While the many might be taking advantage of the great shopping bargains, Magnolia’s window (weather) shopping is not looking too good right now. We are trying to get across the Gulf Stream and into the Bahamas. We will pass customs at Marsh Harbor, Abacos which is about 200 miles from Vero Beach FL, about 30 hours.

Below are the current conditions offshore. Not looking to inviting with 12 foot seas and winds 21 knots steady and to add insult to injury the wrong direction.

The next “sail window” (Tuesday 1 December) looks a little more inviting with seas down to a more manageable 6-8 and winds down to 15 still in the wrong direction.  

Candidate sail window #3 is looking like the least bad window…yea, we gave up on an ideal window for the foreseeable future! This one (Wednesday 2 December) puts more in the 4-6 foot range and winds down to about 8-10 knots still in the wrong direction so its going to be a motoring slog to weather. Stay tuned, we will see how this shopping extravaganza works out! 

While we are waiting for our window to open up we have been getting a jump on the holiday celebrations. It’s a bit complicated but there are three (now 4) boats from the

Shennecossett Yacht Club in Groton CT. We initially met met the whole gang our freshmen year of cruising and cross paths whenever we can. Since part of the contingent planned to be away for Thanksgiving so there was an early celebration in which we were included. Fun times! Thanks again to Kindred Spirit, Cutting Class and of course San Cles’

Our friends Bert & Prue just had Exuberant painted so we were quite nervous to come along side. Who wants to put the first mar on a beautiful new paint job…certainly not us!

Vero Beach always has a big Thanksgiving party. The CLODS (Cruisers Living On Dirt) donate the Turkeys and Hams and the Active Cruisers bring the sides. All total there are over 170 people seated. Below is our table out on the veranda along with the dinghy parking lot, no valet service.

11/28/2015 09:30 – Weather Update – as you can see the forecast for Wednesday continues to improves so, so far so good. Lets see if it holds. I sure is nice planning into a improving forecast.

Again, happy Thanksgiving! Be Safe A**2