Season 3 starts with our longest passage to date – Deltaville, Va at the bottom of the Rapahannock River to the Abacos Islands, Bahamas.
4.5 days/800nm. Thankfully, we had the help of our friends Mike and Holly to make watches easier and days more entertaining.
Our planned route involved heading out the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay, hugging the coast until below Cape Hatteras and then making a left turn and heading about 100 miles offshore to cross the Gulf Stream. You don’t want to linger in the Gulf Stream because it rushes north and if the wind opposes it you get big ugly seas. Also, if you are heading south, as we were, you need to get out of it because it just keeps trying to push you back north. So we got across in one piece and turned south for the Bahamas.
Eventually, the air and water warmed and we swapped the sweatshirts and long pants for shorts and T shirts. The fish started biting and all was good. We safely landed at Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos Islands of Bahamas completing our longest passage to date and immediately began enjoying the warm, clear water. We were also greeted by Rob & Rose on R&R Kedger who had set sail from Moorehead, NC and with whom we kept in contact via SSB throughout our passage. Big kudos to R&R for doing their passage doublehanded.
The locals in the Abacos are laid back and friendly and the pace is is deliberate and slow. We are back on island time, and loving it.
Sailing on Neko 
It’s great to be warm again, isn’t?! We get dibs on Mike and Holly for the next big passage! 🙂
Glad you all made it to down to the Bahamas safely! Sounds fun to be “winter birds!”
You guys are all looking good back in the warm weather. Can’t wait to read more of your insights and of course see all of those fabulous pictures. Hugs to you and pass some on to Mike & Holly & Rose & Rob. Miss all your friendly faces around here.
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