FIRST LIGHT
| Vessel Name: | FIRST LIGHT |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Hallberg-Rassy 352 |
| Hailing Port: | Port Ludlow, Washington |
| Crew: | Harv, Jen & various friends |
16 February 2015 | Riviera Beach Municipal Marina
Close
We departed Chub Cay as the winds began to moderate and headed to the cut between Cat and Gun Cays in the Biminis. This necessitated transiting the Great Bahama Bank, which is a misnomer as it is mostly barely 2 meters deep, but the aqua color is truly amazing and the seas there so slight it gives one [...]
10 February 2015 | Chub Cay Marina
Finally
Though our little hurricane hole was lovely, and the winds still in the 20's we opted to slip out and cross the bank at high water to make for parts north. After zig-zagging across some shallows we popped the jib and were finally able to SAIL ... and with Hydie steering!! It was a gorgeous beam reach [...]
07 February 2015 | 23 52.7N: 76 14.5W
Companionship
(sent via ssb) With 275 miles to go we are slowly making our way north along the ruggedly disjointed Exuma chain of cays. First stop, Lee Stocking whose anchorage held an odd assortment of boats. We picked a spot and dropped our hook thinking everyone would swing together, but the currents are as wacky [...]
03 February 2015 | Emerald Bay Marina
Northward
Lee Stocking Cay, the once-upon-a-time research island, has slipped further into oblivion – it doesn’t take nature long to reclaim her own. The houses are empty or boarded up… save the one Rob and Lauren set up with couches, empty beer bottle and book “Lone Survivor”. The lab is bare of cabinetry; [...]
30 January 2015 | Back at Emerald Bay Marina
Rough Bits
The Trade Winds, those consistent northeasterly winds that have over the centuries shaped the mariner's existence in The Bahamas have failed. Settlements, harbors and marinas here are all geared for those consistent winds. This, when the winds get weird, makes finding a 'safe harbor' problematic. What [...]
27 January 2015 | Emerald Bay Marina
One in Every Bar
The past few days have seen bouncy seas, fluky winds and a lot of re-thinking of routes. The trip from San Salvador to Conception, one of the Bahamian National Parks, started with calm seas and light winds, but we put up the main anyway - for good measure - and motored along westerly. By mid-day the [...]
Changint Time
We spent a quiet New Year's Eve day, lounging in the warm sunshine at the pool, taking naps so we could make it thru the late dinner at the Jib Room, and watching the breeze pick up and cool things off enough to don long pants for the festivities. Marvin did not disappoint; the Chicken Marsala and Prime Rib were delicious, a drink before-hand, wine with dinner, cheesecakes for dessert, the pleasant company and the AMAZING variety of gay outfits made for a wonderful evening. Over half of the party-goers were local, ex-pats who own second homes here, they all know each other. The elegant gowns juxtaposed fabulously with the boaters' ... less grand attire. We stayed to ring in our own personal Bermuda-New-Year, then headed back to the boat for a last libation and bed. The party went on without us, but the noise was bearable and diminished nearly instantaneously after the last hurrah.
And then the change to a new year - HAPPY 2015 everyone!! Harv stayed in the v-berth to an uncharacteristic 0645!! (may this be a resolution that lasts the year round) And more changes too. We rose to find the easterly wind and cloud-cover building significantly and the owners having decided to take the day off and join the other half of Marsh heading to Jonkaloo at Green Turtle. This meant we couldn't check out like we'd planned. So LilyWin and I grabbed some of the bikes and made an excursion into town to find more Benedryl for Hallie. "They'll never let me back in the states," she had sighed, "I look like I have several forms of pox." She had 'taken many more than one for the team' - gnats, mosquitoes, no-see-ums. You could tell the difference by the size of the welt - mosquitoes being about the size of a small plum... alas, another of her non-super super-powers. She and Harv spent the morning at the refreshing pool to assuage the itch.
By mid-afternoon the rigging was singing (indicating upwards of 20 kts of wind) and a cool had descended. We ordered Hallie's taxi via Channel 6 (oh MAN, let me tell you, you ask for a taxi and within about half a second half a dozen have responded! Apparently it's a game with them.) #75 arrived on time and we bid an itchy but happy Hallie adieu, knowing she'd be enjoying flush toilets and hot showers soon, then Lily and I escaped below. Harv and Winslow, not to be daunted by the cool breeze, rigged the Nav computer monitor as a TV with a small wire rabbit-ears in the hopes of watching the Rose Bowl ... how could it NOT be on? Florida State was playing! Winslow saved the day finally finding 4 channels: An old Disney Christmas movie, a Fabulous Bahamian Dance-Off and 2 Florida news programs No mention of The Duck's leading score nor the New Year's Rose Parade but London England's was featured. Oh Florida, some things never change. But our direction of travel has. No use going to Double Breasted Cay. It's too exposed. We're headed south to the security of Little Harbor as the winds continue to build easterly.
