1st. timers

[Pura Vida]

This summer we had the priviledge of making our first visit to Abaco. We nervously crossed on our 25' Sea Ray from LWI. We traveled from West End to Spanish, Guana, MOW, GTC, and Elbow. We take 4 good vacations each year, and I belive that this trip was the most beautiful and enjoyable vacation we have ever experienced. Every new bay, we would all agree that had to be the most beautiful place on earth, and it is right here in our own back yard.

The comradarie of the cruisers and the local hospility is execeptional, and I cannot stop thinking about returning. A bigger boat is in the future, but for now we are very satisfied with Pura Vida and will be back soon.

Hope we can meet up with some friends from the board we we return.

Denny

[patw]

St. Augustine, huh? Wow, I used to live in Orange Park for over 30 years. I loved Anastasia State Park. Used to camp there and visit the beach almost every week-end. I've lived on Guana Cay for the last 2 and a half years. I want to take my husband to St. Augustine and play tourist for a day. He would love it.

[ModeratorTwo]

To take Sidney to Silver Springs and the glass bottom boat trip.;)

[Pura Vida]

I was in the state park today visiting Becky at Anastasia Adventures. There was a good amount of wind and we sailed all the way to St. Augustine pier.

St. Augustine has grown incredibly, but the island and downtown has not changed much.

I'm jeolus about living in Guana. That is by far the favorite island I have ever been to.

Denny:D

[patw]

I lived in Florida for over 30 years and I never went there! :o

To take Sidney to Silver Springs and the glass bottom boat trip.;)

[Pura Vida]

It took me 15 years to get to the Abacos. Now you won't be able to keep me away.

[DrRalph]

How was the weather on your crossings, how did your boat handle it?

[Pura Vida]

The weather on our way over from LWI was perfect. It was just good timing. The seas were less that 2' with 5 knot wind from the south. When we got out to the Gulf Streem it was flat and glassy.

The weather in Abaco during the week of the Regata was generally nice, but unstable, with a few days (Thursday -Sat) that had some really scarry squalls comming in from the West.

Thursday we were anchored in the Shallows in the lee of the light house for the afternoon at Hope Town when the big one came through. We were having lunch on at Captain Jacks and saw the large thunderheads and decided to get in our 10' inflatable and quickly get back out to the boat to avoid getting wet. By the time we got out of the harbor, the wind was comming in sidways directly from the west, through the Parrot keys at gail force. I feel confident that if our inflatable had not first filled up with water from the breaking seas and the rain we would have blown over. :eek: After a long, slow,wet dingy ride I was able to get my wife and 2 kids on to the boat, start the motor and ride out the storm in idle. On the VHF all we could here was madays from Hope town to Guana. It was a humbling experience, so we decided to go in get a mooing for the evening.

The following day we motored all the way to Spanish but there was no slips. After refueling we motored on, only to find squalls of gail force from Sale key to West End. We were lucky to get a slip at West End and ended up waiting for a good forecast and radar on Sunday and had a good crossing with no wind and a 3' following sea.


We spent 2 weeks there, and just loved it. Next time I'll have radar, and be more selective about my anchorages.
I can't wait to go back!

[DrRalph]

Quite the story! Radar is a big help when you're cruising the islands, it gives you some advance warning when trouble is coming. You can also watch the cells move and plan your course accordingly.