Phase One Done

Yesterday afternoon St. Augustine inlet came into focus on the horizon. We had left West End on Grand Bahama in the Abacos Wednesday at 8 AM. What followed was the fastest 240 mile passage yet and also the most comfortable.

What?! Most often when the wind picks up and we increase speed so also the waves increase but this time our burst of speed was due to catching the Gulf Stream. It was a downwind sail with barely enough wind to justify having the sails raised and yet we were cruising along at 10-11 knots. We were motor sailing for a significant portion of the time, but with motors and no wind Kairos5 averages 6 knots. The Gulf Stream gave us a boost of 4-5 knots and it was awesome!

 

The passage also included dolphins playing at our bow (our first time!), cribbage games, a close call with a motor yacht in the night (respect the sailboat, man!), and our 14th anniversary. Not the typical anniversary celebration but definitely a memorable one.

We tied up to a mooring ball at the municipal marina after navigating St. Augustine’s inlet and the Bridge of Lions, which was our first drawbridge experience and they only opened one side! And then it was time for food – our provisions are significantly depleted. The last two weeks have consisted of noting the last of cheese, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, cereal, canned beans, canned meat, popcorn, herbs and spices, etc. Can you image the elation to have gigantic slices of pizza and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for dinner?

We showered at the marina’s facilities (so much hot water!) and full of contentment, slept soundly. On Monday, Kairos5 will be hauled out of the water to have her engines replaced. We anticipate she will be on the hard for 1-2 weeks. While Volvo is replacing the engines we will be tackling the refit list that has been constantly growing since moving aboard. It is daunting and exciting. The next three days will be full of boat prep to ready her for hauling, replenishing food supplies, catching up with friends, and recuperating from the final push to arrive in FL before June 1.

Over the last four months, whenever we were asked what our plans were, our answer always started with, “well, we need to be in FL by June 1.”

Phase one – done!