Happy St. Patricks Day, it is March 17th. We are in Stanel Cay, the temperature is low 80's and the weather is perfect for the tropics. The wind is blowing 15 from the east so sailing is great northwest to southeast along the Exuma Island chain. What a difference from yesterday although we cannot complain about anything.
We left Bimini on Sunday March 6th anchoring out overnight on the Bahama Banks after a long day sailing east. We then went onto Chub Cay where we snorkeled and enjoyed a beautiful sunset before heading to Nassau the next day. It was a close reach (upwind sail) so we had to tack a couple of times before a late arrival in Nassau harbor. We took a slip at a marina so that we could sleep in peace without worrying about dragging: the harbor is scoured by tides so the holding is tenuous at best. We bought some groceries, filled up on fuel and headed out to Rose Island about an hour and a half away where we met up with Wes and Jan of "Dances with Dolphins" on the north side by Sandy Cay. What a ride but the anchorage was peaceful and the bottom sand which is the best holding.
After lamb dinner with them and a day of snorkeling we moved the boats to a protected hole in the island to avoid a big NE blow. Next day we moved to an achorage on the southside and enjoyed several more days with them. All good times come to an end, Monday we headed into the Exumas under perfect conditions. We arrived in Normans Cay where we snorkeled and made some new friends who invited us for happy hour and showed off (in a nice way) their beautiful IP445, a center cockpit sailboat. It was a great day.
We then moved to Big Majors spot, but a mini-ordeal given winds on the nose twice as strong as expected. We had to tack several times and ran the motor all day as we sailed close to the wind. Steaks on the barbee at 19:30 and a nice quiet harbor.
Big Majors Spot is five minutes from Staniel where tonight we enjoy a band from 4-7 then dinner. Our friends were very understanding when we changed our destination to wait one more day before venturing futher south. We look forward to being with "Never Bored" soon.
I guess to sum it up: we are truly enjoying the best of the Bahamas now that the weather is warmer and we are in the heart of the Exumas. Somewhat gone but not forgotten are all the difficulties we've overcome and the maintenance work needing to be done. Livin for today, yeah mon.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Stuart to Ft Lauderdale and Bimini
After leaving Stuart we followed the ICW to Lake Worth for one picture perfect night with a calm harbor, perfect lighting and the boats sitting at anchor. But we needed to press on so that we could make Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday so we could go to the Miami boat show on Sunday.
The outside run to Ft. Lauderdale was uneventful and once again we motored staying close to shore to escape the Gulf Stream.
Sunday, we dinghied ashore to meet our friends, Frank and Joanne who drove us to the show. We left our dinghy at the public boat ramp next to the police dock, enjoyed the show, dinner and company. Upon our return however our dinghy was missing which we were informed by a bystander had been placed in protective custody by the police department. We walked over to the station but it was not staffed after who knows what time because there was absolutely no information explaning there hours or who to call. Seeing the dinghy at their dock behind a fence I realized that from the water I could easily get our dinghy so we could get home to our boat anchored in Lake Sylvia. Another boater took me to the dinghy, we went home and to sleep.
There are right ways to do things and sometimes they elude me as we quickly found out. In the morning I called the police department and two officers came over in their boat to tell me that I should have called 911, I should not have taken my dinghy and that we should not have left it at the sea wall near the public boat ramp on the busiest day of the year so far. They also went so far as to tell us that a boat must be registered in some state regardless of state laws to which I thought "huh, that is news to me". Then they asked us if we wanted to prosecute and that they had the guy on four drug violations. I stated that we did not want to travel all the way back from Oregon for a trial so they said "sign here" and we did. The offices left after warning us again and we thought it was all over.
Next, the arresting officer who had since come on duty called to give us all the same warnings plus tell us how he had put his life on the line for us and we did not even want to prosecute. We said we would be glad to now that we knew a little more about the circumstances but he said it would only look like he made us do it if it came to court, but after telling us it was an open and shut case and that the guy would have pleaded out anyway. Then had asked us when we were leaving and said that we should be moving on. I think he watched to many westerns. Overall, we feel bad for what happened and know we would make different choices in the future but he was definitely over the top.
During the week we got our wind generator back, did boat chores, went to a cruisers pot luck with Frank and Joanne then on Saturday night, Sunday and Sunday night joined with our friends on Siya Sinana, Gary and Lisa for some sun downers plus a tour of the cities water front. It was great but Monday they headed north and us to Miami.
We tried to go outside to Miami but had know luck tacking south as we went out to far and got driven north by the Gulf Stream. An hour later we got back to where we started so we went inside down to No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne just south of Miami. It was pretty nice in the little harbor and the coolest thing was that they were shooting scenes for a TV show, either Burn Notice or maybe Bones. It had something to do with a little sea plane.
Tuesday we headed for Bimini where we have been for a few days and will be until the wind dies down. I did not realize how far it was to the next protected anchorage so we have to wait until we can anchor in the shallow waters of the Bahama bank for a night, right now it is too rough. If we were to go all over again I would have made very different choices but a few days will not hurt us. Today we have been vanishing some spots inside that need it. There is always work to do on the boat. Hopefully we will head towards Nassau either Monday or Tuesday.
The outside run to Ft. Lauderdale was uneventful and once again we motored staying close to shore to escape the Gulf Stream.
Sunday, we dinghied ashore to meet our friends, Frank and Joanne who drove us to the show. We left our dinghy at the public boat ramp next to the police dock, enjoyed the show, dinner and company. Upon our return however our dinghy was missing which we were informed by a bystander had been placed in protective custody by the police department. We walked over to the station but it was not staffed after who knows what time because there was absolutely no information explaning there hours or who to call. Seeing the dinghy at their dock behind a fence I realized that from the water I could easily get our dinghy so we could get home to our boat anchored in Lake Sylvia. Another boater took me to the dinghy, we went home and to sleep.
There are right ways to do things and sometimes they elude me as we quickly found out. In the morning I called the police department and two officers came over in their boat to tell me that I should have called 911, I should not have taken my dinghy and that we should not have left it at the sea wall near the public boat ramp on the busiest day of the year so far. They also went so far as to tell us that a boat must be registered in some state regardless of state laws to which I thought "huh, that is news to me". Then they asked us if we wanted to prosecute and that they had the guy on four drug violations. I stated that we did not want to travel all the way back from Oregon for a trial so they said "sign here" and we did. The offices left after warning us again and we thought it was all over.
Next, the arresting officer who had since come on duty called to give us all the same warnings plus tell us how he had put his life on the line for us and we did not even want to prosecute. We said we would be glad to now that we knew a little more about the circumstances but he said it would only look like he made us do it if it came to court, but after telling us it was an open and shut case and that the guy would have pleaded out anyway. Then had asked us when we were leaving and said that we should be moving on. I think he watched to many westerns. Overall, we feel bad for what happened and know we would make different choices in the future but he was definitely over the top.
During the week we got our wind generator back, did boat chores, went to a cruisers pot luck with Frank and Joanne then on Saturday night, Sunday and Sunday night joined with our friends on Siya Sinana, Gary and Lisa for some sun downers plus a tour of the cities water front. It was great but Monday they headed north and us to Miami.
We tried to go outside to Miami but had know luck tacking south as we went out to far and got driven north by the Gulf Stream. An hour later we got back to where we started so we went inside down to No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne just south of Miami. It was pretty nice in the little harbor and the coolest thing was that they were shooting scenes for a TV show, either Burn Notice or maybe Bones. It had something to do with a little sea plane.
Tuesday we headed for Bimini where we have been for a few days and will be until the wind dies down. I did not realize how far it was to the next protected anchorage so we have to wait until we can anchor in the shallow waters of the Bahama bank for a night, right now it is too rough. If we were to go all over again I would have made very different choices but a few days will not hurt us. Today we have been vanishing some spots inside that need it. There is always work to do on the boat. Hopefully we will head towards Nassau either Monday or Tuesday.
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