On The MoveAgain
01 March 2010 | Rocky Point
Gary
We sailed nicely west across the Crooked Island Passage crossing over the lumps lurking in the current. We untangled our second anchor used to keep us in the cut despite the current that would occur each time the tide flipped. Usually, when we plan on a nighttime departure, we will "stage out" first. So, while it was still light enough to see the coral heads scattered in the 5-15 ft deep water near the cut, we staged out to 20 ft. of water, clear of coral and settled in for a nap prior to anchors away at 8pm. Sailing at night is not Lisa's favorite but she prefers a night departure to an "all nighter" despite being little difference between the two. She is a good sailor and the moon waning towards full was never more appreciated. Making Hog Cay in the Raggeds by noon, we were astounded to hear friendly and familiar voices on the VHF. Sure enough there were a whopping 15 boats anchored off the beach and we had arrived just prior to a big horse shoe match followed by a beach party and bonfire. A small world it is. Took the dink into Duncan Town, the entrance to which is so long and shallow that the weekly mail and supply boat has to anchor out and the villagers then take shallow draft boats out to the supply boat to offload food and supplies. Hard to believe but the town has a multi colored gazebo up on the hill with an internet connection and free electricity. Loco makes his baked goods and Maxine had a few things in the grocery, including ice cream. The forecast was calling for fronts about every 3 days. We picked up anchor and sailed north to Flamingo then north again in a flotilla of sorts including Son of a Sailor, My Sharona, Early Out, Shamal and Orient Moon to Long Island and civilization. That many like minded people in the same place is cause for celebrating so we all hung out at the Island Breeze Resort enjoying the fine food, free internet and getting on our game faces to a Texas Hold-Em tourney. Fun Fun. Not fun however was finding the port side engine not starting. Fortunately we had purchased a spare starter before leaving the US because we suspected our starter was getting cranky. Unfortunately, having put in the brand new starter, we found it was not the starter at all because the engine would still not start. Hmmm. Pulling up to the fuel dock with just one engine and no wind was enough for me to know I really preferred having both engines in tight quarters. Happy ending?I won the Texas tourney, 60 bucks and then we stumbled into a quick fix of the non starting engine. Yea! Departed Thompson Bay Long Island at 4 am and anchored at Rocky Point on the west side of Great Exuma. We are working our way towards south Andros and have decided to go via Galliott Bank and Green Cay out there next to the Tongue of the Ocean. We found a nice hidey hole here with 6 inches of water under our keel (at low tide) and a perfect spot to ride out the south to west to North West blows that accompany each front. I just heard that US lost the Gold Medal hockey match to Canada 3-2 in overtime. Must have been a great game. Good thing Ryan Miller plays for the Sabres. It's 7 pm and time to go to bed and catch some zzz's before we pull anchor at 1am for a 75 mile run to Green Cay, an uninhabited island out there right next to the Tongue, and a perfect spot since its only an 18 mile hop to south Andros from there, where we will take cover again for another front. This one is supposed to bring gale force winds just a bit north of us and is only 2.5 days after yesterday's front. Moon is full. The moon will be our friend again tonight