Sail Miami to Alice Town, Bimini, Bahamas 19 Feb 2010

Yes, we finally crossed the Gulf Stream and are now in the Brown's Marina in Bimini. Checked conditions at the critical Fowey Rocks at 0330 hrs only to find that wind gusting to 18 kts - too much for the crossing. Checked again at 0530hrs and wind had lessened enough so by 0630 hrs, anchor up and motored out of Miami . Initially we had 2 to 3 meter swells in the Gulf Stream but this quickly reduced to just a few feet. Unfortunately this also meant that we only had 1 1/2 hours of sailing before the motor had to be started again. 8 miles off, to our surprise we could see welcome sight of the very low lying island of Bimini. All in all an uneventful pleasant passage. On negotiating the shallow poorly marked entrance channel to Alice Town on Bimini, we were thankful we had turned back on Tuesday as it would be very dangerous in a strong onshore wind. Forecast is for another depression on Monday and Thursday - we are thinking of traversing the Great Bahama Bank tomorrow to Chub Cay - possibly anchoring overnight somewhere on the Banks as the distance is just too great to do during one day - we check the weather againg tomorrow.

Motor Miami River to Miami Beach 15 Feb 2010

The crankshaft pulley arrived from Annapolis as planned (thanks to Dick Vosbury and Lee who took it through the snow to UPS) and the Engine is once more in working order. Left the Marina at 15.30 just in front of a cargo ship being towed backwards to the sea - one tug ahead , one tug behind. The advantage of this for us was that all the bridges open like clockwork without us having to call up. We are now anchored in same place as before close to Miami Beach and Belle Isle. Jeannette immediately dinghied in to Publix supermarket to stock up while Mike converted the workboat back to a sailing boat. Plan is to raise anchor at 0300 hrs Tuesday morning for the 50 mile trip across the Gulf Stream to Bimini in the Bahamas - hopefully we should be there by early afternoon if all goes well.

Miami River 14 Feb 2010

On Friday spirits were lifted somewhat by a call to a very good helpful family Volvo Penta engine repair company we had used previously in Annapolis (Vosbury). Dick Vosbury immediately remembered that they had the right pulley on an in stock engine and was willing to remove it and send it asap to Miami - so we keep our fingers crossed that it can get through the snow around Annapolis and arrive here late morning tomorrow (Monday).
Yesterday we had a good day at the Miami Boat show - the largest in the USA - which is spread out over 3 locations in the city.
Today did a few chores including changing the gearbox oil in our 2 Yamaha outboard engines.
What will tomorrow bring??

Miami River 11 Feb 2010

Unfortunately, we are back up the Miami River at another boat yard, this time Austral International, next to MYEW with our engine in bits. On checking the engine a couple of days ago found the V belt slacker than normal and some play in the coolant pump pulley .
Decided that, as we have had a slight coolant leak for some time that it would be prudent to change the coolant pump ( and the timing belt as this has to be removed anyway to get to the pump). Mechanic was on board today - unfortunately, he damaged the crankshaft pulley when trying to remove it - last info on delivery time for new pulley is 7 to 10 days. We will try to improve on this but it looks like we have missed the good looking weather window for the passage to the Bahamas that is forecast for early next week.







As our visa expires in a couple of days time, we have applied for an extension via an organisation called Immigration Express which was advised to us by the Miami Customs and Border protection Agency in Miami Port. Cost of the service - Four hundred dollars.

Miami Beach 3 February 2010

Continued to sort out boat then took the 25 cent South Beach Local bus to the southern end of Miami Beach and walked back along the Beach.




Preparations are in full swing for the Super Bowl festivities.

Miami Beach 2 February 2010

31 January had a stroll round the Art Deco part of Miami Beach which is straddled by Washington Avenue and Ocean Drive. On the beach they were constructing various side shows for the big upcoming event - the Super Bowl .
1st February was a washout - torrential rain most of the day - so did not leave the boat. Studied the Bahama charts but decided not to use the 2 day weather window to make the crossing - looks like we may now have to wait till next week. After many months of motoring in flat water , the boat needs a lot of rearranging to convert back to a sailing boat - so that is the plan for the coming days.

Miami Beach Anchorage 28 January 2010

After clearing the deck and giving it a good wash, we said our goodbyes to the friendly Miami Yacht and Engine Works staff and cast off our lines. Many bridges later we exited the Miami River and anchored close to junction of the southern side of the Venetian Causeway and Miami Beach. Dinghied into the supermarket Publix and had a good walk down Lincoln street and along the Atlantic waterfront of Miami Beach - much warmer and more people around than last time we were here - most wearing shorts. A great feeling to be at anchor again.

MYEW 27 January 2010

The correct hollow bolt for the injector diesel return line arrived and by 1400hrs the engine was working again - still some smoke on startup but I am told this should reduce over time. The crossed threads of this little bolt cost us 5 days.

So we should, fingers crossed, be ready to leave the boat yard and anchor off Miami Beach tomorrow.

MYEW - 26 January

Mike & Andrea from Jade Woman kindly picked us up early Sunday morning and we drove together along the Alligator Alley to the West Coast of Florida to see Geoff and Shirley from Three Sheets - a mini Kemer reunion. Had an excellent couple of days together catching up on news and enjoying their wonderful facilities. Alligator Alley lived up to its name having many Alligators lying along the sides of the canals which run parallel to the road.
Unfortunately the ordered bolt for the return line on the Volvo Penta engine proved to be the wrong size . A different bolt has now been ordered - we cross our fingers for tomorrow, Wednesday.

MYEW - 23 January 2010

Tested the Anchor winch seals with lots of water - no leak.
So in theory only need injector job completed before we can change from work boat to cruising boat - probably not till Wednesday.

Still at the Miami Yacht & Engine Works 22 January 2010

Today the anchor winch was reinstalled with new bearings and seals.
Tomorrow we test it for leaks - there is a slight chance that it may still leak as the saft was a bit scarred during the rebuilding - we keep our fingers crossed.

The Volvo Penta mechanic arrived mid afternoon with the new injectors - they are now installed but one of the banjo bolts on the return line has a crossed thread so have to wait till Tuesday for the installation to be complete. The old injectors were very dirty.

We are moored just off the narrow Miami River which is quite busy with ships being towed up and down it.

Washing day - Jeannette gets ready to cycle to the laundrette

Miami Yacht & Engine Works 19 Jan 2010

For the last week we have been on the hard at Miami Yacht & Engine Works on the Miami River.
The leaking seacock for the engine seawater inlet has been replaced, the boat antifouled and the bow thruster electrics repaired. On emptying the sail locker to gain access to the Bow Thruster we found quite some water sloshing around - further investigation revealed that the top lip seal on the anchor windlass shaft was leaking. So anchor winch off and dismantled and new parts ordered. As we had to wait for the parts, took the opportunity to change the propellor shaft seal which had been dripping and carry out lots of other jobs which we had been postponing. Back in the water today but have decided to solve the white smoke on start up problem with the main engine - advice from Mike from Jade Woman suggests that the springs in the injectors may be weak and let fuel drip into the cylinders when the engine is not in use. So trade in injectors have been ordered and a certified Volvo Penta Mechanic booked to fit them on Friday.
So our departure for the Bahamas is somewhat delayed - still, on the bright side a lot of items which needed fixing will have been fixed.
Our friends on Yara have used the weather window of the last couple of days to cross the Gulf Stream and are now in Nassau and will be heading south for Cuba - so unfortunately we are unlikely to see them until probably Bermuda in May.
Temperatures in Miami have risen dramatically the last few days and are now in the mid 20Cs most days so no need for fleeces and heating - this is apparently how it normally is at this time of the year so the locals must really have had a shock last week with temperatures plummiting to the freeze point
Our camera decided that we have dropped it once too often and will only produce grainy pictures so sorry for the picture quality - have had to order a replacement.