Howzitt ?

[leadbelly]

Hey Y'all
Just joined the CF and look forward to sharing thoughts. I sail a 26 ft. sloop built in 1974 by Reinell named Leadbelly. I'm planning a trip to the Bahamas this spring and would love to hear from others who've gone before me.
Thanks

[Seahunter]

Welcome aboard. Tell us about Leadbelly. Are you sure she full of lead, not steel?

[boatman61]

Welcome to CF...
Have a thought...........

[skipmac]

Welcome to the forum from another Gainesville sailor. So where do you keep your boat? Mine's currently in Alachua.

Regards
Skip

PS
With a name like Leadbelly I guess you're into Delta Blues.

[leadbelly]

Hi Skip
Great to hear from other sailors in Gville. At the moment, Leadbelly is on a trailer in my backyard downtown. I'm getting her ready to cross to the Bahamas this spring.

[skipmac]

So towing to south FL and sailing from there? Where do you plan to go in the Bahamas?

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by leadbelly

Hey Y'all
Just joined the CF and look forward to sharing thoughts. I sail a 26 ft. sloop built in 1974 by Reinell named Leadbelly. I'm planning a trip to the Bahamas this spring and would love to hear from others who've gone before me.
Thanks

Clever name!

[leadbelly]

abacos from so fla.

[leadbelly]

she had the name when I bought her in 2001

[leadbelly]

I was told from previous owner that the keel is full of lead

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by leadbelly

abacos from so fla.

Made that trip a few times. Easy to do in short steps. Leave from South FL cross to clear customs at Freeport or West End. The straight line distance is shorter from W Palm but you might want to start from Ft Lauderdale to compensate for the north set of the Gulf Stream.

Once you clear customs cross the banks and anchor overnight at Sale Cay. Should be able to do that in an easy day trip. Then from there on across the the chain of the Abacos.

If you haven't bought the Explorere charts for the Bahamas get them.

[PaulSommers]

I am also planning to head for the Bahamas in the spring. How are the winds in late spring (May)? My sailboat is in Virginia at the moment, and I have a choice of going down the Intracoastal to s. Florida and crossing over to the Bahamas from Florida as the OP is planning to do, or heading offshore from maybe Oriental NC, going to the east end of the Bahamas and then heading back towards the west end of the chain. You make heading east in the Bahamas sound easy, but Frank Virgintino's "Thinking Man's Guide to Voyages South" makes it sound like a daunting voyage against the tradewinds all the way. What do CF members recommend?

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here. I believe you are correct about the lead but a magnet will tell you for certain.
Before getting underway for Bahamas do a check of all your rigging to make certain it is up to the task and that all your hardware has some good backing plates. If I remember right your boat was originally pretty lightly rigged.
Kind regards,

[Danosimp3]

Leadbelly, do you have the original rudder? if so can you send me some dimensions and pictures? I need to fabricate a rudder for Reinell 26. Thanks