January 25, Day 3 in Bahamas

We made it across the Gulf Stream, have spent two nights at anchor and are spending the third in a marina. We observed a much lighter current flow in the Gulf Stream than expected ... less than 1 knot where 3.5 was the expectation. The water temperature was much lower than documented for this time of year, 70 degrees instead of 75 degrees. The winds have been stronger and have not followed the "normal" flow patterns. This afternoon we were hit by a major gale ... 30+ knots and blinding rain as we approached Crab Cay (a narrow channel into Spanish Cay). The weather forecast calls for 25 knot or higher winds for the next 5 days that go fully around the compass. Boaters that want to cross the Gulf Stream will have to wait another week or more for a weather window. What concerns me is the fundamental weather pattern shift and the diminished Gulf Stream effect that I have observed. What may have focused this issue in my mind was a book called "The Coming Global Superstorm" from which the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" was spawned. The book is mostly post-modern-scientific speculation BUT it has a kernel of truth ... If they had taken out most of the wild speculation it may have received more interest but in its current form it is close to a tabloid read. The main point that caught my interest was the discussion of polar ice cap melting and the effect on the Gulf Stream. Over the past year most of the predictions they have made have come true. Major ice loss in both poles adding fresh water to the polar seas resulting in a reduced Gulf Stream flow ... and they predict an eventual stoppage of the stream resulting in a new ice age. Borrow the book and have a read ... watch the movie to see how a simple but important concept is corrupted by Hollywood. Yes dear friends I'm on the Green House Gas soap box again.
The Bahamas ... an interesting place. Spoke to a fellow today that cooked our dinner ... interesting meal of Conch and Flounder. His main concern was generating traffic for his kitchen during the winter months. Some nights there are no customers, some nights only a couple. He enjoys his job so he stays open. His plan for coping was to start a major redevelopment program to expand His marina and resort site by adding condos and more activities. He owns the island ... it has an airstrip, hotel rooms, a marina, a restaurant ... etc. The cook is worried that by expending his island he will no longer be able to enjoy the island for the reason he bought it. To retire to a less stressful environment. Interesting thing about humans ... they can't stop developing, expanding and consuming ... Brian