December 22, 2003
Atlantic Ocean

After we have left Nancy and Randy's hospitable house we spent couple of nights at the nearby anchorage off the Key Rodriguez. Our plan is to cross the Gulf Streem as soon as we can so we can spend our Christmas on some picturess island in the Bahamas. The weather had plans on its own and cold fronts were sweeping Florida in close succesions keeping the winds in a North - North East directions. For a comfortable crossing of the Gulf stream currents we would need South winds instead, but it wasn't given to us and we bobbed on the forementioned anchorage waiting unpatiently. I kept myself bussy installing our newly arrived solar panels curtesy James Vanderloo. Sunday evening Randy, bless his heart showed up to see if we're still alive and well. He is the kindest man we could have met. He encouraged us to make te crossing regardless of te wind direction, providing it's not blowing over 20 knots. Well, last night it was and forecast for tonight was also dim with it's small craft advisory for high seas. Next day however brought some hope. The forecast called for moderate winds changing in the morning to the East. Furthermore we met a Canadian family consisting of 3 lovely yung boys, husband and a brave wife who were very upbeat and ready to cross to the Bahamas themselves this very night. Their enthusiasm was contagous, as entusiasm often is and we started to psyhe ourselves out for our first overniht sailing. Three cheers for the tough Canadians!

Surely enough later on in the afternoon our friendly companions gave us a shout over the VHF and we started to move towards Molasses Reef. The plan was to wait at the mooring balls scatered around the reef and later on in the night sail out to make the Bahamas the next day. I was getting really excited hearing the sound of the water under our hull again after such a long however pleasent brake.

Imagine our surprise when after a while we realised our Canadian friends were heading right back in our direction. Passing us by they radioed us to let us know they decided to wait another night for the seas to com down a bit after seeing some waves over the reef. Johannes and I would have none of that we psyched ourselves all day for this crossing and we didn't want to hang on this anchorage another day if we could help. Without any stoping we zipped across the reef and head out into the Ocean watching big orange head of the Sun slowely laying to rest on a puffy clouds scattered on the horizon.

(M)