Friendly Welcome
03 April 2008 | Spanish Wells
Photo: Sailing wing-on-wing at 8.5 knots...and what a shade of blue!
With a new house battery installed in Rock Sound we sailed to Spanish Wells via Governor's Harbour. The wind and seas were from dead astern, so we set our sails wing-on-wing and fairly flew up the west coast of Eleuthera at 7.5-8.5 knots. Sweet sailing! Our moment of excitement came when we passed through Current Cut, which involved some zig-zagging in shallow water followed by a rush through the cut itself, aided by a four-knot current. Once through, we entered Spanish Wells and came alongside at Spanish Wells Yacht Haven, with an enthusiastic welcome from the crew of Fiere Allure, whom we hadn't seen since early January in Nassau! When we had parted ways in January, we had assumed it would be only a few days before we saw them again....who knew it would be three months! The girls are thrilled to see their friends again, and they wasted little time picking up from where they left off in Nassau.
Spanish Wells is an attractive, prosperous fishing town on St. George's Cay. The Spaniards liked it for the sweet water they found in the wells they dug in the 1600s, and Loyalists settled here after the American Revolution. We strolled around town, remarking how clean and tidy the town is, but also noting the traces of damage left behind by hurricanes (most recently by Frances). Our marina in particular was hard hit. The roof of the boat shed is still missing some sheet metal, and the pool and restaurant were completely wiped out, and have not been replaced. A close look at the fishing docks shows all new pilings, and most of the telephone poles are new as well.
Back at the marina, we regaled in hot showers, laundry, more hot showers, and a fresh water wash-down for Semper Vivens as well. The daily shower at home seems pretty luxurious-sounding....