Another Tropical Front is approaching

The weather in the Bahamas seems to be unusual this year. Even the weather man Chris Parker, a sailor and meteorolgist is surprised, on how long the sequences of building fronts last here down south and in the Bahamas. By this time of the year, benign and settled spring weather should be around. But we are getting a front avery 10 days or so, bringing high winds, qualms and heavy rain for one or two days.

Since we were following up the weather forecast very carefully, we decided, to reserve a slip at the Bluff House Marina, in Green Turtle Cay. This would allow us to provisioning the boats with fuel and water. We can also use the pool, showers and have a drink at the bar, if we are up to.

It turned out, that it was a good decision. We got here on Friday midday. Two hours later, the wind picked up to 20 kts, with higher gusts. Everybody at the dock was running around, clearing the decks from lines, sails everything that could be blown away.

Finally, the rain set in, accompained by some thunderstorms. We had a quiet night, knowing the boat is securely tied up at the dock. And the batteries got their treat as well, being hooked up at the shore power after more than a month.

Last night, another Hunter sail boat took a slip at the marina. By the end of the day, there were four Hunter sailboats slipped at the Bluff House Marina. We didn't see any other boat make as often as the Hunters. Apparently, these Hunter boats being used by their owners to cruise around, while other, according to the cruiser society, real ocean crossing blue water sailboats, tend to sit at their docks.

We found, that our Hunter 410 offers everything we need. And for me, being 6'4" tall, there is plenty of head room down below. The cabin is spacious and flooded with light. The cockpit is roomy and provide several spots to lay down and chill out.

So we are waiting for the weather to improve, and decide then, on were we will be going next and when we will crossing the Gulf Stream back to Florida.

Tranquilizer, amongst 3 other Hunter sailboats, 

slipped at Bluff House Marina in Green Turtle Cay

A great day to cross the Whale Cay Passage

As the time of our stay in the Abacos is slowly elapsing, we had to time our crossing through the Whale Cay Passage. While this passage, on a good day, can be a snap, you find lots of reasonable warnings, to time your crossing well. In a "rage" (stronger not winds or swell from the Atlantic Ocean pushing the waters through the narrow cut in the barrier reef), the conditions out there can be hazardous for most boats.

Some boats left Treasure Cay a day before us. They hurried up, to make the crossing over the Gulf Stream on Thursday or Friday. The weather forecast for the weekend is very bad. A storm from the North is approaching, bringing squalls and sustained winds up to 30 kts. The weather should then calm down again, allowing for a passable crossing of the Gulf Stream towards the end of the upcoming week.

So we left Treasure Cay on Wednesday morning and headed towards the Whale Cay Passage. The weather was just perfect. Bright sky, light wind and only a gentle swell from the Atlantic. When we came to the beginning of the passage on the East side, many more sail and power boats joined us for the crossing.

The conditions on the Ocean were just perfect. A "Sécurite" call on the radio caught out attention. A dive boat found a sea freight container, floating just under or at the surface at Chub Cay, only a half a mile away from our position. - Always the issues with logistics! - A police patrol boat came into sight, headed out to the site, to take care of the situation. Such a floating container can easily sink a cruising boat, when hitting the hull. We carried on and enjoyed our pleasant ride under sail, with some help of our iron friend Yanmar down below.

We went to Crab Cay / Manjack Cay, an anchorage which we have visited already. Yes, of course did we go to see the wild hogs again! Still there, still nosy in every way, for whom is coming and what is going on. Later we did dinghy to another fantastic beach to cool off al little bit.

At the end of the day, we've been threaten by another fantastic sunset.

Back to the hogs again

Free running chickens

Life at the beach could be worse...

No problems, to find your own spot here!

What do people do, whilst in a marina or at anchor?

You may questioned, what people on a sailboat do, when lines are tied up in a marina or at anchor. 

Well, let me tell you:

When moving from land on a boat, there are several things, immediately becomes obvious:

• Has that person, whom invented the dishwasher, ever been awarded with the Nobel price?
• Why do boat builders pretend, that humans seldomly grow taller than 5 feet?
• Was there a time before a refrigerator and a freezer?
• Was it on purpose, that the boat builder constructed things in a way, that you have to disassemble the whole boat at the bow, before you can access something, actually installed at stern?

So you could amend this list infinitely! 

But soon, you recognize other things as well, such as:

• Where do all this additional, new stars are coming from, that I can see at night?
• Why do I have so many things at home, which don't miss even a second here out on the water?
• Having a rich or a simple meal is not a determine factor for having a better or a less good day.
• A simple life can be as, or even more rewarding than a luxury one.
• The cruising community is a real family. Without ever having seen each other, almost everybody is helpful and offers a hand, where ever needed. Why does this work on the water only?

On a boat, there is always something to do, to maintain, change or figure out. Sometimes it's just toping up the engine's oil, the coolant, the diesel or the gasoline of the generator or the dinghy. But there is much more, you need to take care of: Checking the energy consumption and generation, to make sure, the batteries are fully charged once a day, repairing or installing some piece of equipment etc. 

Yesterday, I finished up the installation of the two new SmartPlugs for the shore power. This Sytem is much safer than the common shore power inlet. and plugs.

Today, I maintained and cleaned the electrical winch. 

Well she really deserved a good clean and grease!

Every part got cleaned, inspected, eventually replaced, greased and installed again.

And of course, everyday we have to verify the accuracy of the weather report our self at the beach or the pool ;-)

Back to Treasure Cay

The weather forecast is predicting some breezy days over the weekend in to the beginning of next  week. Instead of staying at Marsh Harbour, we decided to get a little bit closer to the Whale cay passage and to spend some more days at the most beautiful beach of Treasure Cay.

While the other days, the marina at Treasure Cay told me every morning, that there are hardly any mooring balls available, the statement of today was: "the mooring field is almost empty"! So we took the chance, lifted anchor and made our way to Treasure Cay. Upon arrival, there were only about 4 boats in the field. So plenty of choice.

It's really a nice place to spend another couple days, waiting for the perfect passage weather trough the Wale Cay cut.

We got an invitation from our buddy boat for tomorrow night - Sangria and Steaks! That's fantastic! We need to buy some more lights to put out on our boat - just to make sure, we get aboard the right boat when returning... ;-)

Stay tuned!

Man-O-War Cay

Today, we liftet anchor and headed towards Man-O-War Cay. A Cay, with a long boat building history. The wind forecast was light and from west, veering to north. So it should have make a perfect anchorage just on the south side of the cay. Again it was a short 1 hr ride to get there.

Once the anchors were set, we got in the dinghy and headed towards "down town". It's a small little village. Compared to the other island we have visited so far, the population is mostly white, while the native Bahamians are black. This is, because Man-O-War Cay was populated from the Loyalists in the 17th Century. We had a fantastic lunch at the one and only restaurant in town. Once everybody's shopping needs were covered, we went back to the boats.

We spotted several sea turtles on our way back. we changed for the swim suits and jumped in the crystal clear water. The snorkeling was not so good. Beside of lots of sea grass some debris and our anchors, not much was to be seen. But the water temperature of 25.4°C is just perfectly refreshing.

 At 6.00 pm all of a sudden, the wind picked up and it was not from the predicted direction. In stead of the format north wind, we got plenty of wind from the south, for wich we had no protection against. Waves started to build and it became pretty rolly.

We decided, not to stay there, because we did not know, whether the wind would even increase, which would have lead in to an uncomfortable situation, with rocks laying just 100 meters in the back of the boat. So we hurried up to pull the anchors up, hoping to make it back with the last ray of light to Marsh Harbour. Right at sunset, we got back to the anchorage, where we set anchor for a quiet night. It was a fantastic day, with an unexpected but we known location for the night.

Handcrafted bags at the Sail Loft

Burning skies when setting anchor - what a treat at the end of the day!

Great Guana Cay

On Thursday, April 7th, we decided to move to Great Guana Cay. We left the Anchorage in Marsh Harbour at 9.00 am. The wind from the East allowed us to put the sails up and we we had a nice 2 hrs ride to Greate Guana Cay. While under way, the wind became brisk, which was ok, since it's direction was in our favor.

Once we got to Great Guana Cay, we found only three suitable mooring balls in a line, right in the center of the opening of the harbour, from which the one in the center was occupied by a large catamaran. We didn't feel comfortable with the remaining room for the boats to swing. In addition, the wind was forecast to veer to South, wich meant, that we were unprotected from the building seas. After considering the options, we decided to go back to Marsh Harbour.

It was a bumpy ride! We had to pint straight in to the wind, blowing with about 25, gusting to 32 knots. Once we were back at the Marsh Harbour anchorage, the wind settled down and the seas became calm again... So we probably could have stayed at Great Guana Cay with no problem. But you never know, and the wind forecast is not always something to relay on.

Windsong II fighting in to the waves

Hope Town - forth and back

High winds were forecast for Tuesday night and Wednesday. So we wanted to move to a secure place on mooring ball at Hope Town. On Monday, we got up early, to arrive just before low tide in Hope Tide. We also thought, arriving early would increase the chance to get a mooring ball.

Hope town is a pristine small town, with a fantastic caribbean flair. So we went there and arrived just around 10.00 am. After entering trough the shallow and narrow channel, we started looking for available mooring balls. Soon we spottet two of them, right next to each other in this very crowded place. As we approached the moorings, it turned out, somebody was holding a reservation on them, although everybody was kept telling us, that reservations would not be possible...

Disappointed as we were, we made our way back to Marsh Harbour and anchored at pretty much the same place from where we left in the morning.

So we decided, to take the ferry on Tuesday to Hope Town. There we went. The ferry ride was only about 20 minutes. Only golf carts are allowed on the tiny roads of Hope Town. The houses are painted colorful and the beach on the atlantic side is just amazing.

The downside was, that there became several mooring balls available, while we were waiting for our lunch at the water front restaurant. But we also saw many boats coming in, not finding an available ball and leaving - just we had to a day ago.

After lunch at the water side, we of course had to take a dip in the ocean.

Windsong II on the tricky approach through the shallow waters around Hope Town