Our alarm went off at 4:30 am so that we could be up and ready to leave by 5:00 am. With only 10 knots of wind from the SE forecast to die around noon, we expected to motor the entire 50 miles so we didn't raise any sails. As we hauled anchor, we noticed two other sailboats departing on the same schedule as - Windwatcher and Story Teller. It was very dark when we left but by 6 am, there was a bit of light on the horizon. As we rounded Key Biscayne light, the 6 knots of speed we were traveling proved to be rather uncomfortable with seas coming from every direction so we slowed to 5 knots, steering a compass heading of 120 degrees (SE) to make 90 degrees (E) over ground. We saw about 3 knots of Gulf Stream current moving us northward. The water in the Gulf Stream is a nice deep blue and remains such until 1/2 a mile from Bimini when the Bahama Bank rises up from the deep ocean and the water turns turquoise and tan over sand banks.We stayed at Blue Water Marina, but this year, we noticed the marina was only half full - quite a contrast as compared to the last time we stopped here, perhaps due to it being later in the season and/or covid. While Harry cleared through customs and immigration, Sarah stayed aboard Juno which flew the yellow quarantine flag until the immigration process was complete. We toasted our arrival in the Bahamas with a bottle of champagne. No impromptu cruiser parties ashore tonight, only the local bar truck which was playing music as we fell asleep around 9 pm.
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