Bermuda!

Kiwi made landfall at St George s yesterday morning. A short stop to collect mail, water (to replace what we lost because of water tank leakage) and check out America 's Cap!

Alright, here we go

After a day of last fixes and fun (shark watching, swimming and dinghy sailing) at Salt Cay Kiwi finally sails out to the high seas. With great help from Jelle, downloading weather files with iridium works now. Crew is familiarized with the boat and spirits are high. Bermuda, here we come!
-Sanja, Eva, Emma and Angela -

First 4 nauticals done

Yesterday, heavily loaded with fruits, vegetables, instant noodles, chocolates and some 560 litres of water and 300 l of diesel, Kiwi managed to made her way out of the harbor of Nassau! First day was planned short for allowing continuation of some last minute preparations using the mobile coverage from civilization. We struggle with getting Iridium communication work with our windows 8 computers... and might have to rely on calls and sms's for weather forecast.

The sailing out of the harbor was a relief, because that means and end to enormous money usage for now. (Bahamas is not the cheapest place to stock up for a voyage) We had great winds and currents against us and discovered a large water leakage in one of the water tanks. Anchored up, fixed the hole (hopefully) and started to work on resting and relaxing before hopefully heading out tomorrow

Thursday - beyond any lists

-Top up of the propane bottle
-Seeing my regular Nassau dentist (once more)
-Tidying up the boat, making space for the crew
-Welcoming Emma!

Wednesday - almost through the list

Another meal at Poop deck (yes, that's what the bar in the Marina is called)  to celebrate a day without fatal failures

Today
-I found Kiwi's compass from a cupboard and installed it outside, to show that I am taking this crossing seriously. Serious sailboats heading to the Bermuda triangle have compasses. Ours shows mostly the magnetic field of the hull it self and not so much the Earth.
- the navigation computer has an own electric contact now ( yes dad, there is a fuse)
-the engine room got a wash and fresh oil sausages
-started to make a list (for å later blogpost)  of 'almost incidents ' which almost cancelled the whole crossing.
-I realized, cheesy as it sounds, how greatly I am supported by my family and friends, who keep sending encouraging messages and offering their help where they can

Tuesday already

-Through away 300 kg of carbage and unnecessary scrap, fun and rewarding and necessary thinking how heavy loaded with water and supplies Kiwi will leave Nassau
-removed the broken anchor from its chain using sophisticated method of hand saw combined with patience
-That was it, was a little tired and useless today: p

....and Monday

-Engine oil exchange, new oil filter
-Fuel filters
-Impeller check

-Cleaning fresh water filter

Haven't seen much daylight today. It was a rainy day anyway with several thunder cells passing over Nassau. Let it rain now, and please good weather only for the crossing : p

Nassau - Preparations for Atlantic crossing

Saturday and Sunday:
-Cleaned watertanks
-Washed and desalinated all mattresses
-Laundry
-Bought more seasickness pills and pain killers
-Tested Iridium connections with Philipp

Exuma cays

South of Nassau lays a chain of small islands, Exumas, some kind of a cruising paradise, especially well suited for relaxing before any Atlantic crossing and snorkeling, snorkeling and more snorkeling.