Cloud Messenger

Vessel Name: Cloud Messenger
Vessel Make/Model: Pacific Seacraft / Crealock 37
Hailing Port: San Francisco
Crew: David and Cheryl Schachter, Ali Baba
About: Happily married couple. He's a sailor, she and the dog are not.
03 May 2010 | Big Major's
18 April 2010
12 April 2010 | Sampson Cay
05 April 2010 | Bennett's Harbour, Cat Island
04 April 2010 | Bennett's Harbour, Cat Island
29 March 2010 | Cat Island
25 March 2010 | Conception Island
23 March 2010 | San Salvador Island
14 March 2010 | Rum Cay
12 March 2010 | Rum Cay
08 March 2010 | Rum Cay
04 March 2010 | Sand Dollar Beach, Georgetown
02 March 2010 | Sand Dollar Beach, Georgetown, Great Exuma Island
28 February 2010 | Thompson Bay, Long Island
22 February 2010 | Calabash Bay, Long Island
18 February 2010 | Emerald Bay
14 February 2010 | Little Farmer's Cay
11 February 2010 | Staniel Cay
09 February 2010 | Little Farmer's Cay
08 February 2010 | Little Farmer's Cay
Recent Blog Posts
03 May 2010 | Big Major's

Men's Adventures

David has been remiss. Apparently he is having too much fun to keep you all informed and update the blog. So if you don't mind your news second hand, here goes. After I left the boat David sailed single-handed down to Little Farmer's Cay. "Blue Blaze" and "Joyous" sailed there as well. Jason would [...]

18 April 2010

Stateside for the Crew

The last few days on the boat were bittersweet. I had fun hanging out with everyone in Sampson Cay. The snorkeling was enthusiastic if not real spectacular. I did see some new creatures including a Peacock Flounder. We spent one day just hanging on the beach in a thatch covered gazebo, playing volleyball, [...]

12 April 2010 | Sampson Cay

Armada Reunited

We left Cat Island and sailed to Warderick Wells, the main area for the Exuma Land and Sea Park. The park is like an underwater zoo. No one is allowed to fish there, even in the surrounding waters, so the sealife is abundant. The day we arrived Laura and I snorkeled within sight of the headquarters. [...]

05 April 2010 | Bennett's Harbour, Cat Island

Bonefish Zoo

Each day starts with David tuning into the Chris Parker weather forecast on the SSB but immediately after he begins his collecting and adjusting of the numerous needs for the day of bonefishing. Rods and lines and flies and infinity other paraphernalia gets gently packed up. A piece of fruit and a cheese sandwich get tucked into his pocket and he's off. Not to be seen until dinnertime. It is so great to see him return, relaxed, happy and fished out---for the day anyway. Over dinner Jason and David excitedly tell fish stories from that day's adventure. Yesterday as they walked the flats a Lemon shark started up the stream straight for David. Usually harmless, this one kept coming closer and closer to David's bare feet in the water. Just as the shark got too close David pointed his rod down into the water and shook the tip to distract the shark and hopefully lure him in another direction. The shark instantly jerked his head toward the splashing water and snapped off the tip of the rod with a slash of its razor teeth! Good thing it wasn't David's toe! But not so good that it was one of David's fly rods! Luckily he has other tips on the boat and the repair was simple. They even had extra rods in the dinghy so it barely even cut into the day's fishing time. Yesterday morning, Laura and I snorkeled the reefs North of the anchorage and although the fish population was not very big it was good because it got me looking closer at the smaller sea life and I saw amazing little things. Laura found some incredible shells. I saw a Cow Fish and a Bristle Worm. Two things to check off my list of first time fish sightings. Then in the afternoon we went ashore and walked on the road for a bit admiring the flowers and the many stonework house ruins. We stopped in at the local roadside "bar" where we chatted with the locals. They convinced us to try the "bush medicine" they have bottled. They swear they drink a little everyday for good health but one tiny, tiny sip was enough for me to know I'd rather be unhealthy! Yuck! They have a variety for woman and a variety for men. Amidst much giggling and blushing they related that the men's variety is suppose to make them extra virile. We asked if it is suppose to work like the conch pizel and they laughed and agreed. You could see them chortling and shaking their heads wondering how us silly cruisers knew about the conch's Viagra like potential. Anyway, they invited us to their Easter celebration to be held the next day in the afternoon on the beach right in front of our boats. We told them we wouldn't miss it and headed back to the boat for our own private Easter dinner. We had the last of the lobster since the season ended on April 1st. We saved the last two HUGE tails for the dinner. We ate until we could barely move. This morning, Monday, the men headed off again to tame the elusive bonefish population and Laura and I snorkeled the South side of the anchorage including the wreck inside the government dock area. Just as we were returning to the dinghy I dove down to pick up a conch. As I slowly rose toward the surface I suddenly realized there were two ENORMOUS Eagle Rays swimming right behind me! It was like being snuck up on by a baby elephant. I actually squeaked with mild terror just at the sheer size of the creature lurking directly in my wake. I caught my breath and moved calmly towards the dinghy, swimming along with my new large friends. As I reached the dinghy I was amazed to peer through the crystal water and see an entire congregation of Eagle Rays moving out of the channel and right by me. Fifteen, probably closer to twenty, Eagle Rays of varying sizes silently glided past; beautiful ghostly birds of the sea. Just then Laura arrived back at the boat, just in time to witness the quiet underwater parade of spotted giants. Well satisfied with our adventure for the day we headed back to the boat for lunch and to get ready for the beach party this afternoon. Even the guys will be returning early to join us on the sand for some local festivities.

04 April 2010 | Bennett's Harbour, Cat Island

Cat Island

We survived the wind driven chop that caused a rolling, bouncing anchorage at New Bight, Cat Island. So we were glad to move on to Fernandez Bay where we were more protected and the boat lay calmly in the water. This bay curves gently up to the powdery sand beach of an old established resort, Fernandez [...]

29 March 2010 | Cat Island

Conception to Cat Island

The weather has been completely cooperative here on Conception Island. Each morning starts with a beautiful sky, azure seas stretching as far as you can see in three directions and a silky, white sand beach sparkles in

Joe's Visit

08 February 2010 | Little Farmer's Cay
Cheryl/ Blue Skies today
Joe arrived to the boat on Monday the 1st of February. Yippee! I took the water taxi over to North Eleuthera Island and met him just as he was walking out the airport doors. Ali was indescribably thrilled to see Joe, as was I. David had stayed behind to fix our contribution for the sundowner get together planned for that evening on "Gabrielle". Joe barely had time to drop off his stuff and we were off with David and his Hog fish ceviche appetizer. That night we feasted on the ceviche- what a hit!- and three fish, fresh caught by John, grilled in four different sauces. Joey got a good idea of the kind of gourmet food we have been eating. The first full day of Joe's visit we rented a golf cart and toured the island and the beaches. Joe was the driver and was considerate enough to not dump his mama out on the asphalt but it was close a few times. He absolutely got the hang of driving on the left with no problem. We left early Wednesday morning to travel on the East side of Eleuthera down to and across to Little Farmer's Cay in the Exuma Island chain. We sailed 24 hours to arrive on Thursday morning. Joe got a feeling for the long passages sometimes involved with sailing. John and Christine on "Gabrielle" joined us in traveling down for the "Five F's"= First Friday in February Festival at Little Farmer's Cay. The first thing we did upon arrival was to get the dinghy down and head into the settlement to see what the schedule of events would be. The water was crystal clear and looked so inviting. Joe expressed some trepidation about swimming wondering aloud if sharks would be a problem. I patiently explained to him that any big sharks would be in deeper water and would have no reason to come into the Harbor. Two minutes later as we approached the town dock we heard the loud report of a gunshot! We could not imagine what was going on! There were people crowded around the end of the dock. As we went by David glimpsed a couple of men in a boat, tied to the dock, wrestling with something HUGE. Once we were on the dock we were able to get a clear view of the victim of the shotgun blast, a ten foot long hammerhead shark. Hooked at the dock, dragged barely out of the water and shot. All in less than five feet of water! Okay, so I lied. That night the kick off for the festival was a happy hour at the marina. We met and chatted with numerous cruisers but opted to go back to "Gabrielle" to share another great potluck dinner. Friday morning the festival began. There were some booths selling t-shirts, cookies, conch salad and children's handmade painted sand dollars to support the softball league. Free rum drinks were given to those brave enough to sign up for scheduled contests such as: best men's buns, egg toss and wet t-shirt. The drinks were an incentive to sign up and they were strong enough to make the contestants less inhibited. It worked. Although, the wet t-shirt contest was ultra conservative and tame. Barely a nipple peeked through. No music, no nudity. I made the semi-finales which proves how lame it was. I am proud to say Christine was the winner. David and John both entered buns and legs contests, after all one drink for every contest you entered. And we all tried the egg toss. Joe basically hid from the "old people" being silly. As the competitions were winding down, up strolled Tom and Jerry from "See Doc" they had just arrived. The day was still young so John, Joe and I went for a drift snorkel. We let the current pull us out into the cut and just watched the sealife float by. We saw barracuda, cuttlefish (squid-like), parrot fish, mutton snapper, and lots more. I was so proud of Joe for jumping right in and participating despite the shark show the day before. We had dinner again on "Gabrielle", the people with the biggest boats are always pressed into being the hosts. Saturday morning we woke to dark skies and the heavy winds that had kicked up during the night continued through out the day. The regatta never even got started because of squalls. Joe was scheduled to fly out and the dinghy ride and subsequent walk to the airport was drenching. I had agreed to try and join Joe for the trip to Nassau since he had to spend the night there and I had never been. One fiasco after other ensued but Joe made his flight and I followed a short while after with a private pilot headed for Nassau as well. I had never flown in such a small plane, especially not in the co-pilot's seat. It was thrilling. Scary but exciting. Johnson, the pilot was my personal tour guide and pointed out all the highlights. He named each Cay as we flew over, pointing out the Land and Sea Park and we buzzed over Johnny Depp's private island as well. Joe and I met up and took a taxi to the Atlantis Hotel where we stashed our luggage with the bell station (even though we weren't really guests) and roamed around the casino, hotel grounds and, best of all, the aquarium. This aquarium was magnificent. Truly world class. We snapped hundreds of photos and lamented about how sad we were that David wasn't there, it would have been a spiritual moment for him. The rooms were far beyond our financial means so we retrieved our bags and took a taxi to a more reasonable part of town. There we walked to the famous Fish Fry, a strip of many fish restaurant all crowded onto one small area. The next morning we had time to shop at the Straw Market for local treasures before heading back to the airport. Joe's flight left and I was so heartbroken to see him go. I met up with Johnson back at the charter airport and flew back to Farmer's Cay with him. By the time I arrived the sun was shining now on the cay that had been so dark and rainy when I left. I had missed David and Ali but little known to me they had had their own adventure while I was away! That news in the next blog. Hopefully tomorrow.
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