes of the US.

[Sumner]

Mike congrats on making it to Morgans Bluff.

How does that look as a place to check into the Bahama's. I'd been considering Chub Cay but it looks like the marina there charges you $100 to go ashore there . I see the charts say that there is a Port of Entry at Morgans Bluff.

Stay safe and keep dodging the storms,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links