Back in Thompson's Bay
13 March 2009
M
Dear Carol.et al.
There are a number of excuses for the recent neglect of our blog. First is that in George Town, with 300 boats at anchor, it is difficult to for our radio to "get out." I think that the sheer number of masts tends obstruct our connection.
The real problem though it that the USB ports on this computer are so sloppy that it is difficult to get a good connection between the SSB and the Lap top. When the connection is lost the machine crashes and we have to restart which takes about 5 minutes.
I'm thinking that we need a new computer but it would be so low on our priority list that it probably won't happen. I wish that Kathy would take an interest but that isn't going to happen either.
The other problem is that our internet antenna isn't working. So when we're in sight of wifi stations we can't pick them up with enough strength to get on line.
Anyway. I'll try a little harder to get things out quicker.
Bye
Mike
3/12/09 Hog Cay to Thompson's Bay, Long Island
At around 8am we said good bye Steve and Scott, who were staying here for a couple of days to do some diving and bone fishing, and headed south to Thompson's Bay. More than anything, we need to get a propane tank filled or soon all our meals will be cooked on the grill.
Leaving the anchorage we hoisted both the mizzen and the main for the drive east a couple of miles to the waypoint where we would turn south. Once there we rolled out the jib and took off.. From a mostly horizontal position, I made the command decision to switch to the staysail which made the difference.. We were up-right again and sailing at 7 knots.
We had a great sail south along the Island with over 20 knots of wind and no sea-state. I have found however that when sailing into the wind with the staysail instead of the jib, it's important to reef the main at least once. The full main and mizzen tend to over power the staysail and there is a tendency toward weather helm and some crabbing. We actually go faster with less sail..
Arriving about noon we put the boat back in order, dropped the dinghy, and then I ran the into Salt Pond to drop off the propane tank which we will pick up Monday or Tuesday.
During the afternoon we listened to the Big 10 Basketball tourney and finished the books that we've been reading.
Our anchorage here is huge and the six of eight boats present when we arrived were spaced so that each had a measure of privacy. Three of four boats arrived after us and positioned themselves similarly. Our new neighbors however, decided that they liked the area right next to us. They pulled in and dropped anchor about one boat-length away.. As their rode played out they were not dangerously close, but close enough that we could hear them talking in their cockpit.
So people just don't get it. everyone here has 100 yard spacing except for us.
3/11/09 Conception Island to Hog Cay, Long Island
We left Conception about 8am on a course to the south east to hit Long Island about 5 miles south of the cape. We've caught tuna in that area and will have lots of time to make our anchorage this afternoon. A ten mile diversion is no problem.
About half way across the 15 mile channel Steve radioed to say that Scott had boated one Mahi and lost another bigger one that they couldn't turn.
We were skunked until we got the Long island and turned north following the drop off to Cape Santa Maria. The reel started singing and I saw a fish jump twice off our stern. I was hoping for a tuna. Kathy took over the helm and in about 20 minutes we had what we could now see was another bull Mahi next to the boat. Kathy took the rod while I got the gaff into the fish and into the boat without any of the problems for a change.
About four miles north of the Cape we had another hit, on a hand line this time, but before I could grab it the bungee stretched to the max and the 100 lb test snapped.
Turning the corner and heading south on the east side of Long Island just off our anchorage we hooked another fish. The drag on the reel clicked for about one second and stopped. Then, while I was watching, it clicked again for another second before stopping. I picked up the reel to check and whatever was on the other end took off and never looked back. There was nothing I could do to stop turn it with the tackle aboard. I might be prudent to invest in a larger rig before we make this trip again.
I cleaned our catch on our way into our anchorage at Hog Cay. We were the only boat there and we spent the remainder of the afternoon reading. I needed to make some room in the freezer for today's catch so we got two huge chicken breasts out for dinner. I ended up browning them and then making a sauce with the drippings, flour, a little rum, the juice of one lemon and chicken stock. After dumping the sauce on the chicken I popped it into the over for about 30 minutes. Finally, I added a can of artichoke hearts and put it back into the over for about 20 minutes. WE let it cool in the oven for another 20 minutes while Kathy put together a Caesar salad. We ended up with a great . non-fish meal, the first in a long time.