Stateside Again
09 May 2010 | Fort Lauderdale
Just a bit of an update.
We left George Town Monday April 26, bit of a debate should we / should we not leave. There was going to be a front coming through, but not until late in the evening, we'd be tucked in someplace before then, so we decided to go. After about 40 nm we exited Exuma Sound at Galliot Cut to get onto the Exuma Bank, and timing was good, we had both wind and tide in our favour, so that went well. As we approached the anchorage just inside the cut, Marlene said she'd "had enough for the day" - it was still early afternoon and Doug said, "if we continue on, we could be in Staniels Cay by 5 o'clock". Not wanting to be a "wimp" she agreed against her gut feeling that the travelling day should be over. Big mistake! An hour later the sky took on a decidedly ominous look, very gray, frontal cloud formation just ahead - yuck! We rolled up the jib and as the squall ( wind shift about 90 degrees) hit us, we dropped the main - just in time. Ploughing into wind (40 knots +) and sea, the compromised engine just didn't have enough power to move us forward, we had to turn and retreat back to the Galliot anchorage. It took courage but as we approached, the only way we would have enough power to make the anchorage, was hoist some sail - as Marlene panicked, Doug pulled up a double reefed main and we jumped from 1.5 knots to 6.1 knots, got into the anchorage and dropped the hook. It bit into the sand so soundly I wondered if it would come up without leaving a hole somewhere in China. During our return to Galliot, we listened to the details of a "May Day" on the VHF; it was agonizing, we were uncomfortable enough ourselves on the Bank, but our hearts were with those on the boat out in the Sound that we were hearing. All ended well, well sort of, as boat and lives were saved, but their jib had been shredded in the squall, gone in the water and wrapped around their prop so they had no engine and were drifting to a very rocky lee shore. Fortunately there was a large, heavy ketch next to us in the anchorage who pulled anchor and went out to rescue them and were able to tow them into the anchorage.
After a few more days travelling up the Exuma chain of Cays, we crossed the Gulf Stream from North Rock (north of Bimini, the light was not operational, although it was supposed to be visible for 8 miles ) and arrived in Ft Lauderdale Monday, think that was May 2nd, picked up a mooring ball at Las Olas Civic marina. And next day had a tow into a slip there, as we could no longer start our engine. We were too big for the floating docks, but at least it wasn't those pile arrangements they also have (and Marlene hates), we are at a fixed dock and with help, short legs can manage to get to the shore - thanks goodness for that! We have the Yanmar Dealer working on the engine, seems pretty straight forward - tho' that was not the case in the Bahamas, we are happy / glad we made the decision to return to the States to look after the issue. Now that we are here, we expect to take the boat to the Chesapeake or further north for the summer.
As all cruising plans are written in the sand at low tide, heaven only knows where we will be in a month from now .
We will keep in n touch
Doug & Marlene
Solar Eclipse