2/13/14
Hog Cay, Ragged Islands

We did considerable weather checking and it finally looked like we had a weather window to head for the Jumentos and Ragged Islands. January 26 we departed for Flamingo Cay in the Jumentos with a good sailing direction. First you need to get through Comers Channel which has depths of 7 feet and that is at high tide! This season we have had very high and very low tides which causes us to think carefully before moving the boat. So, we carefully headed through Comers Channel and down to Flamingo, where we found it to be rolly in the anchorage, however, after another boat left in the morning we were able to move in closer where we experienced less current and rolling. We went out hunting and Dick was successful! Next day we left early to sail the distance to Raccoon Cay where we had several days and nights to ourselves in a couple of lovely anchorages. Dick went underwater picture taking and I spent some time shelling and walking on some very long and lovely beaches! He is getting some nice underwater photos this year! I would be helping but have a swimmers ear infection so no underwater for me! Time to move on, so we headed to Double Breasted Cay where Dick got some fish for dinner! On February 3 we headed for Hog Cay due to some stronger winds expected and we hoped for a more settled anchorage. As soon as we arrived we were invited to Klaus' 75th birthday party (from vessel Lucky Touch) on the beach. There were 13 boats here when we arrived. We stayed for a few days until we headed to Southside Bay where we enjoy the quiet. We met up with some friends from our boatyard on Chris-Pam-Mel, Lois and Howard, more nice folks! And we also had met several other cruisers, some from years past and some new. It seems that there are lots of new cruisers this year.
A Haitian sailing vessel was discovered one day with 58 people aboard who were repatriated last week, after being taken to Nassau for documentation.
We spent almost a week at Southside but all good things must come to an end! The weather is going to include some westerlies and those are not good at Southside, so we headed back to Hog Cay where there were 12 boats when we arrived on the 12th. We hope to stay here for Maxine's Valentines Day Party, which is a fundraiser for the schools at Duncan Town. Also we have ordered some fresh fruit and vegetables and hope to receive those before moving on. One other note, on our way to Hog Cay our macerator pump went on the blink! So, today Dick is working on the pump, hoping to fix it, as we do not have a spare! Note to self: Get a spare everything next year!