Sailing with Bob & Vickie

Mar 10th – Mar 12th

We leave Elbow Cay at 10:00 AM, it is a beautiful day and the wind is in our favor so up goes the sails - We're sailing! It’s been a while since we have been able to sail for such a long time and before you know it, we reach Orchid Bay on Great Guana Cay. This cay stretches for seven miles and there are less than 150 residents. There is a restaurant (Sunsetters) and pool and people are gathered on the dock at Clydes, a small bar setup. A local farmers market is in progress at our marina so Bob buys some bananas, tomatoes and zucchini. The landscape is beautiful – flowers are everywhere but neither of us can spot an orchid. After a quick shower on the boat we stop at Clydes for the best rum punch (made by Tish) then to the restaurant (Sunsetter) – special tonight is ribs (yummy). We introduce ourselves to Nick & Tiny and tell them Mendal sends them a big hello. Love the locals and love the Abacos!

Apparently we lose an hour (daylight savings time) so I spend it sleeping on the boat. Sunday is the big day at Nippers, on the beach, – hog roast and loads of Caribbean side dishes. Nippers is the ultimate party place at Great Guana Cay – people everywhere having a wonderful time - bridal party (loved the Captain hat with a veil). The restaurant is painted in such bright colors, the music is lively and the view is awesome, people are in the water taking photos of each other with their Nippers drink in hand. Apparently Nippers and the surrounding area will be really hopping this weekend when Barefoot Man comes to town (a former big local celebrity). We’ve been told Kenny Chesney, along with other celebrities pop in from time to time because they are free to be themselves. We have consumed too many carbs and too much sugar today - we both feel like it is time to walk back to the boat for a nap but we can't waste a beautiful day so we grab another rum punch and head to the pool at the marina.

Our last day on Great Guana Cay, we walk to Grabbers for lunch and of course we need to try their specialty drink "The Grabber". We stop at the local grocery to pick up a few items and head to the marina pool but there is too much wind coming off the water. Bob reports that we are having 39 kt gale force winds (any winds greater than 34 knots is gale force), (1.15 times knots equals mph) even climbing on and off the boat is becoming more challenging. Bob is frequently adjusting the lines as the rain gives Serendipity a well-needed bath. Our next planned stop was going to be Green Turtle Cay but to get there we have to go outside (oceanside) around Whale Cay and Bob thinks it needs to calm down before we attempt this passage. We hear boaters on the radio requesting and receiving updates on Whale Cay and hear some turning back. Bob suggests we hang out at Treasure Cay for a couple days. Sounds like fun to me!