Crossing to the Bahamas!!!!

Finally, the weather forecasts say that the weather will clock around. The forecast says that east winds will subside and Thurs or Friday come to SE. Briefly to S before coming around again to N. We are ready. As it goes the forecasts change and it looks like the winds might be affected by a "trough" bringing "much needed rain" to Fla. but the wind is still forecast to be SE maybe E SE but there is a south component and 10 - 15K so not too bad. Plus the next weather window probably will not be for 10 days to 2 weeks. We hauled up anchor and headed for the inlet. There are nice anchorages very close to the inlet which will allow for easy navigating in the predawn hours . The skies were rather grey as we were leaving but we optimistically ignored this. Just before we found a spot to anchor the skies opened. We figured this was a brief shower but the rain continued off and on till evening. Our friends and companions for this crossing on "Memory "had completed repairs and anchored close by. We decided not to visit for cocktails since it was raining. Hard. After discussion in even harder rain with building winds, we decided that a 3am crossing to get the 70 miles to Mangrove Cay might be really ambitious. We decided on the closer West End and a 6 am departure. At eleven that night we were awakened by howling winds and a deluge. We were reminded of the leaks which needed repair. Although we knew that we should allow for the seas to settle, we thought that we might still try to get across. The winds were at least E SE . There was no other window in sight. At 6am the winds were not too high and the forecast was for them to come around more SE and diminish. Out the inlet we went navigating by flashlight and optimism. Big rollers on the way out but that is usually the case with inlets. Unfortunately the rollers just got a bit choppier and closer together. They stayed at about 4 feet and higher. But the forecast was for improving and while it wasn't comfortable it wasn't too awful so we decided to continue. As you might suppose the winds came up the waves got higher and we took to hobby horsing as is usually only seen in the rodeo. We were able to assure our friends that the paint on their boat bottom was in great shape . Additionally it rained heavily. We took heavy seas over the bow and rocked side to side when we weren't hobby horsing. Tom was nonplussed. I was seasick. But the gulf stream was an extraordinary color blue and there were flying fish all around. Eventually, we went past the half way point . Then closer to the Bahamas than Fla. At about 10 miles from West End we could start to see something on the horizon. At about 5 miles out the land was clearly visible the seas were less choppy. The wind and our course remained E SE but we knew we were practically there. We entered the break water put up our yellow quarantine flag and called the dock in a blessedly calm basin. The Old Bahama Bay Dock answered with " A pleasant good evening to you captain how may we help" in a lovely island lilt. We are here!!!!!! Everything in the boat is a soggy mess but we are here! We celebrated with cocktails on the dock as we are not supposed to leave our boats until we clear customs and it was 5 when we arrived. We clear customs tomorrow and set off for the Sea of Abaco. I guess we wait for customs But" no problem" right? I hope you have a pleasant good day and a pleasant good evening .