25 Jan 2014

Underway at 0848 in a 10 knots breeze from the NE.

Just like our last trip, 20 minutes after slipping the mooring ball we had the engine off & the jib up. We we only going about 3.1 knots but we wanted to test the monitor self steering that was repaired in Nassau.

After an hour of sailing & "tweeking"with the monitor in control we pronounced it "good to go"!

Now it was time to get going. We had the remainder of 25 miles to go and the wind was starting to clock to the east.

With main & jib we were sailing around 5 knots. Unfortunately, our course now took us on a SE course making the apparent wind almost on the nose.

After a good sail we started the engine and motored the rest of the way.

At 1706 we anchored at Big Majors Spot. We are now officially in the Central Exumas!

We are on the west side of the island and very well protected from the Easterly Trade Winds. Big Majors is supposed to have a community of cruiser friendly pigs. We will take some cabbage leaves and see how friendly they can be.

We plan to stay here do a couple of days exploring the settlement at Staniel Cay, snorkel in the Thunderball Grotto, and maybe check out the fishing and lobstering.

More later,
US