Departing from the pearl of the Bahamas, Harbour Island anchorage, we started in the afternoon with the correct tide to arrive the following evening in Fort Lauderdale. Our funny “Little Woody” pilot came aboard and we motored from the anchorage through a narrow passage among the reefs. After the pilot left us, we motor-sailed for 30 hours.

A beautiful sunrise started the next day, for those on watch. There was some excitement as we thought we caught a fish, but it was gone before we could pull it aboard. During the night, we saw a tanker with two red lights. It meant it was “not under command.” I wonder what their problem was, but no answers came. Near the US border, we received a standard inquiry from a U.S. Coast Guard vessel. Bertram replied and they did not board Oceans of Hope.

Approaching our destination in Fort Lauderdale, we saw an amazing sunset with the skyscrapers rising out of the sea. Entering the port, we floated past the lighted Christmas decorations. Lights wrapped on palm trees and such. And then we moored at exactly the same spot we left before. The end of a wonderful sea voyage! In the evening we had Pina Coladas among friends.

Report from Bosun Bertram:

From one sunny beach to the other - we are back in Fort Lauderdale in the Bahia Mar Marina with approximately 100 meters to the beach from the dock. As the crew gets some well deserved rest from the exhausting days in the Bahamas we have our local mechanic on board for some scheduled maintenance before the holidays - first off we are putting new rubber feet on the engine as the old are worn out, and secondly we are going through our safety gear as you do on a timely basis keeping everything ready.

As part of sailing around the world we always have to plan ahead to keep the boat and the gear on board ready for the next legs to come, such as from Florida to Panama and onwards across the Pacific Ocean!

Local time on board is 10:00 and our current position is 26,6.88N , 80,6.48W.