leavingmiami03

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go to the Turks
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And so the third leg begins...

We are planning to cast-off mid-December. Our plan is to cross the gulf stream and head to Freeport in the Bahamas. There we will wait until a norther is approaching and hitch a ride through the Northwest Providence Channel and hold a course due east until we can turn south and lay for St. Thomas. If that route seems too difficult, we will take the route that leads through the Bahamas and south to the Dominican Republic , then sail south of Puerto Rico to St. Thomas.
When we arrive we'd love to have visitors. We will keep you posted via our good friends Ted and Mary Ann Mitchell who have been so wonderful to keep our web-page going. Thank you guys. Fran and Dave,
S/V Sorrento

Dec.22, 2003

Happy Holidays and hope all is well.
We are ready and anxious to take off and continue our cruising.
On Dec 24th we have a window of opportunity, looks like winds out of the sw 3-4 kts. and seas in the gulfstream 1-2 feet. This is the best we have seen in a month. We will take advantage of it and hopefully make it to Nassau in 3 dayswhen a norther is supposed to hit. We will be tucked in and comfortable.I will write when we arrive in Nassau.
We have decided to take the thornless path through the Bahamas to the Turks and Caicos on to Dominican Republic and tour awhile, then to Puerto Rico and cruise around there, then on to St. Thomas.
We wish you a Healthy and Happy Holiday Season. We hope to see you in the Caribbean.
Be well, Fran and Dave

Dec.23, 2003

We have a weather window for the next couple of days. Wind and seas cooperating. Don't know the ETA yet, but will keep you posted.
Keep updated at: bold.coba.unr.edu/sorrento.html
Miss you all. Hope to see you in the Caribbean.
P.S. please don't send forwards. Thank you.
Be well, Fran and Dave
s/v Sorrento

Dec.26, 2003

Hi everyone,
We made it to Nassau,Bahamas in 30 hrs. The weather cooperated so we just kept on going. Had a beautiful sail here. We departed 0830 24 Dec., from Biscayne Bay, Fla., by night fall we were at the top of Bimini and decided to cruise thru the banks. Christmas day we were through the calm Bahama banks and heading full sail to Nassau. We anchored, had Christmas dinner watched 'Chicago' (one of my Xmas gifts) and went to bed to catch up on much needed sleep. We forgot how natural this all feels.
Today we will head to shore to all our usual haunts...port to check in, grocery store, internet cafe, etc.
Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas. I saw the Christmas star last night, it seemed so near, I reached up to touch it. The sky just glittered, it was spectacular. Miss you!!
Be well
Fran and Dave
s/v Sorrento
Somewhere at sea

Jan. 2, 2004

Hi Folks,
We are anchored in Great Guana Cay, Central Exumas. We arrived yesterday and decided today would be a fix-and-repair day. We will do some serious snorkeling tomorrow.

We went ashore in a little bay where there was a hugh castle being constructed. It was three stories- about 3000sq ft. each floor.We met one of the owners, Betty from California, and she gave us a tour. There are 6 turrets, which will be used as bedrooms. It is pretty amazing. They've been building for 2 years and have the exterior all finished but they still have a long way to go.

We walked to a quiet town, supposed to be the second largest in the Exumas, have mercy! There is nothing there. I did find a telephone, however.

Will keep you posted. Heading for Georgetown and then southeast to Turks and Caicos. Hope you are all well.
Love and be well, Fran and Dave
s/v Sorrento
Somewhere at sea

Jan.8, 2004.
Georgetown , The Exumas
We have been cruising down the Exuma Cays. We left Nassau on the 31st of Dec. and have been making short passages down to Georgetown, where we are now. We are making good time. Our weather windows are pretty good, winds 10-20 kts. seas 3-4'. Nice sailing weather. But not everything goes smoothly...yesterday we spent about 6hrs. aground. we had to wait for hightide. Sat on our side and waited for high water to float us. It did, we did and everything is fine.
Miss you and wish you were here.
Hugs
Be well, Fran and Dave

Jan. 13, 2004
Georgetown, The Exumas

We met 2 couples that own Downeasters - one a 32 footer , the other a 38. We are having them over for happy hour tomorrow afternoon. We have been enjoying Georgetown. Went to the windward side of the island and jogged and hiked . We found a good sized ancient sink hole - right there in the middle of the island! It is amazing what you can find on these little cays. Also enjoying the local foods.