With a little bit more wind this morning we decided to continue our journey north and decided to sail on the Atlantic side of the cays in the hope we would a catch another fish. Imagine our excitement when a huge Mahi Mahi hooked on the line and Jon started to reel it in. Quite what happened we don't know but it leapt out of the water, giving us a fantastic view of it, only to fall off the line and be lost to us. It really dampened our mood. Sadly we didn't get another bite so arrived at Bitter Guana Cay for a BBQ with only a nice fillet of Mahi the couple from last night had caught and given to us.
We'd hoped to BBQ last night on our sand bar at dusk but low water didn't come soon enough. We saved all the food we'd prepared for lunchtime today and headed over to a deserted beach on Bitter Guana Cay to enjoy it, which we duly did under the watchful eye of an half dozen residents .... iguanas who were very interested in what we were up to!
3 Mar 2016
2/3/2016 : Paradise on earth
We had a slow old sail up from Georgetown yesterday in lighter winds than forecast and consequently didn't make our planned for destination. The highlight of the trip was catching a Bigeye tuna .... All 4 lb or so of him! It was an exciting moment hauling it on board and then Paul and Jon swiftly despatched it whilst Hannah acted as official photographer. I was conspicuous by my absence!
We anchored overnight at Galliot Cay and had delicious seared tuna and also sashimi making for a memorable meal. We woke up this morning with a view to sailing on but spied a sand bar in the distance which was exposed being low water. We decided to investigate and are all so glad we did .... It was our little piece of paradise.
We managed to get Tumi to within a mile of the bar and then headed off in the dinghy across the beautiful shallow waters to be the first people that day to walk on the sand. It was truly stunning and the colours were incredible. Some hour and a half later the sand was rapidly disappearing as the waters rose and we beat a retreat back to Tumi.
With no breath of breeze we decided to stay put for the day and the peace and quiet was complete, that is until another yacht invaded our haven! They motored over to say hello and came back later for sundowners, a lot of fun. All in all the perfect day.
We anchored overnight at Galliot Cay and had delicious seared tuna and also sashimi making for a memorable meal. We woke up this morning with a view to sailing on but spied a sand bar in the distance which was exposed being low water. We decided to investigate and are all so glad we did .... It was our little piece of paradise.
We managed to get Tumi to within a mile of the bar and then headed off in the dinghy across the beautiful shallow waters to be the first people that day to walk on the sand. It was truly stunning and the colours were incredible. Some hour and a half later the sand was rapidly disappearing as the waters rose and we beat a retreat back to Tumi.
With no breath of breeze we decided to stay put for the day and the peace and quiet was complete, that is until another yacht invaded our haven! They motored over to say hello and came back later for sundowners, a lot of fun. All in all the perfect day.
1 Mar 2016
1/3/2016 : Goodbye Georgetown
We had a good sail down to Georgetown on Thursday, especially the half outside the island chain when the wind got up and we averaged over 7 knots. Despite that we still arrived at dusk and as we motored towards the anchorage were greeted by myriad anchor lights, several hundred so pretty busy to say the least. We were sensible with it being dark by now and anchored away from the other boats but nearly 3 miles from town which with a leaking dinghy wasn't ideal! It's nice to be back.
Jon and Hannah arrived on Saturday night, delayed once again by local airlines .... they don't have much luck on that front ... ready for two weeks exploring the Exumas. The weather hasn't completely played ball their first two days with Sunday being sunny but rather windy and yesterday a bit overcast until mid-afternoon but it's not stopped us getting out and about. We hired a car yesterday and drive down to neighbouring Little Exuma and, after an excellent lunch at a local restaurant, to Tropic of Cancer beach, so named (you've guessed it ) because the Tropic of Cancer runs through it. Whilst Paul, J & H strolled along the beach, I enjoyed forty winks in the sunshine!
Today we're sailing north back to Big Major Spot, a 60 mile sail which we had planned to do over two days later this week but the weather has dictated otherwise. After today we have 5 days of next to no wind which will hopefully also be accompanied by clear blue skies. Nothing wrong with dreaming .......
Jon and Hannah arrived on Saturday night, delayed once again by local airlines .... they don't have much luck on that front ... ready for two weeks exploring the Exumas. The weather hasn't completely played ball their first two days with Sunday being sunny but rather windy and yesterday a bit overcast until mid-afternoon but it's not stopped us getting out and about. We hired a car yesterday and drive down to neighbouring Little Exuma and, after an excellent lunch at a local restaurant, to Tropic of Cancer beach, so named (you've guessed it ) because the Tropic of Cancer runs through it. Whilst Paul, J & H strolled along the beach, I enjoyed forty winks in the sunshine!
Today we're sailing north back to Big Major Spot, a 60 mile sail which we had planned to do over two days later this week but the weather has dictated otherwise. After today we have 5 days of next to no wind which will hopefully also be accompanied by clear blue skies. Nothing wrong with dreaming .......
24 Feb 2016
24 February 2016 - Feeling a little deflated ...
The last few weeks have been somewhat frustrating for me. When we returned to the boat in Cape Canaveral after the Christmas break one of the inflatable tubes on the dinghy had sprung a leak. No problem, I thought, I have a repair kit, I will just put a patch on the leak and that will be that. No such luck! I duly put a patch on the affected seam that had given up the ghost with plenty of overlap for good measure, allowed it time to set and then pumped it up again. A few days later, it was soggy again, obviously I hadn't covered it all. So I put another patch on next to the new one because the leak had moved along the tube. Still not enough. Several more patches and the dinghy is looking like a quilt, and I am still having to re-inflate every day. It is so annoying.
We have decided that we need a new dinghy, and the new one will be a rib with a solid floor, but this one needs to last us the next 4 weeks until we haul out for the summer. Let's hope it does.
The sailing has been a delight lately, with brisk winds and sunny skies, and the calm turquoise waters of the bahama bank. We have really enjoyed our visits to some old haunts, particularly Warderick Wells in the Exuma State Park, and Big Major Spot, near Staniel Cay. We have made new friends along the way and caught up with some longer standing ones too. Everyone is very friendly and the cruisers events we've attended good fun and a good source of information.
The colour of the water in the Bahamas on the bank is simply awesome, we have seen huge stingrays gliding around in lazy circles and sharks resting on the seafloor below the boat in crystal clear waters. It doesn't get much better than this.
Over the next couple of days we'll head south to Georgetown at the bottom end of the Exuma chain in readiness to pick up Jon and Hannah on Saturday night. For once it looks like the winds will actually play ball and be from the right direction!
We have decided that we need a new dinghy, and the new one will be a rib with a solid floor, but this one needs to last us the next 4 weeks until we haul out for the summer. Let's hope it does.
The sailing has been a delight lately, with brisk winds and sunny skies, and the calm turquoise waters of the bahama bank. We have really enjoyed our visits to some old haunts, particularly Warderick Wells in the Exuma State Park, and Big Major Spot, near Staniel Cay. We have made new friends along the way and caught up with some longer standing ones too. Everyone is very friendly and the cruisers events we've attended good fun and a good source of information.
The colour of the water in the Bahamas on the bank is simply awesome, we have seen huge stingrays gliding around in lazy circles and sharks resting on the seafloor below the boat in crystal clear waters. It doesn't get much better than this.
Over the next couple of days we'll head south to Georgetown at the bottom end of the Exuma chain in readiness to pick up Jon and Hannah on Saturday night. For once it looks like the winds will actually play ball and be from the right direction!
19 Feb 2016
18/2/2016 : Haircut madam? Staniel Cay, Exuma National Park
After 48 hours riding out yet more high winds tucked behind Highbourne Cay, Tuesday saw us tacking south to Shroud Cay in the Exuma National Park. It was a beautiful day with winds from the south so very warm and for the first time in nearly a year the bikini came out!
Shroud Cay is home to a vast mangrove which we explored in the dinghy. Surprsingly we didn't see much wildlfe but it was a great afternoon.
That evening we were invited for cocktails on a neighbouring boat and ended up staying for dinner! The Canadian couple who's boat it was were nearing the end of their 3 year trip around the Caribbean and had some interesting tales to tell.
We sailed on down (slowly!) to Warderick Wells and picked up a mooring ball for the night. We'd been without Internet connection for over 36 hours but had been told there was a chance of a weak signal if we climbed Boo Boo Hill so off we went and true enough were able to pick up and reply to our emails, whilst being bitten to death by sand flies!
Whilst we'd have liked to stay at Warderick another couple of nights we were sensible and headed down to Big Majors Spot next to Staniel Cay and a Bahamas Telecom mast .... Internet on board once again! As it turned out we picked a good day to arrive as the mail boat had been and the small grocery store had just taken delivery of fresh produce.
It's lovely to be back at Staniel Cay and Big Majors Spot, home of the swimming pigs. The colour of the water is the most incredible turquoise and the natural beauty of the area beyond compare .... truly stunning.
We'll be here a few days as yet another front is blowing through .... we're beginning to wonder if they'll ever stop!
This afternoon was hair cut time. With the lack of an hairdresser ashore, Paul got out his scissors once again and I bravely let him set to on my crowning glory.
He actually did a pretty decent job. I then returned the favour with his clippers giving him a number 5 all over .... A good sailing hairstyle if ever I saw one.
Shroud Cay is home to a vast mangrove which we explored in the dinghy. Surprsingly we didn't see much wildlfe but it was a great afternoon.
That evening we were invited for cocktails on a neighbouring boat and ended up staying for dinner! The Canadian couple who's boat it was were nearing the end of their 3 year trip around the Caribbean and had some interesting tales to tell.
We sailed on down (slowly!) to Warderick Wells and picked up a mooring ball for the night. We'd been without Internet connection for over 36 hours but had been told there was a chance of a weak signal if we climbed Boo Boo Hill so off we went and true enough were able to pick up and reply to our emails, whilst being bitten to death by sand flies!
Whilst we'd have liked to stay at Warderick another couple of nights we were sensible and headed down to Big Majors Spot next to Staniel Cay and a Bahamas Telecom mast .... Internet on board once again! As it turned out we picked a good day to arrive as the mail boat had been and the small grocery store had just taken delivery of fresh produce.
It's lovely to be back at Staniel Cay and Big Majors Spot, home of the swimming pigs. The colour of the water is the most incredible turquoise and the natural beauty of the area beyond compare .... truly stunning.
We'll be here a few days as yet another front is blowing through .... we're beginning to wonder if they'll ever stop!
This afternoon was hair cut time. With the lack of an hairdresser ashore, Paul got out his scissors once again and I bravely let him set to on my crowning glory.
He actually did a pretty decent job. I then returned the favour with his clippers giving him a number 5 all over .... A good sailing hairstyle if ever I saw one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)