Allen Cay to Highborn Cay.

With some strong weather from the North east coming, and the place Falco was anchored not being protected from that direction, we decided to go to the marina at Highborn Cay for a couple of days. We have spent a few more days at the Highborn Cay Club,  It is kind of a sissy and expensive way to wait out weather, but it is very nice.  The girls are getting caught up on school, it is easy to get begins We went to the beach on the east side of the island, which is the prettiest beach I have ever seen, there were no footprints, and the sand felt like walking on a terry cloth towel.  The are Stromatolites all along the beach, which are the worlds oldest know microfossils, dating back 3.5 billion years.  They were thought to be extinct until they were found here. 

We spend a day taking the dinghy’s to the reef, and doing some snorkeling, the girls did the “fall off the boat” move like divers do. 

We did a “Bahamian Barbeque” from cool runner, Chicken and ribs, Mahi Mahi, rice, potato salad, and rum cake.  Quite a treat.  The lobster man came by and we bought 4 big ones, for an excellent dinner.  To catch lobster you need to go on the east side of the island and get under the reefs, spear them, and get out of the water as the sharks approach.  I think I will continue to buy them for a while. 

I spent a day diving for Conch and fishing, and I took two that were legal, although I cannot imagine who would have caught me had I violated the law.   Pierre and I did our best to clean them.  He had seen someone do it in Nassau, so he was the expert.  We pounded a hole in the third ring, and detached them.  The locals use something akin to a tiny hatchet; we used a sledge hammer, and were not as successful.  Once you get them out, it is equally difficult cleaning them.  They are coved in slime (think Ghost Busters) and do not look like any creature I have ever seen.  We will try them for dinner tonight.  

Berries to Nassau to Allen Cay

Piere showing the kids a starfish

We managed to pick up a mooring ball at the Berry Island club for the second night, and other than being awaken by the ball hitting the side of the boat when the tide shifted, everything was good.  We had a glass of wine with out Belgian friends, and said goodbye for now, they have elected to stay another night, something about lobster for $18.

We started off sailing from the Berry Islands on a close beat with Falco, almost like a race, it was a lot of fun even though he ended up rolling us after about an hour, We started off in the lead and ended in second place ( out of two) The rest of the trip to Nassau but the wind was a little too south easterly, and we ended up motor sailing the whole way.  Falco was an hour ahead of us by the time we got to Nassau, but the harbor was closed because two enormous cruise ships we exiting(Lucas was probably the root cause of that issue).  We waited outside the harbor for about an hour and then made our way to Nassau Yacht Haven.  It is a little rough, which is the same as everything we saw on New Providence.  We when and did the tourist shops and tried to get our immigration status updated from the 30days they gave us.  No luck other than the taxi driver who took us for $40 bucks.

We made several trips to the grocery, and got the boat ready for the trip to the Exumas.  Then we had a surprise for the girls.  We left Nassau Yacht Haven for the Paradise Island  Marina at Atlantis.  The kids on Falco enjoyed the same treat.  It was really one of the bargains (if you call a bunch of $100 bills a bargain).  So far at $4/foot/night, which is about $180 a night, but tickets to the Atlantis were included for everyone.  They cost $105 each if you go to the counter and buy them.  The place is truly spectacular, and we enjoyed a couple of relating days intermingled with terrifying rides.  The wave pool was not as dramatic as our night sleeping on the Great Bahamas Bank.  They printed the name of the boat on the “room key” so the staff kept saying things like “Have a nice day Mr. Diamond”.

We left Atlantis at about eight, stopping to get fuel on the way.  Half way across the harbor the chart plotter went out completely, just like it had when we delivered the boat from Mobile to Houston a year and a half ago.  Then the fog rolled in and we could not see 1/8 of a mile.  We called the Nassau Harbor Club to get a slip so that we could make repairs.  They were really busy so while we were floating outside, I used some magic electrical spray on the connections to the chart plotter and wala, problem fixed.  We decided to press on as the fog was not as bad.  We exited cautiously but about 5 miles out I heard a noise and a 70 –80 foot tourist boat doing about 35knots came straight at us out of the fog.  He turned at the last minute and missed us by about 75 feet.   That put the fear of god into me, I stayed glued to the Radar after that.

Halfway between Nassau and the Exumas is a series of coral head, and we got there at noon just like the books say.  It was a non-event, only had to steer around one.  The anchorage at Allen Key was fairly crowed, and there is significant current requiring two anchors, and still within yards of rocks.  We went and saw the Iguanas on the beach, which is big tourist attraction for those from Nassau in the season.  I am glad we are not in the season. 

Emily called a friend on skype

Cat Cay to the Berry Islands

We spent two days on Cay Cay, but at $150 a night it was getting to be a little much.  We set out across the bank with Falco, and another boat Rafale, or as we call them, the Belgians from Texas.  When we first saw the boat it said Texas, but they are from western Belgium, not far from where we lived in Holland.  We left in about 20 knots of wind and anchored in it as well, not the smartest thing I have ever done.  We tried to sleep, but it was kind of like trying to sleep on Space Mountain at Disney. The anchor held most of the night, but at five we heard the BEEEEEEEP of the anchor alarm.  After about ½ hour of coaxing, I managed to get it reset, but it was about time to go by then.

Another day of hard sailing, about 20-25 knots and we came into an area with “poor holding” for the anchor, and the mooring field was full.  Without a viable alternative we tried 3 times to get the anchor set, we finally found a shallow sandy spot and set it. Both Falco and Rafale appeared to set on the first try.  Right before the sun went down we saw Rafale trying to get reset, and in the morning they were next to us on the same sand bar.  The girls went to the beach and found 81 conch shells along with their friends from Falco, not too many tourists here.

I bought an internet booster in Marathon and was able to send a message over open wifi from about 2 miles away, that thing is great. We are heading to Nassau tomorrow. 

Cat Cay to the Berry Islands

We spent two days on Cay Cay, but at $150 a night it was getting to be a little much. We set out across the bank with Falco, and another boat Rafale, or as we call them, the Belgians from Texas. When we first saw the boat it said Texas, but they are from western Belgium, not far from where we lived in Holland. We left in about 20 knots of wind and anchored in it as well, not the smartest thing I have ever done. We tried to sleep, but it was kind of like trying to sleep on Space Mountain at Disney. The anchor held most of the night, but at five we heard the BEEEEEEEP of the anchor alarm. After about ½ hour of coaxing, I managed to get it reset, but it was about time to go by then.

Another day of hard sailing, about 20-25 knots and we came into an area with “poor holding” for the anchor, and the mooring field was full. Without a viable alternative we tried 3 times to get the anchor set, we finally found a shallow sandy spot and set it. Both Falco and Rafale appeared to set on the first try. Right before the sun went down we saw Rafale trying to get reset, and in the morning they were next to us on the same sand bar. The girls went to the beach and found 81 conch shells along with their friends from Falco, not too many tourists here.

I bought an internet booster in Marathon and was able to send a message over open wifi from about 2 miles away, that thing is great. We are heading to Nassau tomorrow.

Marathon to Cat Cay

We left Marathon on Sunday starting our trip to the Bahamas.  We motored into 20 knot winds on our way to Rodriguez Key.  It reminded me of the long days motoring through the intracoastal waterway.  We anchored off the south side, and prepared to start the crossing the next morning at 1am.  At night it was blowing 20 knots straight from the east, and after consultation and deliberation with Falco at 1am and again at 5am, we decided to wait a day.   At 4pm the next day we went over to have a drink with them.  We thought we would leave the Mutt on the boat, no way she could come after us.  We hopped into the dingy and went, and about the time we got to their boat we saw the Mutt leaping into the water, and began swimming toward us.  We did go and get her and put her back on the boat, Hannah stayed with her.   We discovered the perfect way to get the Mutt to do number 2 on the boat.  She went on the swim platform just before leaping into the water.  We discussed the next days plans and agreed to go at midnight.  

We weighed anchor at exactly midnight.  We followed Falco out of the reef.  Had some difficulty putting the sails up because of the way we had the Christmas lights up, and my failure to properly check everything before we left.  The first 4 hours we had a perfect sail, about 10 knots from the south, wow!!  We could see phosphorescence all along the sides of the boat and behind, and the stars were so bright you felt like you could reach out and touch them. 

look close, our friends on Falco

The wind died at about 4 and we had to start motor sailing, and we got into the ship traffic, a couple of close encounters, within about 1.5 miles (man they look big at that distance).  The wind filled in from the southeast, but not in enough time to enable us to take full advantage of it.  We led Falco into the cut at between Gun Cay and Cat Cay, we were told you could read the water and tell the depth, but we could not, we followed the guide book advise, and went right to the Cat Key Yacht Club, The water in the harbor is so clear that the girls could see the fish they were trying to catch, and the bottom about 15 feet down.  While they were fishing a Lepoard Ray (we think) a Queen angel fish, and a nurse shark go right under the boat.  Really cool. 

 

We are planning on heading out on the bank tomorrow, we are having a weather day today. 

A month in Marathon

The weather was something else during Christmas, the Keys continued to break all time records for cold.  It took its toll on the marine life as well.  During our visit to the turtle hospital they told us about having to rescue several hundred turtles because they were in shock due to the cold water, which approached the temperature of Lake Superior during the warmest days in history (about 70F).  The turtle hospital is an old hotel, and they actually brought the cold turtles into the rooms to get them warm. 

We had dinner at the restaurant Christmas eve, which was excellent. The girls were ecstatic about their gifts! They each got a net book to write their books and to surf.  I got a new set of sailing gloves, the last set I bought for Key West race week in 1991.  We had a traditional Christmas Day dinner on the boat, and Santa even made it.

New years eve we had a “Hunger Games” night, we cooked lamb stew with dried plums, and wild rice, just like a seen from the book.  We then tried to play the game, but none of use could figure it out, so we donated it to the “stuff” exchange here ant the marina.  It's been taken and re-donated several times so far.  Not a great game.

Hannah turned into a teenager the next day.  We had chocolate cake and ate at the restaurant again.

We have been preparing for the Bahamas trip, and doing a few little things here and there   We spent a day at the beach and did some more fishing.  Each of the girls went with one day, and Emily caught a hammerhead shark.  In the excitement of catching a shark in a rubber boat we did not get a picture, but it was about 2.5 feet long.  

Emily and I also rented a scooter in Key West, I think we road every street in Key West, twice.

We got our sticker and local boater registration for the Bahamas, and I installed an internet wifi booster on the boat so that we can be connected to the internet at times.  We will not be in touch as much over the next couple of months.  We have a rough outline of the first month.  It is;

Rodriguez Key (Key Largo), next weather window- maybe Monday

Bimini and or Cat Cay

Berry islands (Chub Cay)

Nassau

Exumas

Exuma land and Sea park

Allan’s Cay

Staniel Cay

Little Farmers cay

Georgetown ..February