2/26/2008 23 40.84"N: 74 56.15W San Salvador to Flamingo Bay
After another swelly night in Cockburn Town, Rumtum and we decide it is time to head for Flamingo Bay. It is at the northwest end of Rum Cay. The winds are forecast for 10-15 and calming down, later in the day. The sea state is 4-6 swells with an eight second interval. As usual the forecast is off a bit?. The winds are a steady18-20 with an occasional 25 gust. The seas are out of the southeast but 6-8 with a 10 mixed in. All this made for a fantastic close reach sail with the seas just aft of the beam. We averaged, point to point, 7.5 knts, with a top speed of 10.4. From time to time RumTum would disappear in the trough except for the deck and sails.
Naturally we were fishing, and about 5 miles out a massive dolphin, (mahi mahi), hits the cedar plug. But at 9 knts it hit him pretty hard. He jumped three times then threw the plug high in the air and was gone. When I reeled the plug in he had actually hit the cedar plug hard enough to split it into two pieces. Exciting but no fish to claim as our own.
We work our way into Flamingo Bay going between many patch reefs and small heads and drop the hook in a small sandy spot. This place is absolutely gorgeous. It has a nice beach, and more coral reefs than you could explore in a month. There are four other boats that came in after us, but no crowding here. They also reported getting a couple of nice lobsters and some groupers off the reefs. So all is well in our small world
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Comments [3]
2-22-08 San Salvador 24 02.82"N: 74 31.92"W
Cruisers and Racers
We did our community service time by doing the cruiser's net for a week. Now it is time to get out of town for a while. Keith and Rose on "SV Camelot" have invited us to sail along with them and three other boats, "SV Vespara", "SV Voyager", and SV Stone Cutter" to Conception Island. As Conception is one of our favorite spots we agreed.
Now these guys are all racers, except for "Stonecutter, Terry and Charlie on Voyager, Stan and Cathy on Vespara, along with Keith and Rose, all are serious about racing. Hell if the wind dies and the boat speed drops they ask their wives what appliances they can jettison. While we cruisers just accept the slow down as an opportunity to eat lunch or fish!!! But even though, they were a GREAT group of people to sail with.
We had parties and potlucks and went on excursions all over Conception Island. We went to see the turtles in the ponds and just had a good time. One night Rose made conch salad, which Keith and I cleaned, me for the first time, but the salad was fantastic. Also joining the crowd was Jim and Dorrel on "Xanadu", and Craig and Mary on "Rum Tum Tiger". For three nights fun was had by all, plenty of laughs and a few lies ?
Then Jim suggested we go to San Salvador, none of us had been there, so off we go to San Salvador. If it was good enough for Columbus to land, then should be good for us.
The next morning all of us except Vespara pull the anchors and off we go. Naturally the winds are not what we expect but the sea state is more of a problem. The racers have convinced us cruisers that the engines are a last ditch choice. So the cruisers are actually tacking port and starboard until finally we give in and start the iron gennys.
Naturally we take advantage of the opportunity to get some fishing in. We are making a steady 7 knots with peaks to 9, so the right speeds for trolling. We miss two, then Diane hooks up, naturally the other reel goes off also. So here we are, boat on auto, both of us fighting fish, life is good!!!. Unfortunately I get mine in first and try to get him on board without the gaff. I grab the leader and hoist him on board, and then he goes nutso and throws the hook and flops overboard. Now to deal with Diane's fish, she has had the time to work the dolphin up close enough for me to gaff him, and his ass is ours. About 10 minutes Diane's reel goes off again, this time there is no slowing him down. About the time she is beginning to get short on line, she tightens the drag. And "POP" the fish is gone. She reels in a line with nothing but a straightened out snap. But it was still a blast and one fish is in the fridge.
Well as the guide had said, the anchorage at San Salvador is rolly, must be why Columbus left, so the two monohulls decide to beat feet back to Conception, while the cats stick it out for another night. We will miss Rose, Keith, Charlie and Terry, but that is cruising, we all go different ways, only to meet again in another anchorage!!!!!!!!
But their friendship will hold a special spot for us!!!!!!!!
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02-07-08
Well we have made it to Georgetown, Exumas. The stopping point for many, turn around for some, rest stop for others. But this time of year it the RV park of sailors. It is approximately 3 miles across and 5 miles long harbor, with about 250 boats anchored in various spots. It is quite the sight at night with all the anchor lights on.
We will be here for a week or so, then going some where, so e-mail us if you want.
Be Well,Be Safe, but have FUN!
| 2007/2008 |
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