Chinook is Bahamas Bound

[Chinook]

Hi all,

We're riding at anchor just off the Old Bahama Bay Marina beach at West End, Grand Bahama Island. Early tomorrow morning we'll hoist anchor and head back across the Gulf Stream for Florida. We'll steer for St. Lucie Inlet, which will give us a nice angle to the wind and current. We have ESE wind at 12 knots forecast, which should make for excellent crossing conditions. The only wild card is the possibility of thunder squalls, with short term winds of up to 40 knots. Hopefully we'll not have to tangle with one of those. We did get dowsed with a good rain shower just as we approached West End. In addition, we spotted a very nicely developed water spout, about 2 miles away. I got some nice pictures, which I'll post with the journal when I get the chance. It's been a great cruise, but some killjoy once said that all good things must come to an end. We are nearing the end of this one. We'll keep you posted on the final water miles, as well as the long drive home.

Mike and Sandy aboard Chinook

[Chinook]

Hi All,

We made our Gulf Stream crossing on Saturday, under near ideal conditions. Light southerly wind, seas nearly calm. And, I finally caught a mahi mahi. Nice fish, about 45 inches long. We're eating good now. We entered St. Lucie Inlet and spent the night anchored in Manatee Pocket, and then came up the ICW to Fort Pierce on Sunday. Boat is now back on the trailer, washed and ready for the return drive. We'll get last journal updates posted as soon as we're able.

[NiceAft]

Welcome Home.


Ray

[bscott]

Great news on the safe crossing and best wishes for a safe interstate voyage

Bob

[opie]

I just found the link to click on your bwy website (just below the title) where you can see every story on one page without clicking each date each time you want to go to a different date. Wow, just what I was wanting, but was too polite to complain about. VERY NICE.

[Sumner]

We finally returned from Florida last Friday after leaving home in Feb.. We had a great 3+ months, but it was also good to be back home.

Mike and Sandy stopped by our place a couple days later and spent the night. We had a great visit with them.

Hope you guys made it home safe and thanks for sharing all of the pictures and info about the Bahamas You guys sure had a great trip.

Sum

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[Chinook]

Hi All,

We're home. Pulled in around 5pm today, and Chinook is once again securely moored on her trailer in our lower driveway. We were gone exactly 100 days, drove a total of 7533 miles round trip, and cruised 1100 nautical miles. We were fortunate in so many ways. No vehicle/trailer/towing problems whatsoever on the entire trip. Not even a new rock chip in the windshield. The boat performed extremely well throughout the cruise. The few problems which cropped up were either fixed or worked around, and no issues involved critical systems. We found ourselves in sync with the weather patterns in most cases. We made something like 14 major crossings of large, open water and all but one took place in ideal or near ideal conditions. The only less than ideal crossing was merely uncomfortable (wind on the nose and a fair amount of spray), but not cause for concern. We never really got stuck or pinned down by weather. We slowed down for a couple of days before heading out to Conception, and we hurried up by a day on our way to George Town, to stay ahead of some predicted wind. Other than that, we were able to move when we wanted to. It can't really get any better than that.

As Sum mentions above, we did stop by and visit him and Ruth on our way home. It was a delightful visit, and we really enjoyed getting personally acquainted. Thanks to both Sum and Ruth for your great hospitality.

I've got a fairly good list of little fixes and upgrades as a result of the trip. Once we get unpacked and give the boat a thorough cleaning inside and out, I'll be able to go to work on them. I hope to have the final journal entries and pictures posted on the website in the near future. I'll post here when the final entries are available.

[mastreb]

Fantastic! I envy you folks. It'll be 30 years before I can take 100 days off.

[bwharkin]

Your journal is an inspiration to all of us. My wife, son and I will be following in your foot steps......one day.
Will you be posting an route map on your blog site.

Ben

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Your journal is an inspiration to all of us.

Ben

Yes indeed.

Glad the Chinook performed well as in prior extended trips, confirming the "Mac" will do a fine vacationing trip with an experienced CREW and proper planning.

Thanks Mike and Sandy for providing the trip details...it's entertainment first class.

[DaveB]

Welcome back!
Looking forward to the rest of the trip. You must have had someone looking after you for such a good weather trip and no mishaps. You picked the perfect time of the year for your cruise ending at beginning of Hurricane Season.
Dave

[Chinook]

I'll be putting on a power point program for the Blue Water Yachts rendezvous which takes place later this month. I'll be including some chart info showing our route for that program. I'll try posting the route here once I get it made and photographed.

[fishheadbarandgrill]

How about making the PPT presentation available for download?

[Chinook]

I'll have to take things one step at a time. Just doing the powerpoint challenges me, and I've got lots to catch up on around here. We'll see what's possible.

[pokerrick1]

You have work to do at home How come

Rick