We are currently sitting in a cafe in Port Lacaya, Grand Bahama Island.  We have been sailing for the past 22 days!  The boat is really feeling lived in, from the smells to the towels that never seem to get dry. 

The trip down the coast of Florida was more eventful than any of us imagined.  We managed to be sailing down to the Ponce inlet (near Daytona) when several storms passed over.  We were right outside the inlet's channel when a huge storm bombarded us, whipping us with over 30mph winds.  We felt like everything was going to just blow overboard in an instant.  The rain pelted down as Jack put up the gale sail and we had to reef the main.  We decided to turn on the motor to help get us into the channel, come to find out that of course the motor no longer started.  Also the GPS/depthsounder shut off and would not restart.  We lost all power and were sailing blind through a storm that let us see barely 100ft in front of us.  Our main landmark was the lighthouse on the coast, that we could sometimes make out.  Eventually the rain lifted and we saw our channel markers on the horizon.  We tacked up the narrow inlet against the wind with a rock jetty on one side and a shallow beach on the other.  Which took a long time and was very challenging.  We finally made it into the channel and anchored by several other boats.  Turns out all three of our batteries were dead - we think we had been charging them with the solar panel as if they were sealed batteries instead of flooded batteries which most likely dehydrated them.  One of the batteries we were able to bring back to life, but we had to buy two new batteries.  The next morning a SeaTow guy had to tow us to the closest marina, and he said we must be v

We spent the past week sailing and exploring Bimini.  There is not much to do in that town with one street, so we quickly explored to our hearts content.  Contrary winds trapped us there for longer than planned.  These tropical depressions have provided us with sprinkling showers most days, other days large thunder and lightning storms.  It's all been very exciting.  Things we did in Bimini:  Snorkeled around a sunken oil tanker.  Saw a lemon shark swimming right in front of us.  Killed, skinned, and ate conch.  Swam in one of the clearest beaches imaginable, with no one else around. Toured the Shark Research Lab.  Met up with a group of boy scouts who were on a diving expedition (Savannah loved that..... :D) Also met up with a fellow Savannahite - who Jack knows, because he knows everyone - the world is smaller than we think.

When the winds finally turned favorable we sailed North to Freeport and docked in Sunrise Marina, a beautiful marina with swimming pool, TV's, ping pong and free bikes.  We have spent the past four days here exploring the island via bicycle and watching the Euro Championship semifinals.  We should be setting sail for the Berry Islands tomorrow if Debbie doesn't kick up too much wind in the wrong direction. 

The Bahamas is suffering from a lack of American tourists.  Everywhere we go people tell us to bring back friends.  So think about it.

Much love from the Wind Mistress' crew,
Katherine, Jack, Savannah and Mary