Stateside

Once we decided to head home, we started to think of weather windows. There is still so much of the Bahamas to see but once the decision was made we wanted to go. The weather had been great for a while but predictions called for tropical storms, squalls, and lightning forming South of us. It looked like the window was closing fast...and for about a week. We decided to go before it closed. That meant leave RIGHT NOW, a night crossing. Reports called for wind from SE at 13 -17 knots, building to 20-25 the following day. Seas 2-4 building to 4-6 feet, higher in the gulf stream. The forecasts seemed to indicate that we would make port before things got too strong. We departed Gun Cay at about 645PM and literally sailed into the setting sun. Great feeling! We had reefed the main and were zooming along at 6 1/2 knots before we even got the jib up. Waves were off the stern quarter and while on the 4 foot side of 2-4 they were ok. With the jib up we saw 8 knots consistently. We hadn't reached the Gulf Stream yet and I was nervous about what that would throw at us. But as Tom said " What a sail!" By about an hour after dark we were making 9 knots, but felt a little overpowered, so we reeled in the jib and sailed under just the reefed main - at 7 - 8 knots. We were flying. There was no moon, the stars were bright and we were appreciating the "exhilarating sail" . Unexpectedly, a voice sounded on the radio, hailing a vessel at so many degrees North and West . "This is the US Coast Guard please respond". We couldn't believe they wanted to talk to us but there was no one else around and it was our position so...We discussed the vessel's name and official numbers, length , passengers, contraband (or lack thereof), destination etc. By now the waves and wind were really "exhilarating" but the thought of turning into the wind and heaving to was daunting. After standing by for a while the CG said "thanks and have a safe trip. " Actually, it was kind of nice to know they were out there. Tom ,was having a glorious time surfing down the waves but it took a lot of steering. I was helpfully singing Beach Boys and Jan and Dean "surfing" songs to him to keep him awake. It was a beautiful night. However, the wind kept building, and the waves got bigger all the way to the coast. We were about a mile off Lake Worth Buoy before dawn . When we turned into the wind to douse the main, we slammed into waves that felt solid. Sailing down wind is better!! With first light we headed into the harbor , we had sailed 80 miles in under 11 hours mostly under a reefed main . Amazing , then we slept like logs.