AMBITION - Merril et Cindy aux Bahamas

Message reçu de Merrill - ils prévoient quitter les Bahamas vendredi en direction de la Floride - Retour au Lac Champlain vers la fin mai

Unfortunately our Bahamas adventure is rapidly coming to a close as we point the bow northward. On Tuesday a friend of ours will join us for some much needed help to do the 24 hour per day runs, that are ahead of us. Wednesday we will leave Marsh Harbour, Abacos and sail to Great Sale Cay in the northern Bahamas where we will spend our last night at anchor on Thursday.

The weather preditions look good leaving Great Sale Cay on Friday morning and heading the 80 miles out to the Gulf Stream - kind of like a north flowing river in the ocean that moves at 1.5 to 3 miles per hour. This does much to improve our speed over the boittom as we normally sail at 6 to 7 miles per hour when I get everything adjusted just perfect - right it is a sailboat - perfection is rare!

Our destination will be determined by weather but we are targeting for Charleston SC or Beaufort NC - if the weather gods are with us!

Cindy and I have decided that we will bring Ambition all the way back to Lake Champlain with an expected arrival in late May.

This winter has been an absolutely spectaular sabbatical, the weather has been great, we have met some fantastic fellow sailors from the US and Canada and we have been treated to some fantastic experiences by many local folks - especially the gang at Norman's Cay Beach Club who gave us the thrill of deep sea fishing for mahi mahi.

The 3rd generation lighthouse keeper at Hope Town who let us witness the "lighting of the wick" at one of the worlds last kerosene lit lighthouses. Of course we cant forget the crazy dock master in Nassau who arranged for us to have an up close and personal visit with the Bahamas Defense Force - its OK ... no one went to jail - Roxanne did a great job of difusing the tension! Cindy has become a fan of a fellow called Brown Tip - the best local Rake and Scrape performer - all the music possible from dragging a knife along the teeth of a Craftmans wood saw - during the day Brown Tip rakes and scrapes boat bottoms - multi-talented folks!

The sailing has been delightful as we scooted across water that is at times only 6 feet deep - considering we need almost 5 to float in, it is a little hair-raising but being able to see the bottom all the time is great fun. On some days it was so calm and smooth we counted starfish as we drifted along - I think a few passed us we were going so slow! On other days we sailed in water 15,000 feet deep where you could not see land in any direction.

Thanks for reading along this winter as we have played in the salt water, sun and surf. Cindy and I look forward to catching up you when we get home.

Cheers!

Cindy and Merrill

s/v Ambition