The Crossing - Goodbye Bahamas

On Friday morning at 7:00 we released the docklines and sadly said goodbye to the Bahamas. Our visit of just a few days short of 4 months had been everything we’d hoped for (and more). Along with buddy boats Second Star and Czech Mate we had an uneventful crossing taking exactly 9 hours. No fish, no waves, no problems. We entered the Lake Worth Inlet and docked at the Riviera Beach Municipal Marina. There is a Customs and Immigration Office right next door to the marina. Oh wait – that didn’t matter. They closed promptly at 4:00 and we were a few minutes late. We called the Florida Small Vessel Call Center (CVCC) and, after providing all the necessary clearance information, got our “special return number”. We were told we had 24 hours to report in person to Immigration. Since the office by the marina was not open on Saturday, our only choice was taking a taxi to the airport to clear in with them. When they tell you to go to the airport, they don’t really mean the main airport, but Customs does not tell you that. Fortunately, our cab driver knew where to take us (the private plane terminal across from the main airport). Once there, it only took as a few minutes, but we were out $80 for the taxi ride and $15 for temporarily docking at the marina. (NOTE: There is now a new system in place called the Small Vessel Reporting System (SVRS). Before departing, you visit the Dept. of Homeland Security and obtain a SVRS card to come back into the US after returning from the Bahamas. This eliminates the need to report in person. Only a phone call is needed. Unfortunately, this system was not in place when we left.)

After our long day we all decided we needed a treat. Before returning to the boats, we stopped by the Tiki Waterfront Sea Grill adjoining the marina and had a burger and a couple of cold ones to celebrate our return to the states. We were pleasantly surprised with the cost – much cheaper than the Bahamas. After that we made the short 5 mile run to our anchorage where we found other MTOA’ers, also on their way to the Rendezvous.

Over the next few days we’ll try to acclimate to life back in the states and later, after some reflecting, post our overall impressions and thoughts about our experiences in the Bahamas.

Michael and Jana on Second Star leaving the dock at Old Bahama Bay

Jack on Czech Mate (another Monk 36) followed us out

Goodbye Bahamas - we'll miss your beauty and unhurried, simple life style

We followed Second Star out the channel and into the ocean

We were treated to a beautiful sunrise, our last in the Bahamas
(for now)

We didn't see much during the crossing .. a few freighters ....

.... and another .... it kept the guys busy checking their AIS systems to
make sure we wouldn't collide

We saw lots of incredibly blue deep water

A shot looking back.  Seas were less than 2 feet.

We stayed close to our buddy boats, Czech Mate on the left
and Second Star on the right

This photo is courtesy of Jana on Second Star.  They had a huge
pod of over 20 dolphin playing at their bow.

Before we knew it, we saw tall buildings .....

Lots of people on the beach ....

and boats and bridges.

...and all too soon, our Bahamian adventure was over (but we have the memories)