05/29/2008
Well, it's been a year since we returned from the Bahamas, and it seems like ages ago. We worked all last summer building our log house. We moved in just a couple of days before Christmas. Still working on the outside...landscaping, etc, but by October we hope to be totally done...because that's when we leave again for the Bahamas.
This summer we'll be getting the boat ready once again for the trip, but that will be done in between the charters that we have booked. That's right. We started a sail charter business, so now we can get paid for sailing...how cool is that!
I'll be back here blogging away in the fall, so join us once again on our adventure south.
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05/30/2007, Rockland, Maine
Memorial Day, 2007. Adam and Ben have finished building their Havilah Hawkins Peapod, a commission build at the Atlantic Challenge Apprenticeshop. They have been working on it for 6 months, and as a proud mother, I must say it came out beautiful! I/ve posted a new album in the gallery of the launch. Please look at it!
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05/09/2007, Georgetown, Me (United States)
Total Distance: 72 Miles Under Sail: 0
Average Speed: 7.2 kts
Conditions: Clear, 70-75 F, Wind Southwest at 5-10 kts, Seas 1-2 ft
Tossed off the dock lines at 0530, anxious to get to Robinhood Marine Center, our home port. We had called ahead to let them know we would be arriving, only to be told the docks were damaged during the nor'easter, and our dock is not in the water. We were assigned to 'Sunset's' slip...the large power boat we saw down in Georgetown, Exumas.
We arrived at 3:30, happy to be 'home'.
We left Georgetown, Maine on October 31, 2006, traveled 2,143 miles south to arrive at Georgetown, Great Exuma, turned around and traveled the 2143 miles north back to Georgetown, Maine, with a stop in Georgetown, SC along the way! Would we do it again? Definitely. Will be do it this fall...no. We will be building our new house this summer in Dresden, Maine, and there's no way we will be ready to turn around and head back out. Because the trip from Maine to Florida is so far, therefore so time-consuming, we'll probably only do the trip every other year, rather than the usual 'snowbird' routine.
Was it all we thought it would be? Yes, and no. Yes, the Bahamas was absolutely beautiful, as far as the boating and water experience. It's probably the most beautiful water in the world...really. The swimming and snorkeling were awesome. Land-wise, however, it was barren, dry, and the only wildlife was underwater. There weren't even many seabirds to listen to.
The Abacos, the northern islands, were more the vacation-type islands. Restaurants, bars, bands. Also, more populated, therefore larger grocery stores. The islands were less spread out than The Exumas, so getting back to Marsh Harbour for provisioning, etc, was much easier.
The Exumas, on the other hand, was far more 'naturally' beautiful, but much less convenient. They stretch out over 100 miles, and Georgetown (milemarker 100) is the only place with a somewhat stocked grocery store.
The best part of the whole trip, we both agree, was the people we met. We met people from all walks of life... from self-proclaimed 'trailer-trash', to PHD's and geneticists. The common bond being cruising, made everyone equals.
Most people think that cruising to the Bahamas for the winter is a life of leisure, laidback, no problems. Maybe that's what we thought before we left, but it turns out that just getting there and back again is alot of planning and work. You are tuned into only your little world. What's the weather doing? Where will we anchor? Is the holding good? Where can we stop to get food? And, there was a constant vigilance to keep the boat and crew safe.
All in all, we had a wonderful time, met wonderful people, learned alot, and look forward to doing it again. But for now, we are happy to be home with family and friends, sailing the deep coastal waters of Maine.
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05/08/2007, New Castle, NH (United States)
Total Distance: 0 Miles Under Sail: 0
Average Speed: 0 kts
Conditions: Clear, 65-70 F, Wind Southwest at 10-15 kts, Seas 1-2 ft
Well, today was the first time we made the wrong call on the weather forecast. It was supposed to be blowing pretty hard out there, so we decided to take heed, and sit it out. Another day at the Wentworth, then move on, on Wednesday. It turns out the wind didn't pick up till late afternoon...we could have been there, or at least very close before the weather actually got bad.
Oh well, it turned out great, because I called Mom, and she and Ginny took a ride to Portsmouth to see us. We went downtown for lunch then back to the boat for a bit before they headed back south. It was great to see her after 6 months. I think that's the longest time we have not seen each other.
It also seems like we brought the springtime with us. The hotel grounds were all blooming with spring flowers. It's a treat to see green grass and colorful flowers. That was one of the things about the Bahamas that we weren't crazy about...very barren, dry landscape.
Tomorrow SHOULD end our long journey, but we wait for weather!
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05/07/2007, New Castle, NH (United States)
Total Distance: 70 Miles Under Sail: 0
Average Speed: 7.37 kts
Conditions: Clear, 60-65 F, Wind South at 10-15 kts, Seas 1-2 ft
Our plan was to head for the Isles of Shoals, but the wind is supposed to be blowing out of the southwest tonight, gusting to 30, and that is not the place to be...so we bit the bullet and tied up at the Wentworth Marina. It seems like tomorrow is an iffy day, so I'm not sure if we will get back to Maine or not. It is especially discouraging to be 20 minutes from home by car, but possibly 3 more days before we can get there! We'll wait and see what tomorrow brings, but if we have to sit here, we'll be bummed.
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