In the Bahamas

CHAPTER TWO: GETTING TO THE BAHAMAS

After a week tied up at “Bruno’s Zoo”, we decided to make a break for Miami and get across to the Bahamas. We stayed a couple of night in Miami, touristing in South Beach and visiting Publix. On Monday the 18th we moved down to Hurricane Harbor in Biscayne Bay, then left at 0700 Tuesday to cross to the Bahamas.

This year we just kept moving. Instead of stopping for the evening in the Bimini islands, we kept going across the banks all night. It took us 26 hours to get to Nassau.

During the evening, we passed or overtook several boats in the pitch black darkness. Kind of spooky, but the radar made a huge difference.

We also spent hours mesmerized by the the lights in the water: bio-luminescence. I thinks that’s spelled correctly. It was as thick as rocks on a gravel road. Bettye let the captain sleep three hours during the night, so we were both in good shape to make landing in Nassau early on Wednesday. We tied up at Nassau Harbor Club and checked in with Customs and Immigration.

CHAPTER THREE: TO THE EXUMAS

We made it over to Norman’s Cay in the Exuma chain on Thursday the 21^st, and anchored on the southwest side of the island. We’d heard that Norman’s Cay Beach Club (formerly MacDuff’s) was pretty good, so we went for dinner. Average food, WAY overpriced (burger and fries $16, beer $6), and way too many employees (turned out to be friends and family) working the restaurant. Won’t be going back anytime soon.

Early Friday Dennis dove on the prop to check for fouling; there was some weed wrapped around the prop, but nothing serious. Water was in the mid-seventies, quite warm. We then sailed the 40nm to Black Point to spend the night.

Next day we continued south, planning to “camp” near Cave Cay for the night. But the weather looked so good, we went ahead and went outside into Exuma Sound for the run down to George Town. So our trip from Miami to George Town of about 300 nautical miles was only five days. And it is WARM!

Guess what. Bettye is playing poker. Texas Hold ‘em to be exact. We’re also walking these gorgeous beaches, playing fun volleyball and tennis, learning Bocci, engine maintenance, and visiting with friends. Over the next days, we did laundry, grocery shopping and helped one boat that dragged its anchor. On Tuesday we all heard a cry for help on Channel 68. Ron on s/v Seadancer had gotten his fingers between the anchor chain and the windlass, mauling three fingers pretty good. A number of boaters were right there providing assistance, and Ron was quickly flown to Ft Lauderdale for general then specialist surgery. All fingers were saved.

While home this past year, Bettye found a design for a riding sail. She made the triangle, about six feet on each side, and we launched the new sail on the aft part of the boom. See photo. This really worked well, as one of our neighbors commented how the sail really decreased our swing on anchor.

On Monday, February 1^st, a group of 35 boats participated in the 3^rd annual George Town to Long Island Rally. We raced the 35nm over there, doing VERY poorly. Dead last, but first Hunter to finish. Actually, we quit sailing when we realized we would finish two hours after the stated closing time. We were on a beat all the way from George Town, and were… all tacked out. So we dropped sails and motored in. An hour and a half later, the race committee announced the finish line would be kept open until all boats finished! Too late for Son of a Sailor… We forgot about the complete disregard for written race rules down here, where rules are constantly bent and completely changed to meet cruiser’s conditions! Muuuccch better overall!

On Tuesday, 40 of us boarded a school bus driven by Dave Harding and assisted by his 17-year old “beautiful daughter.” His words, and she is! We toured the Adderly Plantation ruins (circa 1790) at Stella Maris, and learned much from Dave and Tiffany and the placards placed there by local historians.

We then continued to the north end of the island to Cape Santa Maria, named by Christopher Columbus on October 17, 1492. Beautiful, beautiful cliffs and ocean waters and lagoons. Memorable.

We all had a late lunch with Trifina, owner and excellent cook at Thompson Bay Club.

Next day was visiting with our friends Mike and Jackie of the Long Island Breeze Resort. They are working very hard trying to get through this very slow economic time. Their development has stalled, but is holding its own. Later on there was a potluck dinner at the Breeze, with awards and good music and dancing. Of course, we made it to midnight. Cruiser’s midnight: 2100 hours.

The race back was so much better, with a reach all the way back to George Town. We made it back in five and a half hours, with an exciting finish among the pack of cruisers anchored in the harbor. Tired again, but we had enough energy for a night of poker at the St Francis Resort.

At the end of this chapter, we’re anchored in the area called Red Shanks. It has great all round protection, but you have to anchor in fairly narrow channels. We waited all morning for and have now experienced a strong front which came through around 1400 hours, with rain and 30-40 knot winds. We battened down everything, turned on the navigation gear, started the engine, and waited. Since we were only 65 feet from a rocky lee shore, we had to be ready. The other five boats lined up with us were all out and ready, too. No worries; the front passed, the wind came, and we held fast. Then several hours of rain. Very unusual for this time of the year, as this is the dry season.

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday, and we plan to spend it with lots of folks at St Francis resort.