Back in the USA

We are back in the USA!  Friday we anchored at Great Sale Cay, an uninhabited island in the Bahamas, and a favorite jumping off point for boats leaving the Little Bahama Bank.  We left 5:30 AM on Saturday and arrived Fort Lauderdale 6:30 PM.  We travelled 120 nautical miles today.  Upon arriving I checked in with US Customs via phone.  We had previously obtained LBO (local boater option) numbers, and had electronically filed a float plan with customs.  I gave them our numbers over the phone and we were cleared without having to go to customs house!  The crossing was another easy, albeit, long one.  The seas were calm, but our heading from Memory Rock to Port Everglades Inlet was against the Gulf Stream slowing us down by a few knots. The only interesting thing that happened was that we were shadowed by a US Coast Guard cutter about 50 miles out.  I thought we would be boarded, but never was.  A 30’ outboard came by us at high speed, and the cutter took off and stopped it.  We listened to the conversation, and the Coast Guard was interested if the crew had been to the Bahamas, and took information on all the crew members.  It then let the outboard go on its way.  Moondance is equipped with AIS, which broadcasts our position to other vessels so equipped.  It helps prevent collisions, and is a vessel traffic control device.  It also indicates our registration number, home port, and other information.  I guess the Coast Guard had all the information it needed on us so did not stop us.  We are moored at the Pier 66 Marina in Fort Lauderdale.   It is attached to the Hyatt Hotel here, and is quite swanky. Coming from the Bahamas here is a little surreal.  To get into the inlet we had to navigate around a 1000’cruise ship, cargo ships, mega yachts and a plethora of smaller boats out on Memorial Day weekend.  At the marina, we are surrounded by mega yachts, have concierge service and can watch a steady stream of boats go by on the ICW, and humanity shore side.   Quite different than the slow pace of the Bahamas.  We will stay here until Monday and then journey south.  Will post pics in the morning.