March 2014
3/1 The wind was still blowing pretty good when we got up. Rick and Liz decide to leave for Long Island anyway.
Janet and I walk beached and check out a snorkel spot on the ocean side with great views. The ocean was still rough from the recent storms.
back on the anchorage side it was nice and calm.
There was a great tail that lead to and from the snorkeling pool and through the jungle.
Bob picked us up for lunch after our walking/exploring adventure.
Lady Nelson was still at anchor and joined us at the Chat n Chill for yet another party.
Janet and I walk beached and check out a snorkel spot on the ocean side with great views. The ocean was still rough from the recent storms.
Bob picked us up for lunch after our walking/exploring adventure.
Lady Nelson was still at anchor and joined us at the Chat n Chill for yet another party.
Another night of squalls kept us all awake. We decided to delay snorkeling because it was too rough so we headed back to the trails for more photo opts.
The ocean was pounding over the rocks that protect the snorkel pool.
The tide was also going out which left several boats high and dry for many hours. The current was too strong for anyone trying to get across.
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3/3 dingy behind Rolle cay, very shallow, walk boat across shallows, glory days folks there, moss island, throw anchor, not attached, snorkel ok, jewelry,
3/4 snorkel reef near chat n chill, not bad, JW pack up, bring her to P&P, check in, #12, pina colada, will come back for dinner later, nice dinner by JW, nice visit
3/5 found some clothes JW left, bob work on changing fuel genset and engine, read relax
3/6 laundry in town, 3 loads, liz and rick back, dinghy ride snorkel at marker, tide going out, cloudy, fair
3/7 cribbage with liz, dinner later, lobster, bob made bread
3/8 weather still not good to leave, kayak to monument beach, hike up then back to boat, communication issues, Bob got stuck in lazarette, had discussion,
3/9 finally depart GT at 8am. stay near 200ft for fishing opportunity, no luck, lots of traveling boats, light chop, NE winds 10 -15 sunny motor sail cut narrow but ok, anchored behind children cay infront of private beach. very ice, dinghy around snorkel, rick John, and friend stopped by and gave us small lobster and grouper. they are at williams cay
3/10 leave via rat cay cut around 9:45 try fishing on way to ruder cut, no success, head into rudder cut around 1:15 great scenery, rocks, water color incredible, anchored at end near man made channel, now private of course. take snorkel gear and dinghy around, did find mermaid and piano, life size. Ramora looking for host, barracuda just looking, check out rocks in cut, too much current to go in, bob snorkel along wall near cut and saw lots offish, used weight belt and found it better to stay down. about ten boats in anchorage, mostly bunched up at entry near cave private signs posted all around. nice dinner overcast
3/11 left anchorage a 9:45 most boats left early, try fishing again with no luck, arrive little farmers cay around noon. missed first mooring ball, picked up second, looks like one strand on mooring line frayed, dingy around visit ocean cabin and very friendly Terry Bain, cute settlement all friendly meet up with other boaters on an apogee 58, very nice but some drawbacks, 7.2ft draft, 68’mast, fair pilot house. lots of tourists fast boat flying through anchorage, all along exumas, annoying. nice steak dinner
3/12 may stay here for upcoming storm. watched 53’ oceans run aground trying to dock, came in a bit too fast on wrong side of dock. Bob and several other took dinghy over to help. discover he has fin keel and will have to wait for high tide to move. Walk to beach bar and hang there a bit, great people swam Bob hang out on beach chair, got ride back to town from bar tender, bob got fresh snapper, he ate I was too tired the two drinks didn’t help, fell asleep, weird night.
3/13 wind picked up, early am, blood red sunrise over last, big black clouds moving overhead, decided to leave around 11am, thought it calmed down enough and there was still enough water to get out, tide was going out. wind 30-35kts, squall, got to little bay 1hr too early, wind clocking around from west to north, heave too and stayed hove to for 45min while wind direction imporved. pulled in close and anchored, turned out very nice. only ones here till later in afternoon. big yacht and sailboat pulled in wind still 15 -25 supposed to pick up again. nice sunset with castle in background. also had internet
3/14 windy night, lots of noise, anchor snubber very creaky, pancakes, reading books, snorkel along wall, lot s of fish, not much color, lots of wind another sailboat and catamaran pulled in
3/15 windy night but not bad, decide to do snorkel this am then mose over to black pt, brought dinghy to beach in front of castle, after snorkel, lady of the mannor came over to talk with us. she was concerned about fishiing too close to the shore to beach with spear, Bob had spear, no worries there he was not successful, talked about area said her husband not friendly walks around naked, and rather grumpy, we saw hom on his porch later, he did look grumpy, moved to black pt went in for some stuff and haircuts, very short bangs, hmmmm saw 47' pilot house cabo rico, will visit tomorrow am. there were three together, 1977 dbl masted, 1995 cutter 2006 pilot house. very cool. got jug water, bread potato eggs
3/16 move to Staniel Cay, top of the majors, pick ourway through reefs and anchored off channel. windy, current, several boats came in later moxie, and small sail anchor in channel, power boats fly though, tried to kayak, current too strong, paddle hard and still going backwards, dragged it over rocks and then paddle back to boat
3/17 not a bad night, wind going south, roll from cut, some power boats moving over here, another day of wind, cocktails with moxie, snorkel shelling back of sampson cay, very good
3/18 top of major, went to town, no wifi available, 65’ powerboat ran aground on thron of crowns, took all day to tow him off. tried to kayak later, out going current strong, Bob couldn’t find me, some other kayakers were in trouble,
3/19 left anchorage 9:30 and took bank route to to conch cut, several attempt near compass cay for anchorage but ended up at Bell Island off construction site, took dinghy around to compass cay marina, strictly large yachts, no fish
3/20 left Bell Island early and moved to Johnny Depp Island, Little Halls Pond. snorkel aquariam nice, clear, lots of people, lots of fish, dinghy to Sandy Cay, AKA osprey island, very cool private but ok, water flat clear, great colors,
3/21 leave anchorage 10:30 head to bank and put up sail, NNE 12-18kts, great sail, anchored at shroud cay around 2:30. got in kayaks and went across island to ocean, “3 hr tour” but well worth it very cool even if we had to drag kayaks over some sand bars
3:22 left anchorage 6:45am part cloudy 2 -4’ seas, 15kts, have 7kt boat speed, incoming tide, -2.0kt at cut, anchor at end of Rock Harbor sound, Eluthra, dinghy to dock walk to stores, some provision nice sunset calm seas
3/23 depart 6:45am flat calm clear, lots of dew, outside harbor lite chop, lite west wind 12kts, only saw 1 other sail boat near cut. motor most of way, go thru current cut 4kts, follow a sailboat arrived at mooring around 3:45 cleaned up boat, nice looking town Spanish Wells
3.24 Bandid out early to collect $20 mooring rent, rent golf cart, drive around island, provision fresh lobster, liquor store, all gift shops, Russell Island, bank, tackle house, return cart around 5pm, more boats arrived, had lobster dinner, Bob’s gout bad
3/25 Bandit collect fee for 2 days, he is piloting boat to harbor town today, tricky area devils back bone, rain for a bit, kayak around pt and then back around mangroves. waves up on ocean side, wind starting to pick up, clear water, lots of small fish barracuda eagle ray upside down jelly egret, heron, back to boat for late lunch, emails photos. Bob reading with foot up sunny warm wind 15-20 we are well protected, Hobie cat fling around. Bob fishing and catch small mutton snapper, threw it back
3/26 windy and cool, take dinghy ride, check out canals, look for fishing guy, not around. walk to Budhas, for lunch, not good on his foot. Laura returns today after flying out for eye injection . invited then to dinner thru
3/27 bandit called 2 days rent, weather window not looking good for Sunday, head to pinders for lime and chicken, nice evening with Pan brought medicine for Bob
3/28 Bob rest foot, walk around boat , Pan stop by to see patient, work on taxes not fun.
3/29 dinghy to beach, watched kids jump off bridge, walk on beach, tide way out, Bob stay in boat and read, storm clouds but no rain, warm humid, saw Pand a lawrie at Joannes take away, we tried out their bikes. fish guy not in, Bob went back later in day and got 2 big lobster tails. nice dinner. not leaving sunday squalls, maybe tuesday now, may go with “kindred spirits” and take pilot out through reef.
3/30 up late, Bob slept in, last 2 nights slept in cockpit, hot and foot not doing well. swelling, has gone down, did some laundry, rained on it, very low tide, was going to kayak too windy, squall, nice dinner on Pan & Lawries boat, curry chicken
3/31 rent cart to go to bank, pharmacy, pan wrote prescription for Bob’s foot, smoothie and shirt shop, get gas for dinghy and drinking water. grab sandwich at Budhas, wine return cart and ate sandwich on wall then brought food back to boat. took long dinghy ride around island. Some nice homes pork chops for dinner, bed
