Isla Mujeres towards Fort Lauderdale End of Day 5

These Blog entries are edited versions of the messages we sent back as we completed the passage.  They were sent by radio using a laptop that controls a modem and the HF/SSB radio, using the SailMail system.  We sent the messages daily to my daughter Charlotte and she then forwarded them on to a list of family members.

0745hrs (EDT, GMT -4) 17 May 2020

Dear All,

Since midnight we have only run the engine for an hour and half.  The rest of the time we sailed and it was good sailing too with the wind on our beam.  For part of that time we had a bit of a boost from the Gulf Stream, even seeing a maximum of 9.5 knots at one stage.  So much so that I had to slow BV down so that we didn't arrive off the entrance to Fort Lauderdale too soon.

Miami

The sail up the Florida coast was interesting with the bright city lights of Miami off to our port side and a dramatic lightning display way off in the distance to our starboard side over the Bahamas

Dawn looking out towards the Bahamas…

… and towards the Florida coastline

A rather grey sky for our early morning approach through Bar Cut, the entrance to Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale

We just made it in time for the 0730hrs opening of the Stranahan River bridge

In hindsight slowing BV down was a mistake and we only just made it through the entrance and up to the SE 17^th Street bascule bridge across the Stranahan River a minute before the 0730hrs lift!  A few minutes beyond the bridge is Richie and Susan Goldstein's house.  They have very kindly allowed us to moor BV on one of their 2 docks whilst we make our final preparations and wait for a good weather window to set off towards Guernsey.

So now that we have arrived, our priority is to complete the arrivals paperwork with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office.  That's partly done using a smartphone app (the CBP ROAM app) followed up by a trip to the CBP office to get our passports stamped and the boat documentation completed.  If we can get all of that admin done today, Sunday, that will be a bonus, leaving us free on Monday and Tuesday to refuel, top up our in-use propane tank and to buy in some fresh food.  Right now there is a possibility that we might be on our way again starting our transatlantic crossing as early as Wednesday.

Love to all,

Reg and Nicky 

Passage statistics:
Position at 0745hrs 17 May: N26 06 W80 07
Position at midnight 17 May: n/a
Midday to 0745hrs distance: 130 nautical miles (average 6.6 knots)
Midnight to 0745hrs distance: 49.2 nautical miles (average 6.3 knots)
Total miles covered:  559 nautical miles
Approximate distance to go (GPS route to Fort Lauderdale): 0 nautical miles

End of Day 5  Isla Mujeres, Mexico, towards Fort Lauderdale, USA