Photo of friends Ron and Kris "Nimue" that we met in Vero Beach. New friends Linda and Dwayne "SeaVeyor" ..turns out that Emma knows them... what a small world indeed...and Mark and Liesel (hope I got that right) "Cool Breeze". We are meeting up in the Jementos tomorrow.
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Comments [2]
Photo from Long Island
This just in from "Blue Blazes". Make sure you follow along with their adventure...it continues.
I hope they meet our good friends Petra and Colin who have the same boat... see you back home. Love and best wishes for sunny, fun, uneventful days sailing home!
Hi Marg and Steve,
I can't believe that the dreaded day is almost here. I'm holding back tears thinking about it. Given that we will be heading north in a couple of weeks it's looking quite possible that we may not be seeing you after today.
It's just too bad that our last day has to be so shitty. It would be foolish, if not careless, for any of us to leave our boats in this squally weather.
We just want you to know how much we have enjoyed your company for the past 6 months. After all we have been through together, the two of you have become like family to us and we are going to miss you terribly.
Steve, we are going to miss your fabulous sense of humour and quick wit. You could bring a smile to even the grumpiest faces. And Marg, we will miss your beautiful smile, and your caring and gentle nature.
We are so envious as you embark on this most incredible adventure but not jealous. Rather, we are so very happy for you and we know you will have an amazing experience. We will be thinking of you often and wishing you only the very best of what life has to offer.
We know we don't have to ask you to be safe. You have shown us time and again how sensible you both are. And I know I don't have to worry but I will because that's what I do best.
Love to you both,
Janice and Harley
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Photo of boats behind us...behind us!?
Race back: 35.82nm Time: 5:39.48
Results: B Class
Lion's Paw placed 3rd going to Long Island and came in 2nd returning to George Town.
Race there: Who cares!
See note below.
Special note: We really came in 2nd both times. The boat that came in 2nd (38ft. Shannon) motored from outside Indian Point to the finish line because they didn't want to come into the anchorage in the dark. Unfortunately, they were not at the awards night and we know them... they would have corrected the judges. However, we got a small bottle of rum for placing 3rd and came home with a bottle of wine for placing 2nd. Not bad for not trying.
Good times: We sailed all the way! Didn't break anything! Still married!
Bad times: We slogged our way to the start of the race. The start point kept changing due to the wind and wave conditions. It was on the nose until White Cay Point where "Mosey" patiently waited in their trawler to take a photo of all the boats at the start.
Confusing times: Mixed with boats that motor sailed and boats' not participating in the race was confusing. Nothing indicated which was which. I tacked around a few of these boats.
Starboard: A Caliber 40 on my port side who couldn't point as high as I could, tacked across my path. I was on a starboard tack and I had to change my course and go around him. I guess he doesn't understand the speed of a Whitby 42! The next time I see a boat's galley and saloon, I want to be invited aboard for a drink.
Rules Broken: Pick your weather window! Don't come close to other boats! Never race your home! Don't pass through the cuts into the Sound, in the Bahamas when the current apposes the wind! Never Anchor in the dark into an unknown anchorage! Never sail into wind! And don't motor into wind!
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Thanks for the Birthday Wishes another year has gone sailing by and we don't even own a boat. You guys did very well in the race to long island & back CONGRATULATIONS, you are great sailors. Love Betty And Dad
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL FAMILY MEMBERS BORN IN FEBRUARY:
Dad / J.T - Feb. 9th; Christine - Feb 10th; Robert - Feb 19th: Dave - Feb 21st; Vanessa - Feb 22nd; and finally Colin's - Feb 28th;
It seems that no-one has used their snow blowers this winter and it's Linda and Chris's fault because they purchased one this year. Although you are having a mild (er) winter, we have no snow here and it is hard to believe that it is winter at all.
Yes Mum, I am the one who told Janice about tweezing the hair from my legs (one by one)...lol. The holding tank is going to be replaced as soon as we get to Trinidad or sooner if possible. We were able to seal the tank and we discharge as soon as we can overboard. So far that's working for us. No-one pumps out here. Thanks for the update on Christine and Martin. Life goes on (eh!). Guess what, we have a half moon here and Steve is amazed that it isn't a crescent (side vista) moon. In stead we see the top-side of the moon is missing. You never see that in any art up north.
Marie, glad to here that Tom is recovering and that you both are doing well and yes I do think it's about time Tom and you have a two week vacation. What was that... grandbaby number eight...wow!
Rhonda and Ken, weather is okay around here, but it is an El Niño year and the fronts are every 5-6 days. We don't seem to get much rain in the Bahamas...too bad you got our rain (we'd like to wash off the deck every now and then). Must tell you that we put our shorts on to go to town but when we come back to the boat we strip off quickly... we are very fortunate that most nights it is very cool and dry to sleep. Occasionally a south wind with come through and it's like you are sleeping in a fog (I think it's like a menopausal melt down).
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We've entered a race for Long Island, next Monday. Harley made us do it...lol and Steve's still in shock! They've rated us at 168. Question to thoses of you whom are racers...is that a fair rating with 300 gallons of water in the tanks and 6 months worth of canned goods and 5 bags of flour, 1- 15 lb bag of rice etc...????
It should be fun but not a race!
Other than that, we've avoided the many, many, activities planned for the cruisers who come here to spend their winters... it's like a day camp for the wrinklies (my mum's favourite annotation) and some not so wrinkled. I'm sure they enjoy their time here but for us long term cruisers, we try to avoid the draw to "spend your money here"... and we don't need to be occupied. Heck we need to rest before the real cruising begins down the Thorny Path south and theirs always the projects and required reading to do.
They call this "Chicken Harbour"... so many cruisers loose their nerve and go back to the safety of the US. Some cruisers have always planned too get to the Bahamas and go no further, like our very new good friends Harley and Janice on "Blue Blazes". We've been through so much together. Even though we've headed in different paths along the way, we have always known that they must be experiencing the same "shit" weather or ICW grounding as we've just had. I hate to think that we will soon part to head in different directions. Some cruisers we've shared time with, need to go back to the States for another refit. Once you're out here you attain another perspective of what you really do need to go further south. Even though a lot us us did extensive research before leaving, we have had to distinguish between reality (for our boat) and just plain bar talk. Lion's Paw has many "I wants" but very few needs... if everything keeps working!
We are now re-reading A Gentleman's Guide to Passages South, TheThornless Path to Windward by Bruce Van Sant (when after I planted the seed to try the cruising life style... one of the many books I bought for Steve back in 2004; Crap it's MY fault we are even here today...again, What was I thinking!....LOL
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Today, I caved!
Encouraged by Steve, I got on the VHF cruisers net and asked if anyone would happen to have maps and guide books, needing another home, for the Turks and Caicos, Dominican Rep. and Puerto Rico. I explained that we were on plan "Z" and we're now planning to head down the Thorny Path to Trinidad, instead of Panama.
Reason for this change: Long time friends, Kim and Marius's newly married daughter and husband, would be living in Grenada for a year starting this June 2010. "What a wonderful opportunity, not to be missed"; I explain to Steve; thinking surely Kim and Marius will visit her and Thera could come for the summer months (to escape from Dubai) and live with us on the boat in Trinidad or Grenada or Venezuela. We could get a cheap villa and have everyone come and visit if they can. Maybe Thera could pick up Nana and bring her down or Martin and Emma or Christine and Fred. Maybe Nancy (Kris never goes anywhere) could visit....MY TURN to DREAM!
...Oh yes we got what we needed in the way of maps but no guide books. Evidently, no-one gives up their flags, so we've ordered some from Vallerie and Glenn who's family owns The Original Flag Store.
...Oh and today there was an email from our son Mike and Heather and friends Lori and Jack. Both have planned to come to George Town the beginning of March. They plan on getting a villa or something and joining us for day trips on the boat (there is no room for an extended stay on the boat... it is barely big enough for Steve and I). We are VERY EXCITED!
...Keep an eye on the blog and think about coming down.
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Miss you both & hope you're having a blast!
Love,
Danielle & Adam
photo P1050017 Japanese Flag
We are home. Red Shanks looks just like Georgian Bay to us. . well almost.
We have tucked ourselves away from the crowds and anchored in Red Shanks (just behind Crab Cay) which at low tide only carries a 3-4 ft passage in some places. With the chart plotter sounding 5ft 8in we squeak by. I'm on bow watch and the clouds have rolled in, so I plead with Steve to virtually stop the boat while we wait for the cloud to pass and the sun to shine. I'm looking for the coral heads which are very plain to see with the sun overhead or behind us; but impossible to see with cloud cover or the sun blaring at you. Steve and I proceed cautiously and once inside the area, one boat hails us to proceed even further..."lot's of water.." Ah! We continue on. We find a hole with 10ft and drop the anchor.
The wind is still prevalent here, but the waves are next to nil. You are supposed to let the volunteer group committee know of your arrival. We are incognito and are lying low. I can't help but turn the radio on to listen to the VFH 72 at 8 am for today's announcements. It starts off with the weather (which they repeat from listening to Chris Parker) and continue for an hour as they list the on-going activities at Volleyball Beach. Then they invite businesses from town whom beacon for your patronage.
It's a good thing to be here especially if you are waiting for parts to arrive (yes, Sea-Breeze has come through and they are virtually sending new guts for our unit) and while you wait, you might as well join in the activities..NOT!
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Photo J&K P1050022
Last night the town blared out music from the open stand in the park. Finally the gods got angry and sent a squall with sheets of rain drowning out the festivities. I woke to shut the 12 port holes and both hatches but left the surround open in the cockpit. It was now 2am so I stayed up and prepared the emails I wanted to send today. Unfortunately, my first impression of George Town was reminiscent of Nassau and when Steve lifted his head from his pillow I started to sing. ."I gotta get out of this place. . If it's the last thing I ever do".
I don't think we've ever enjoyed the thought of living in a big city. Cities are nice to visit if you have money to burn, and today I plan on burning some money in search of the internet. Downloading mail is something that the women cruisers seem to enjoy more that their male companions. Wanting to connect with family and friends is definitely a Venus thing.
The first day to town, I used the internet café (J & K Productions) $5 US for the day (and I try to get my moneys worth) while Steve lugs water in 5gal jerry jugs, from the dinghy dock to the boat, lifting and hauling all day ...definitely a blue job!
That afternoon we lifted the anchor and anchored at Sand Dollar Beach, Stocking Island. We wanted to get away from the town noise.
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Photo dinghy dock
We had a brisk sail all the way here from the tip of Musha Cay which we were told (later) that we are not allowed to anchor at. Oh well. Elizabeth Harbour is sandwiched between Great Exuma Island to the west and Stocking Island to the east. We decided to anchor near town on our arrival and as the week goes by, you will note that we will have changed anchorages several times. It's called "The George Town Shuffle".
From here, it's a short dinghy ride to the passage though to Victoria Lake (under the road) where there is a very well established dinghy dock. There is a hose providing the boaters with r/o water right at the dock.
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I'm anchored for the day and night between Cave Cay (which I've been told is Oprah's Island) and Musha Cay. There is no anchor symbol on the map (which usually means that it is a suggested designated and populated anchorage) and our Raymarine Chart Plotter shows no depths for this area but we've just been joined by a trawler. With the weather predicted for tonight and what we are experiencing right now, this is the only feasible spot to anchor...not great, but doable. Two other sailboats sailed around for a while and checked out some other possible spots, but they have turned around and have possibly decided to sail back up to Farmers Cay for the night. Of course there is Cave Cay Marina tucked around the corner but it would be $2.00/foot (electrical hook-up and water - extra $$). Harley and Janice tried to anchor there (because friends suggested they could) but the marina put a stop to that and reluctantly they accepted a dock for the night.
It is 5pm and our discussion today has been (again) about tomorrows weather and the current and tide table. We hope to leave from here and south to Georgetown where we will re-provision with fresh produce and water. As soon as our neighbours drop the hook, they shout over to us; "Yoohoo! Go on the VHF." We do, and their question to us; "Do you know when slack tide is tomorrow? We are going out Cave Cay Cut to Georgetown tomorrow and it may be nasty if we don't get it right." . . . and the discussion continues.
Today we had a wonderful sail from Hetty's Land but we did not catch any fish along the way, so it's spaghetti tonight. Yesterday, I discovered that we had 4 sticks of pepperoni (expired yesterday), so for lunch we ate brie with red pepper jelly, some stuffed olives, pepperoni (sliced) and crackers. For dinner we cooked pepperoni pizzas on the "Touayan Quality Wraps" we bought in Nassau (which have not yet moulded, even though their expiry date is questionable because in Nassau it seems they don't put expiry dates on breads and grain items).
It's a beautiful evening. We have a little side bobbing motion as the current switches but the Whitby manages these superbly. We have noticed that the majority of boats tend to look as though their masts will hit the water as they sway from side to side and while anchored at Allen's Cay, Norman's Cay and moored at Warderick Wells, we noticed that other boats road up on their anchor or moorings and wildly hobby horsed as they tangled with the on-coming waves. I must say that the old Whitby 42 with its full keel, affectionately named "the Fat Boy", makes us look good. Of course, when the seas are calm and the winds are light, we stand still while everyone passes us.
I've started to re-read An Embarrassment of Mangos by Ann Vanderhoof.
Page 14 Blown Away In The Bahamas - Biscayne Bay to Bimini
. . . her words convey for me, so many memories, although we did not leave on a Friday (almost.. just after the stroke of midnight Saturday, Dec 26th 2009) and have the extra excitement of a coiled lobster trap wrapped beneath our rudder. Steve points out that the Whitby 42 doesn't have a rudder that would pick one up, since we have a full keel...another argument in favour for the "Fat Boy"!
We've enjoyed our stay in the Exumas Chain of Islands here in The Bahamas. Accept for the nasty El Niño fronts, Steve and I have tried hard to avoid the usual anchorages designated on the maps and in the guide books. Our impression is that these anchorages seem to be well traveled and touristy but are an unfortunate necessity for those in search of a laundry facilities and freshly baked bread. We regret that Mother Nature did not allow us to stay and enjoy the less traveled Berry Islands and the Abacos Islands which are deemed as the North Bahamas. Next time we hope that it is not an El Niño year.
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