We have been moving around away from the boat on deliveries, and working on refits in Fort Lauderdale, now we are back on Harmonie, and ready to sail. Karen is right now up at the marina office settling our bill. Harmonie has been waiting patiently for us in Cape Eleuthera Marina, and as a reward for her tolerance of us playing on other boats, we are taking her for a nice long ride starting today.

Yesterday, and overnight, a strong cold front blasted through, and has upset the normal trade winds for the next week. We are taking advantage of this unusual weather pattern to jump ahead of what would normally be a nasty upwind slog. If the weather forecasts hold we might get as far as Martinique over the next 7 or 8 days. Of course that is a long time to trust the weather forecasts, but we have alternatives if things do not turn out as expected.

The fly in the ointment here is we can not easily get an outbound clearance from the Bahamas here. Not a problem for the Bahamas, it is not required, but there are other countries down range that DO require an outbound clearance, and others that do not. So our next Port of Call will be at a country that does not require this particular paperchase. Our choices will be, Puerto Rico, the USVI, the French side of Saint Martin, and any of the French islands.

We are not completely happy with jumping out of the Bahamas so soon, but sometimes weather drives decisions.