12/17/2009, Big Majors Spot

December 16th, 2009 Big Majors Spot, Exumas
I cooked a good breakfast and worked on our new anchor snubber, (which had detached from the chain) before talking to Steve and setting a time to go hunting. We left when the sun got high enough to give us some underwater visibility and headed to the southern end of Staniel Cay. After searching for 30 minutes or so we decided to snorkel an area on the east side of a small rocky island...
The coral there was amazing. It was by far the best place we've snorkeled here in three years. The diversity of the coral was amazing. There were three types that I've seen nowhere else. There were fish as well. Most of the larger snappers stayed safely under their rocks... but I did shoot a few Big Eyes, which our book says are good to eat. I had two easy shots at a Grouper and missed them both. Steve saw lots of fish as well but didn't end up shooting anything.
After about 3 hours of swimming, we quit the spot and since it was slack tide, searched some of the cuts for good places to hunt. We checked out a few spots but none were as neat as the one we'd just left.
Finally we anchored off another hunk of exposed rock and got in the water. There was an area around the rock extending out about 20 meters that looked good, lots of coral and small fish, but then it dropped off into water that was way too deep to snorkel.
Steve shot a big Triggerfish right away and we continued to check out the area for another 30 minutes or so before I heard him take another shot. (Under water, you can hear the spear hit rock and always know when people around you are shooting...especially if they miss.) I looked up to see him taking aim again at a smallish grouper. They were both heading my way so I got ready for the killing shot. It darted past too quickly and although I hit him, the spear didn't stick. He hid under a small rock but Steve had a good shot and took it. That's when I saw the Shark. It was swimming straight at us quickly....and was only about 10 meters away. I tapped Steve with my spear and he turned to find an aggressive Shark about 5 feet in front of his face. He jerked the spear out of the Grouper and fended the Shark off with his spear poking it two or three times as it swam by an arm's length away and turned quickly. Luckily the dinghy was nearby and I retreated...wondering if I was going to make it will all my appendages. Steve followed me but stayed in the water watching. By now there was also a big Barracuda close by that also was looking for a free meal and while Steve was watching him... the Shark came at him again. Steve was in the dinghy in a flash. We hauled in our anchor...and left the area and quit for the day.
Steve has been a diver most of his life and is used to seeing sharks in the water, but this was the first time that he has had to fend off an aggressive fish.
After cleaning fish, I read for a while and then made a dish to pass.... pickle roll-ups, before heading to the small beach next "Pig Beach" where Nancy had called for a Sunset Party. It was well attended and we met some new people but ended up eating too much to cook our fish for supper.

December 15th, 2009 Big Majors Spot, Exumas
We worked on boat jobs in the morning. Kathy cleaned while I sprayed the dodger and bimini with 303 fabric protectant and worked on making a new anchor snubber. Later Steve and I went hunting at some of the outer rock islands and saw lots of nice fish. Unfortunately they were a little too quick for us and we returned with only one... a nice triggerfish.
We read for the remainder of the afternoon. For dinner I sauted some scallops in olive oil, butter, and white wine which we tossed over some linguini. Hard pressed for a vegstable, I fried some cabbage and onion which actually went along fine with the pasta.
There is some bad weather on the horizon for the first time this year. A front is in the process of pushing off the east coast and Florida heading our way. It looks like Friday night and Saturday will be the worst for us here in the central Exumas with winds at 30 and squalls to 50 knots. As the front approaches the winds will be from the south but will clock through the SW, W and NW as the front passes.
Cruisers are scrambling to find protection. Here at Big Majors we have protection from all directions except for a 50 degree area from the southwest to the west. We are not too concerned about the wind because the holding here is excellent. The waves are the problem.

December 14th, 2009 Black Point, Big Majors Spot, Exumas
We woke up to a steady rain which lasted until mid-morning. Most of our rain comes in the form of short bursts in squalls so this was a little different. It was still warm, but looked like a grey drizzly December Day with temps still in the 80's.
By 11 a.m. the sun was out and it was hot...Steve and I had talked about going fishing, but decided to put it off for a day and go into town this afternoon instead. So at about 2 we dinghied in to the Yacht Club to check email and make a run to the store.
We returned later to hang out in the cockpit until dark.

Comments [3]

12/17/2009, Black Point

Decimber 13th, 2009 Black Point to big Majors, Exumas
I spent some time chatting with the other three boats this morning to see who was doing what today and found that "Solitaire" was staying to do some exploring. "Veranda" decided to stay a couple of days as well. Steve was ready for a change of scenery as were we, so mid-morning we weighed anchor and raced the 9 miles up to Big Majors. "Sapphire" fared better that usual but I made a couple of tactical errors and we ended up losing by about 100 yards.
We got the anchor down and I cooked some Jambalaya for lunch. A little later we dinghied to a beach to our north where we sat in the water for a while and gathered some palm fronds. Last year on one of these beaches, we found some great fronds but we have no idea which island. Our plan is to get a few from one place at time to try to pin things down a little.
I cleaned and cooked some shrimp for dinner... and while they were cooling, watched the sunset in the cockpit. Last week we saw three "green flashes" in three days which is a record for us... but there were clouds on the horizon tonight.
December 12th, 2009 Black Point
During the morning "Solitaire" and "Veranda" both showed up and anchored near us just in front of the Laundromat. We worked on some boat projects and read, which is what we do here, and made plans to all eat together at Lorraine's.
We all met on "Solitaire" for wine before we dinghied in for dinner. Our food was excellent. I had ribs that must have cooked all afternoon and Kathy had chicken that was also good. When we finished eating no one really want to quit so we reconvened on Solitaire for night caps.

December 11th, 2009 Black Point
Steve and I went hunting in the morning checking out some new spots but didn't end up shooting anything. There were lots of fish but most were small. During the afternoon we read and eventually went in to check our email.
We did receive a message from Susan on "Night Hawk" to learn that they are still in Fresh Creek waiting for engine parts.
Later we spoke with Bill on "Veranda" who spent the day sailing the Sound from Eleuthera and was going to pull in to Big Majors tonight and run down here tomorrow morning. As usual we spent lots of time reading.

December 10th 2009 Black Point
Although we have a couple of projects on the list, today ended up being another reading day. I did some cooking and we visited with our friends Jay, Di, Bob, and Mary Lou and Steve on "Far Niente" for snacks in the evening. On our return we listened to State play Oakland, but I fell asleep shortly after halftime.
Our plans are to stay here a few more days and then sail back north to Staniel Cay for a while. We are low on fish again so will have to spend some time in the water.
Hey, one of our jobs is to get some of these books off the boat, so we have to spend some time reading.

December 9th, 2009 Black Point, Exumas
Another day where very little of a productive nature was accomplished. Kathy cleaned the boat and I spent some time chatting with Bill and Amy of "Dream Catcher" and ended up inviting them over in the afternoon for snacks and cocktails. Bill is a computer person and promised to look at my SSB modem problem.
Our afternoon was spent mostly reading. I did make a pesto pizza for snacks and tidied up the cockpit a little. Bob and Mary Lou from "Cygnus" pulled in later in the afternoon followed by Jay and Di on "Far Niente".
We had a nice time and Tom did in fact get the SSB and Pactor modem talking to our computer.
Rick on "Sea Language" ask me a few days ago check with the school here on Black Point to see what equipment they were in need of... and I relayed that information to him this morning after Cruizheimers.

Comments [0]

Mike
12/11/2009, Black Point

December 10th 2009 Black Point
Although we have a couple of projects on the list, today ended up being another reading day. I did some cooking and we visited with our friends Jay, Di, Bob, and Mary Lou and Steve on "Far Niente" for snacks in the evening. On our return we listened to State play Oakland but I fell asleep shortly after halftime.
Our plans are to stay here a few more days and then sail back north to Staniel Cay for a while. We are low on fish again so will have to spend some time in the water.
Hey, one of our jobs is to get some of these books off the boat, so we have to spend some time reading.

December 9th, 2009 Black Point, Exumas
Another day where very little of a productive nature was accomplished. Kathy cleaned the boat and I spent some time chatting with Bill and Amy of "Dream Catcher" and ended up inviting them over in the afternoon for snacks and cocktails. Bill is a computer person and promised to look at my SSB modem problem.
Our afternoon was spent mostly reading. I did make a pesto pizza for snacks and tidied up the cockpit a little. Bob and Mary Lou from "Cygnus" pulled in later in the afternoon followed by Jay and Di on "Far Niente".
We had a nice time and Tom did in fact get the SSB and Pactor modem talking to our computer.
Rick on "Sea Language" ask me a few days ago check with the school here on Black Point to see what equipment they were in need of... and I relayed that information to him this morning after Cruizheimers.

Comments [1]