We are still in Staniel Cay and totally relaxing!

This is the lobster tail we enjoyed the other night. Sweet but quite tough done on the BBQ.

I caught up on posting pictures on old blog posts so take a peak.

Me frantically trying to download pictures!

The front of the yacht club.

We visited Thunderball Grotto where the 007 film Thunderball was filmed back in the '60s. It wasn't quite at slack tide so the current was pushing me out of the cave like a piece of driftwood! Jorge was able to get into the cave and said it was wonderful. We then went to a beach, had a bath and back to the boat for a fresh water rinse.

Relaxing on the beach after visiting Thunderball Grotto.

Enjoying the beach outside Thunderball Marina (now closed).

We also visited "Piggy Beach", gave them some scraps and took pictures.

Miss Piggy next to the dinghy.

We also had happy hour on the beach where some longtime cruisers have set up a "happy hour camp" complete with a fire pit, chairs, citronella candles, etc. On the way to the beach, a large nurse shark swam right under the boat as we were getting into the dinghy! Glad I wasn't swimming (although they are supposed to be harmless, just the sight of them makes me nervous.)

We had happy hour with Diana and Gilbert last night (Wednesday). They caught up to us as we had parted ways back in Warderick Wells Cay.

Today we are at the park blogging and catching up on computer stuff with Diana. Gilbert, unfortunately has had back issues the last couple of days and has been laying low.

I hate to admit it, considering the weather back home, but we have had constant +29C weather, blue skies, light breezes and, well, it has just been like paradise down here lately!

January 25, 2014

We departed the mooring ball field of Warderick Wells Cay on January 25 at 0945. The plan was to go directly to Staniel Cay some 20 nm "down the road" however O'Brien's Cay and the Sea Aquarium Coral Garden was calling so we stopped after 10 nm. We motor sailed on the Exuma Sound side.

We set anchor just past the coral garden, had lunch and then set out for the garden - complete with snorkeling gear. This was our first time ever snorkeling and apparently we picked the best area to snorkel in! Three other boats joined us, two Canadian boats who we had previously met and an Australian couple. Next the four of us headed to a submerged plane to snorkel there. We were joined  by a sea turtle but he maintained his distance!

Snorkeler Jorge!

Kim snorkeling with the fish.

Many snorkelers at the Sea Aquarium at O'Brien's Cay.

Happy hour was aboard one of the Canadian boats but we left early as it was about a 1.5 nm dinghy ride back to CS'ta Time and we wanted to do it while there was still sunlight.

January 26, 2014

We weighed anchor at 1200 after waiting and watching what a storm cell was doing. No fun sailing into a storm! Staniel Cay was only 10 nm away and we had a wonderful sail down the Exuma Banks side with 10 - 15 kts and less than 2' seas. It was an overcast day and temp was around 25C.

We set anchor beside an island called Big Majors Spot outside Staniel Cay with about 35+ other boats! It was a big anchorage with lots of room.

We had our own happy hour and just enjoyed the evening.

Sunset at anchorage at Big Majors Spot, Staniel Cay.

January 27, 2014

We were up just before 0800 with a mission to spend the day ashore. We left the boat around 0930 and headed for town. A walk to the dump was the first thing on our to-do list, priorities! We then walked the town, sightseeing and of course checking out the grocery stores. Good thing I had a good supply of essentials as there wasn't a lot in the stores. The mail boat (and supply boat) arrives on Thursday.

Landing the dinghy on Staniel Cay.

 

Sign at the airport.

Oldest house on the island, now a library.

 

Local vegetation along the road.

Baptist Church.

Pink Pearl's Supermarket.

We stopped at the government dock on the way back to CS'ta Time as there were fisherman who had just arrived and were cleaning their catch of the day. We bought a whopping big lobster tail for dinner!

Spiny lobster.

Catch of the day.

Scraps from the cleaning going to the nurse sharks.

We are only about 2 miles from a Batelco tower but using the internet in the Bahamas is definitely a lesson in patience! After 10 minutes if the picture doesn't download I give up. That's what is happening right now. However I have been successful in dowloading a few pictures on the last two posts so check them out. I'll keep trying to download them!

We are still alive and floating! Cell and internet service in the Bahamas, especially in the Out Islands is hit and miss. Lately it has definitely been a "miss".

We left Allen's Cay about five days ago and made our way to Norman's Cay where we spent four days. We did some land exploring, went conching, of course had happy hours and generally took it easy. We had to stay the fourth day as the winds and waves were not favourable for travelling. Generally the weather has been good, although the winds have been from the north making them cool.

Jorge in our "convertible" in Norman's Cay.

The name we gave it "Lone Palm Island" at low tide, many happy hours here.

Baby starfish in my hand.

Sign at the airport.

 

A conch.

The critter removed from his shell.

The final product - conch salad (you'd be proud of me Donna!)

Spotted ray swimming by the boat about 6' in width.

Plane wreck at low tide.

We are now in Warderick Wells Cay (Exumas Park). We arrived yesterday after having a great sail down the Exumas Sound (deep water compared to the Exumas Banks). It was a 3-1/2 hour trip. This is a nature park and is very protected. (Of course there is the park HQ and a bit of internet, this is my second attempt to connect). Today we walked part of the island with Gilbert and Diana, saw some blow holes and a memorial to shipwrecked sailors. I have lots of pictures but I am not sure if I will be able to get them to download.

Warderick Wells Cay.

52' sperm whale skeleton.

Nocturnal hutias (like a guinea pig.)

Big snail!

Ghost crab.

Boo Boo Hill with the Exuma Sound in the background.

Memorial to shipwrecked sailors, every piece of wood has the visiting boats name, date and crew.

Anchorage at Warderick Wells Cay.

Tomorrow we might head for Staniel Cay. Apparently they have pigs that actually swim out to the boats! Have to get a picture of that. They also have a town for reprovisioning and a marina with internet. Hopefully I can catch up on sending pictures.

January 18, 2014

We slept in until shortly after 0800. I can't believe how tired we are most of the time! I guess it must be all the fresh air.

We had a leisurely breakfast in the cockpit. It was windy and a bit cool but mostly sunny. Rob and Serena on Vita left this morning for Normans Cay. Diana, Gilbert, Dave, Rose, Jorge and I decided to stay until tomorrow and just hang out.

Jorge suggested a picnic lunch on the island inhabited by the iguanas and also explore some ruins. Good idea, the waves and wind were making staying on the boat a bit uncomfortable. We used our dinghy and picked up Diana and Gilbert and Dave and Rose. Off we went! So, it was interesting making our way around the island. The tide was in so we had to pick our way through the rocks and iguanas to the other side. It was much less windy there and that's where we had lunch.

Walking on "Iguana Island", Allen's Cay.

Enjoying lunch with the iguanas. L - R: Diana, Dave, Rose, Jorge and Gilbert.

View of anchorage from atop the ruins.

Jorge atop the ruins.

We then continued on and found a path to the ruins and explored them. Actually they were basically just the outside structure of a house and maybe a water holding tank but the view from them was incredible!

We continued to make our way around the island and arrived back to the dinghy. Diana and Gilbert had visited a small beach on another island so we headed over there for better protection from the wind. It was fabulous. Two other couples joined us shortly and we spent a very restful afternoon there. The girls played yahtzee and the guys chatted.

We headed back to our boats just before 1700 after discussing tomorrow's plans. We're off to Normans Cay in the morning (not too early as it is only about 12 - 15 nm away).

January 17, 2014

Jorge was up way earlier than me, before 0600. I was up around 0630. We left Nassau Harbour just before 0800 with some 7 or 8 boats. We were making our way to Allens Cay and some were going on to Normans Cay. The winds were light, mostly less than 10 kts and the seas 1' to 2'. We motor sailed all the way. We finally caught up with Diana and Gilbert again! Rob and Serena on Vita from Kingston (who we first met in the Oswego Canal) were also there. It was one big happy reunion.

We set anchor at 1330, put the dinghy down and said hi to everyone then explored the nearby island. It was populated with iguanas! The anchorage was quite busy with people snorkeling, swimming and even water boarding. It was a gorgeous day, mostly sunny and warm.

Jorge with the iguanas in Allen's Cay.

Iguana.

Diana invited us, Rob and Serena as well as Dave and Rose from Cloud 9 (who we have been travelling with from No Name Harbour) over for happy hour and we stayed for supper as well. It was great to see them again and catch up on things.

We were back to the boat by 2100 and in bed shortly afterwards.

We are using the phone as a hot spot. Very slow and unable to download pictures at this point. Once we get better signal I'll download the pictures.

We are in Nassau! Here is the build up to our arrival.

January 16, 2014

We had a good night's sleep and got up at 0800. The weather was a tad cool (23C) and it had rained during the night and was overcast this morning. After breakfast my boat job was laundry which took me 3 hours to do one load. Appears today was laundry day for everyone! However we had good socializing in the laundromat. Jorge transferred fuel from the jerry cans into the tanks and then went to town to buy more.

The sun started to shine early afternoon through overcast skies. After lunch I caught up on my blogging. The plan was to leaving Nassau tomorrow and make our way to Allen's Cay where we might catch up to Diana and Gilbert.

Again not sure of the internet coverage but continue to check the blog as I will post whenever I have internet.

January 15, 2014

The night on the banks was okay, not as smooth as we had hoped but nothing unbearable. We were anchored in 15’ of water and Jorge put out 150’ of chain – lots of swing room! We left the anchorage with two other boats at 0650, the other two got an earlier start. We motored sailed to the Northwest light (which wasn’t there) and entered the Northwest Channel around 0815. This is where the shallow waters of the Bahamas banks give way to the Tongue of the Ocean, going from 15’ to some 9,000’.

The winds were supposed to reach 14 kts by the afternoon but were already blowing that when we left the anchorage. Oh boy, not a good sign.

We motor sailed, sailed, and motored, alternatively all day. Late morning, around 1100, Jorge visually noticed a large storm cell and the radar indicated heavy rain on our starboard. It was moving quite fast and heading directly for us. Down came the sails, up went the full enclosure, every opening to the inside of the boat was securely fastened and we waited. Fortunately it passed to our stern by less than 1 nm. However . . . there were more storm cells to come and the last one hit us about 2 hours before we reached Nassau. We saw 37.6 kts on the instruments with accompanying rain. It lasted for about an hour. I must admit the boat, captain and even the crew handled the situation well (but I was sure glad when it passed!)

Rainbow after the storm.

Approaching Nassau.

Lighthouse marking channel into Nassau.

 

We cleared into the Nassau Harbour around 1700 and docked at the Nassau Harbour Club at 1730. Most of the boats that had left Bimini were also there.

Colonial Hilton Hotel in Nassau (we stayed here many years ago during a vacation.)

Cruise ship in Nassau Harbour.

 

We had two casualties on the way to Nassau. Firstly, Jorge was lowering the stern of the dinghy while it was on the davits to drain water in case of a down pour when he lost his visor. The second one was when I was getting the bow line ready to dock, I noticed the fortress anchor was not hanging from the bow rail. When I asked Jorge if he had moved it and stored it someplace, his response was “No”. So we lost the anchor somewhere in the Tongue of the Ocean!

Safely secured in the marina (the winds were supposed to pick up again over the next couple of days) we enjoyed hot showers and a short happy hour. The Chinese food restaurant up the street was calling. An 1800 hour group and then a 1900 group headed out for dinner. We joined the 1900 group of five other couples. We were back to the boat, in bed and fast asleep by 2200. 

January 14, 2014

We left Brown’s Marina in Bimini at 0700. Leaving the harbour was not as nerve racking as approaching it was. We motor sailed north along the island of North Bimini to North Rock. At that point we changed course to the east southeast and headed for Mackie Shoal. Once we had made this course change, we were able to put out full sails and turn the engine off. We have waited 5+ months for this! Other cruisers commented over the VHF radio that this was a once in a lifetime sail. Every condition was perfect.

 

Just past North Rock on the Bahamas banks on the way to Nassau.

Nothing but water all around (quite the heel eh?)

Captain Jorge.

The race to Mackie Shoal!

Mackie Shoal in the middle of nowhere.

 

We set anchor on the Bahamas banks around 1830. Quite unbelievable – no land in sight for 360 degrees, only water, water and more water. Four other boats were with us. We anchored just north of Northwest Shoal. Part of the flotilla went on to Nassau, pulling an over-nighter but five of us wanted to stop. Now we can say, “been there, done that!”

 

Sunset on the Bahamas banks.

 

Bedtime was 2100.  Although it had been a wonderful day, we were exhausted.