Tuesday March 31, 2015
Chub Cay, Exumas
Bahamas
Snorkeling in Clear Water
We left West Bay, New Providence this morning and sailed and motor sailed to Chub Cay. We have now gone full circle. We checked into the Bahamas at Chub almost a month ago.
We anchored in beautiful clear blue water with a lot if starfish all around us. We then went snorkeling on a half dead reef beside a rock/hill called Momma Rhoda Rock. There were some corals and fish, a ray and a shark, but it was not the creature packed reef we are used to seeing. It was very shallow also.
Since I had not done any snorkeling it was good to get in the water. My snorkel leaked salt water. I knew that last time I used it but forgot until it happened again today. My mask, which I got on my last dive trip did not leak at all. I am happy with it. Between my snorkel leaking & Marks mask leaking we did not last too long but Lee and Judy lingered a good while. Judy had a GoPro camera.
We will start tomorrow morning and sail all day, all night tomorrow night and the next day we should end the day in West Palm Beach FL. Then Fri morning we will high tail it north on our way to Little River. Since we can't know if we can go off shore (the fast way) or must go in the ICW (water way) which takes much longer we have to plan for the long way. We want to make our closing date on our new place.
I will miss the lovely people here and the water that I can not put into words and do justice to, but it will be good to get our housing situation squared away and our things out of storage.
We will definitely do more cruising. Now that we have worked out most of the kinks.
We will continue the logs until we are back in our slip at LightKeepers so stay tuned it is not over Thurs evening.
Voyages of Sea Turtle
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Long Day, First Leg
Monday March 30, 2015
West Bay, New Providence Cay
Emumas, Bahamas
Long Day, First Leg
Today we left at first light to take the first leg of our trip home. We left Hawksbill Cay headed for New Providence. That is where Nassau is but we went to the other end of the island. It took 11 hrs. We had every kind of wind to almost no wind. We did a lot of sailing early in the day. I was getting 6.9 kts with a 13 kt breeze. My sails were happy. Our rail was in the water several times earlier in the day. That is the first time that we know of we have done that. We were really heeling.
Mark and Judy have picked up another traveler. A sail boater who is single handing his boat is going back to USA also and started tagging along after being at the same mooring field last night. Not sure how far he will travel with us but he is from the Washington DC area so might go a while.
Anchoring here was a pill. We had to try 2 or 3 times and so did Windbird. We have had great holding most places but not here. So far it has been very calm though.
Looks like we may make our closing date. We will have to wait and see but we are going to try hard. That is it for today.
West Bay, New Providence Cay
Emumas, Bahamas
Long Day, First Leg
Today we left at first light to take the first leg of our trip home. We left Hawksbill Cay headed for New Providence. That is where Nassau is but we went to the other end of the island. It took 11 hrs. We had every kind of wind to almost no wind. We did a lot of sailing early in the day. I was getting 6.9 kts with a 13 kt breeze. My sails were happy. Our rail was in the water several times earlier in the day. That is the first time that we know of we have done that. We were really heeling.
Mark and Judy have picked up another traveler. A sail boater who is single handing his boat is going back to USA also and started tagging along after being at the same mooring field last night. Not sure how far he will travel with us but he is from the Washington DC area so might go a while.
Anchoring here was a pill. We had to try 2 or 3 times and so did Windbird. We have had great holding most places but not here. So far it has been very calm though.
Looks like we may make our closing date. We will have to wait and see but we are going to try hard. That is it for today.
Beautiful Beaches
Sunday
March 29, 2015
Hawksbill Cay
Exhumes, Bahamas
Beautiful Beaches
Today the local weather lady said it would be good to cross the Gulf Stream Wed. & Thurs. so as Lee & I were discussing it might be a good idea to head north today to get in position for crossing, Mark called on the VHF to say he thought that too. So 30 min later we were heading out of Warderick Wells to Hawksbill Cay. About a 3 hr trip.
We were battling 15 to 25 knt winds varying from almost on our nose to almost a beam reach. We put out our jib then added the main reefed and made 5.7 but the wind kept shifting and the sails needed constant tweaking. It was heeling a lot at times too. I talked Lee into bringing in the main and turning on the motor to motor sail. Our jib started luffing so we brought it in too. But we were almost to the mooring field by then.
We ate lunch then all 4 of us took a long dinghy ride to a beach on the other end of the island to hike up to some ruins of a hide out from around 1800. The trail was steep and buggy. I provided lunch for several bugs. I seem to be a favorite flavor. The summit had a beautiful view and the numerous beaches here at Hawksbill are some of loveliest we have seem and the water is a light topaz blue, stunning. Lee sat on a rock and sat in something gelatinous and sticky. I tried to wipe it off, then tried to wash it off in the ocean, it would not come off and the sticky stayed too. Those shorts will be isolated until we get back home.
Mark dropped us at the boat and went to pay for our mooring balls. It is the honor system. There is a box you put money in. The Bahamian people just assume everyone is going to be honest. Very nice atmosphere, we have felt safe everywhere we have gone in the Bahamas.
Plans are to head north at 6:30 am tomorrow and decide after listening to the weather guru exactly where north we aim for.
March 29, 2015
Hawksbill Cay
Exhumes, Bahamas
Beautiful Beaches
Today the local weather lady said it would be good to cross the Gulf Stream Wed. & Thurs. so as Lee & I were discussing it might be a good idea to head north today to get in position for crossing, Mark called on the VHF to say he thought that too. So 30 min later we were heading out of Warderick Wells to Hawksbill Cay. About a 3 hr trip.
We were battling 15 to 25 knt winds varying from almost on our nose to almost a beam reach. We put out our jib then added the main reefed and made 5.7 but the wind kept shifting and the sails needed constant tweaking. It was heeling a lot at times too. I talked Lee into bringing in the main and turning on the motor to motor sail. Our jib started luffing so we brought it in too. But we were almost to the mooring field by then.
We ate lunch then all 4 of us took a long dinghy ride to a beach on the other end of the island to hike up to some ruins of a hide out from around 1800. The trail was steep and buggy. I provided lunch for several bugs. I seem to be a favorite flavor. The summit had a beautiful view and the numerous beaches here at Hawksbill are some of loveliest we have seem and the water is a light topaz blue, stunning. Lee sat on a rock and sat in something gelatinous and sticky. I tried to wipe it off, then tried to wash it off in the ocean, it would not come off and the sticky stayed too. Those shorts will be isolated until we get back home.
Mark dropped us at the boat and went to pay for our mooring balls. It is the honor system. There is a box you put money in. The Bahamian people just assume everyone is going to be honest. Very nice atmosphere, we have felt safe everywhere we have gone in the Bahamas.
Plans are to head north at 6:30 am tomorrow and decide after listening to the weather guru exactly where north we aim for.
VHF yea!
Saturday
March 28, 2015
Emerald Rocks
Warderwick Wells Cay
Emumas, Bahamas
As promised last night & this morning was a blow. Winds were up over 35 kts for several hours in the night. Everyone was bobbing up and down, lights on boats indicating other people were awake too. Lee sat in the cockpit while it rained and blew and watched to see if we were going to stay on the mooring ball. It slowed down around 8 am. But got around 20 kts again in the afternoon.
Mark & Judy came over in the morning and let us know they were going to dinghy to the park office. Judy found a problem with her shirt & needed to exchange it. Mine was little too big so I send it back by Judy to exchange for a smaller size. When Mark came back with the shirt he also brought a VHF radio. He had an extra one on board. It seemed to work fine so we have it wired in and are in the communication business again. I just hope it continues to work. Lee tried the helm mike and that seemed to cause the main vhf to go dead. While he was checking connections to see if that was the problem it magically came back on again. We do not know if the pedestal mike caused the problem or why it started working again so to be on the safe side we are not using the helm mike. Still no internet or cell signal.
It has been overcast all day. So rare for it not to be sunny. Listening to the weather guru it sounds like we might make a run north on Monday. Also looks like we will be pulling some over nighters to catch weather windows. Time will tell. We will eventually get back to the states.
March 28, 2015
Emerald Rocks
Warderwick Wells Cay
Emumas, Bahamas
As promised last night & this morning was a blow. Winds were up over 35 kts for several hours in the night. Everyone was bobbing up and down, lights on boats indicating other people were awake too. Lee sat in the cockpit while it rained and blew and watched to see if we were going to stay on the mooring ball. It slowed down around 8 am. But got around 20 kts again in the afternoon.
Mark & Judy came over in the morning and let us know they were going to dinghy to the park office. Judy found a problem with her shirt & needed to exchange it. Mine was little too big so I send it back by Judy to exchange for a smaller size. When Mark came back with the shirt he also brought a VHF radio. He had an extra one on board. It seemed to work fine so we have it wired in and are in the communication business again. I just hope it continues to work. Lee tried the helm mike and that seemed to cause the main vhf to go dead. While he was checking connections to see if that was the problem it magically came back on again. We do not know if the pedestal mike caused the problem or why it started working again so to be on the safe side we are not using the helm mike. Still no internet or cell signal.
It has been overcast all day. So rare for it not to be sunny. Listening to the weather guru it sounds like we might make a run north on Monday. Also looks like we will be pulling some over nighters to catch weather windows. Time will tell. We will eventually get back to the states.
Wind & Waves
Friday
March 27, 2015
Emerald Rock Mooring Field
Warderick Wells Cay
Exumas , Bahamas
We have had a windy day up to 20 knots. Lee's back is still hurting so when Handleys went to the park office to pay for their mooring I went with them and paid for ours. There were some shirts and Judy and I got one each. We looked at whale skeletons that had beached here and died. The larger one had died from eating plastic discarded in the ocean.
After a wet dinghy ride to the boat I retied the mooring ball the way you are supposed to do it. Lee could not do what I did with his back.
Later in the day Handleys braved the waves & wind again to bring me birthday cake. Carrot cake which is my favorite cake. That was sure a surprise, a very nice one. Thanks Judy 🎂😄
We had VHF radio for a while today but back to nothing again. The hand held vhf is worthless too. The battery is down and the charger will not charge it. We do not know if the charger or battery is at fault but our plan A & plan B are both out now and have no plan C. Not crazy about crossing the Gulf Stream and sailing off shore with no radio communication. Here we do not even have cell phone for back up.
Murphy's Law. What can go wrong will go wrong.
Not quite dark and expecting a rolly rough night.
March 27, 2015
Emerald Rock Mooring Field
Warderick Wells Cay
Exumas , Bahamas
We have had a windy day up to 20 knots. Lee's back is still hurting so when Handleys went to the park office to pay for their mooring I went with them and paid for ours. There were some shirts and Judy and I got one each. We looked at whale skeletons that had beached here and died. The larger one had died from eating plastic discarded in the ocean.
After a wet dinghy ride to the boat I retied the mooring ball the way you are supposed to do it. Lee could not do what I did with his back.
Later in the day Handleys braved the waves & wind again to bring me birthday cake. Carrot cake which is my favorite cake. That was sure a surprise, a very nice one. Thanks Judy 🎂😄
We had VHF radio for a while today but back to nothing again. The hand held vhf is worthless too. The battery is down and the charger will not charge it. We do not know if the charger or battery is at fault but our plan A & plan B are both out now and have no plan C. Not crazy about crossing the Gulf Stream and sailing off shore with no radio communication. Here we do not even have cell phone for back up.
Murphy's Law. What can go wrong will go wrong.
Not quite dark and expecting a rolly rough night.
Warderick Cay
Thursday
March 26, 2015
Warderwick Wells
Exumas, Bahamas
Today a nasty weather report send us north looking for somewhere to hide. We are at Emerald Rocks in the Exumas Land & Sea Park near Warderwick Wells Cay. We imagine we will be here til at least Sunday. Because winds of as much as 40knts are predicted Friday we took a mooring ball. Windbird is here too.
We started our morning with the Parker weather show on SSB radio. Then we talked to Handleys and went into shore at the laundry. Lee & I got a piece of carrot cake and Lee & the woman who runs the laundry and makes the cakes sang happy birthday to me. My birthday isn't til tomorrow but we knew there would be no cake then. I am as old as I feel and that is old!
It was another sunny warm day, water & air temp both 80. But this evening is a nice cool breeze. Lee has back pain from lifting a big propane tank today. That happens once and a while and can take 3 or 4 months to go away. With the new place coming as soon as we get back to SC this is not a good time for back problems. Hoping this goes away in a few days not months.
We sailed and motor sailed about 4 hrs today with moderate winds but they were behind us most of the time and without a spinnaker we did not make much headway. Getting better at sailing but have not had many days with good wind direction and speed.
March 26, 2015
Warderwick Wells
Exumas, Bahamas
Today a nasty weather report send us north looking for somewhere to hide. We are at Emerald Rocks in the Exumas Land & Sea Park near Warderwick Wells Cay. We imagine we will be here til at least Sunday. Because winds of as much as 40knts are predicted Friday we took a mooring ball. Windbird is here too.
We started our morning with the Parker weather show on SSB radio. Then we talked to Handleys and went into shore at the laundry. Lee & I got a piece of carrot cake and Lee & the woman who runs the laundry and makes the cakes sang happy birthday to me. My birthday isn't til tomorrow but we knew there would be no cake then. I am as old as I feel and that is old!
It was another sunny warm day, water & air temp both 80. But this evening is a nice cool breeze. Lee has back pain from lifting a big propane tank today. That happens once and a while and can take 3 or 4 months to go away. With the new place coming as soon as we get back to SC this is not a good time for back problems. Hoping this goes away in a few days not months.
We sailed and motor sailed about 4 hrs today with moderate winds but they were behind us most of the time and without a spinnaker we did not make much headway. Getting better at sailing but have not had many days with good wind direction and speed.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Lion Fish Lunch for the Shark
March 25, 2015
Black Point, Great Guana
Exumas, Bahamas
Exumas, Bahamas
Today the weather guru says Thur & Fri will be nice but find a hidy hole for Sat & Sun.
Judy & I both did laundry and messed around with wifi while we had it. It was slightly breezey and warm. The power to the whole island was off for several hours which stopped activity everywhere right in the middle of the day. I was still at the laundry when they locked up the doors.
Guess we are staying here another day and Fri heading north probably to Warderwick Wells which is in the Exumas Land & Sea Park. This is on our way to where we jump off to cross the Gulf Stream to return to the states.
Some kids found a lion fish that was dead. They played with it a while and threw it in the water where the dinghies are tied up at the laundry. As we got in our dinghy with the laundry Lee was looking for the lion fish floating near our dinghy when a 6 ft shark came up and snatched it. Cool. Went right over another big sting ray today in the dinghy too.
Live like every day is your last.
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