Bahamas - Ragged Island, Hog Cay to USA - Florida, West Palm Beach, Our Grandchild is born

Our FlyBridge installed, I spent 2 days ashore cleaning the beach where Nicholas had had his workshop. In the meantime, Nicholas prepped Meshugga for sailing as we’d been in the Hog Cay/Little Ragged Cay area for more than 6 months. 

A few items needed stowing and the FlyBridge properly lashed on.

Another Full Moon, our last night at Hog Cay

On Wednesday 23 June, at first light, we hoisted our full Main and Genoa

Our new Fly Bridge

We left early morning so that we could cross the Bahamas Bank and get into the Tongue of the Ocean before nightfall

Rising sun over Hog Cay as we sailed away

Having just left Hog Cay, we are crossing the Great Bahama Bank mostly with a depth of 2m.

Nicholas on watch for Coral Heads

We’ve crossed the bank, exiting the Bank thru the Lark Channel. It’s 18:44 and we’re sail into the Tongue of the Ocean which is 1000-2000 meters deep. We’ll sail north overnight thru the Tongue.

Thursday 24 June, arriving at Morgans Bluff on the NE corner of Andros Island.

We went ashore at 2pm to clear out of Customs, who had very created an quaint Outdoor setting, a picnic table had been set up under a large tree next to the Customs office, to ensure adhering to Covid outdoor restrictions, as their office was rather small…..

We spent the night at Morgans Bluff and early morning we headed out, a short sail north in the Tongue and then back onto the Bank at Chubb Cay. 

This is the stake in the water on a small reef close to Chubb Cay, marking the beginning of the Mackie Shoal Channel.

We followed the Mackie Channel and we had numerous power yachts roaring past us all headed for Bahamas Islands

On Friday 25 June, in the Mackie Channel and still in Cell range, we had an excited phone call from our son, Kieran in San Francisco that our First Grandchild had been born, Mazeltov! Welcome Arden! A beautiful little girl!

In the NorthWest Providence Channel we found numerous Cruise Ships at anchor. All the blue symbols on the chart below are Cruise Ships

A few Cruise Ships that we sailed past

Goodbye Bahamas. This is the remnants of my Bahamian Flag

Heading for West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Peanut Island, at the entrance of West Palm Beach inlet

Fun decorated Industry Tanks

We cleared into the USA on the CBP ROAM App, and as we’re not an American yacht we have to physically go to Customs to present our documentation and receive a Cruising Permit. There is no cost for the Permit, just takes about 20 minutes of your time. Officials are most professional and courteous.

Our arrival was met with a quick heavy rain shower followed by this awesome rainbow.

On Monday 28 June, after clearing into Customs our first objective was to get our Covid shot. A trip to Walgreens, as a Walk-in it took about 15 minutes for paperwork to be captured on their computer. ID required, but no problem that we are foreigners. Pfizer first shot done ! Yay !

Bahamas - Ragged Island, Hog Cay, FlyBridge Awning is Complete

It’s finally time, and the FlyBridge is finished ! YAY !

Below is a collage of photos of the manufacture and hoisting of the FlyBridge onto Meshugga.

Frame ashore and 1st wood panels

More wood

Wood complete and trimmed with access holes/windows

 

Glue perimeter piping

Getting the perimeter curve fair

Bonds underside for glassing

Bonds to edge and glass pipe

Perimeter pipe glass complete

Deidre Assisting

Window edge mold with glass layup

Cutting windows and installing edging

Ready for glass

First Top Layer

Second Top Layer complete

Frame to support when flipped

Support base

Underside - window trim

Underside Gelcoat

Installing tie-down loops from the top

Tie-down Loops (pipe for size)

Finishing window trim

Solar Panel Supports

GelCoat

Lifting Ropes

Onto Hobie

Fenders for perimeter floatation

Nicholas walked the FlyBridge floating on the Hobie and Fenders to an area of the beach where there were no rocks and we could bring Meshugga in close to the beach

Flybridge tied off overnight in front of the Yacht Club

Whilst the FlyBridge was floating, Nicholas disassembled the Frame, and took it back to Meshugga

Aboard Meshugga, he re-assembled the frame and pop-riveted the frame back together with 316 stainless steel rivets.

Start of the hoist

Liberating Fenders

Nearly there

Moving to Center

Final Adjustments

Lashing down

Complete (except for windows, solar panels and electrics)

Looking good

Thanks to Larry on Restless for the Drone photos and Hi-Res photos taken from the Yacht Club during our hoist.