SV Just Drifting Log / Bahamas 2011

Log

Note:  M/Y Mystere 5,650 NM

SV Just  Drifting

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

20NM

Round the Island Race; Stocking Island, Geogetown, Bahamas

Captain Wade and Admiral Maureen; Mates Ali and James (Sea Dog)

Class A of 5 sailing vessels

4th Place

Wednesday, March 16

40 NM Georgetown, Greater Exuma to Calabash Bay, Long Island

Sand Dollar Beach to Calabash Bay, Long Island

Big waves and 20 knot wind so took refuge in Calabash instead of continuing on to  Rum Cay as planned.  Just a little sea sick :(

1st day Wade and I anchored alone!

Thursday, March 17

35NM Calabash, Long Island to Rum Cay

Little Tuni

Rum Cay and see Mike and Rebecca (Zero to Cruising) in anchorage and to Kay’s Restaurant/Bar.  Deloras, 79, served us ice cold Sands and gifted us with Grouper dinners and showed us her book in progress of local medicinal plants.


CHECK OUT ZERO TO CRUISINGS BLOG FOR PHOTOS AND GOOD TIMES ON RUM CAY.  (search Rum Cay)
www.zerotocruising.com

Friday, March 18

Bobbie and Chris owners of Sumner Point Marina give us directions to check out the surf near the Salt Pond about 4 miles north.

We get too close to the break and a wave breaks on us and dumps the dinghy.  Motor and gas tank and us and our pack get submerge.  We right the dinghy and Wade walks the dinghy back through the coral reefs.  I get to walk the white sand beaches and try and dry out my new Nikon camera! Wade can’t believe that I didn’t get upset and call him a Dork, but I thought it was pretty funny. “Wade tried to KILL ME!!” was the obvious statement to make as we carry on the drama that our friend Gillian started when we tried to poison her with tea that had KooLaid in it.  Haha!   We came home with a good story although it cost me a camera and Wade spent the next 3 hours drying out and fixing the motor.  He is a genious!

Saturday, March 19

WE GO SURFING!!!!!!  First time in a year and yesterday had bigger waves (as we found out it a rather unfortunate way!) Great conditions for Wade to learn.  He really did look like a Dork at first but he quickly found his balance and got the first and best wave of the day even though it was on his belly.  I got 3 crappy waves but it was sure good to be on a board, again.  Can’t believe how sore my ribs got....as if I am starting all over again :(  

Met Mike and Rebecca at the Salt Pond; explored caves but couldn’t get the dinghy in the pond so had to listen to Mike’s Huge Grouper story again and again.  Led the way back through the maze of coral reefs and Caribean Blue waters.  The water here has the entire spectrum of the color of blue and each should have it’s own name to describe it.  Everyday, we see a new brilliant hue of water such as turmaline, crystal, navy and turquoise, and more.

Sunday, March 20

Mike and Rebecca are forever spear fishing grouper and are forever coming back with Just Missed The Grouper Stories about how the Grouper stares them down and then as they are about to shoot it it takes off.

We went fishing. Motored 7 miles east and caught a 42 inch (3.1 m) Dorado with a new Cedar Plug (thought this would catch a Tuna).  We got some advice from the Sports Fishing Yacht here.  Motored 7 miles N and sailed back hooking a baracuda.  The sail back was splendid indeed (say no more!) and with the waves and wind behind us we cruised back to the anchorage in no time at all.

Monday, March 21

Still in bed.  First day we have ever done this.  Planned to go surfing but the wind and rain were no way to start the 4 mile dinghy ride.  I was glad since my body is still aching

Tuesday, March 22

Salt Pond

Very cool spot.  Dinghy into a salt lake; a sand beach with a foot of water on top and then edging out into a deeper lake.  Along this edge we go picking conch. 
We have been wanting conch; I hae been wanting to try my hand at conch red chowder since I had it at Peace and Plenty in Georgetown.  Mine wansn’t quite so rich and succulant but it was a fabulous first attempt at this Bahemian dish.  Zero to Cruising came over for our last feast before leaving the next day for Dominican Repbulic and then, eventually to arrive at their destination of Grenada.  Wade and I gathered 13 conch within an hour or less.  Naked we walked and dove and plucked all sizes from the Salt Pond Garden.  The God has blessed us with another spectacular day!

Wednesday, March 23

No wind, calm, crystal blue seas.  Dingy-ed to a far off shore; a secluded beach.  Very nice!  Snorkeling.  I swear I saw a shark and skiddadled back to the shore.  Left over chowder and Wade cleans more conch on the back of the boat as I write this.

Tuesday,  April 5

40NM Rum Cay to Clarence Town, Long Island

Clarence Town, Long Island

Anchored in amongst nude sailors.

Yesterday lunch at Rowdy Boys Bar and Grill Resort.  Met the owner Bertis Knowles.  He was recognized in Nassau and the Smithsonian Institute for his cultural knowledge and contributions.  He and his family are boat builders.  We have a picture of him beside RUFFF  _______, a Bahemian style racing boat that he built.

Long Cay, Acklins Island Group

From our boat anchored out about a mile in shallow water laiden with starfish, we could see a pink hue across at the beach.  The pink and blue sailboat that was beached to the left of that was easier to see... a Haitian boat that was stopped 3 years ago from escaping thier country.  We motored past 4 flamingos fishing for shrimp on a sandy outpoint trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.  With the motor, of course, they flew away showing black underneath thier outstretched wings.  We beached the dingy onshore and decided to sneak up on the large flock where these 4 had joined them on another sandy outpoint.  We took pictures with our Kodak underwater camera all the way until we were actually only about 25 meters from the flock of around 38 majestic flamingos.  They seemed so delicate on pencil thick legs, never venturing past thier knees into the water; poised in regal poses.  As our approach closed in on them they began squacking like Canada Geese and a few minutes later took to the air and stretching from curled black beak to outstreched legs,  the black and pink mass flew past us and over to the next sandy beach.  

Finally, leaving them to fishing and sunning on the beach, we dinghied over the the Haitian wreck and circled it’s wooden tree mast and chicken couped deck, an old wooden dinghy perched on top beside a huge osprey nest.  We wondered why they kept the obvious pink and blue paintjob, typically Haitian style!  Fishies were swimming in and out of the holes of the wooden boat enjoying the shade.

We docked at the dock which we knew would lead us to Albert Town, about a 2 1/2 mile hike over and across the island.  Along the way we explored stone-walled ruins of the town which once boasted 1000 people.  Into Albert town we joined the local peole under the Almond tree:  Ruth who was twice as old as we thought and her 2 grandchildren who wanted to fish all day and everyday according to Ruth;  Eugene a fisherman and “his boy” Derrick.  After sharing some local knowledge and a few laughs (Wade was very entertaining) we went for a beers in the local bar (Ruth bartending).  Eugene “gave” us 3 crayfish tails (March 31 was the end of the season), we bought bread from Ruth and she gave us a few strands of a wheat type flower which I have seen in department stores usually died all sorts of colors and she showed us her antique collection of clay vases and glass bottles.. the favorite which was hand blown and had a round bulb like bottom to it and was sea green in color...just like the color of the sea here on Long Cay.

We toured the old church next door, afraid that the roof would cave in any minute.  It’s brass bell was hanging on a branch outside and the arched windows were painted fire engine red a few years back.  Tired, we headed back to Just Drifting and slept well despite the current and swinging of the boat and the achor chain banging against it. 

Wednesday, April 13

75NM Long Cay, Acklins to Rum Cay

Waking up in Rum....home in the Bahamas.  Bought a brain coral candle holder from Rasta (Bobbie made it), said our goodbyes (Hartley) and motored toward Conception (but not without a splashy exit:  Wade slipping and falling off the boat!)

Thursday, April, 14

30 NM Rum Cay to West Bay, Conception Island

Tuna.  Fresh tuna.  Our first fish was a Little Tuna.  Yesterday, just off of Sandy Beach leaving Rum Cay, we caught a Blackfin Tuna.  Arriving in Conception Island to a host of boats in the bay, we went to the beach and swam in the clearest water ever!   Conception is a park and so extremely pristine.  Showered and having watched a magenta sun set leaving it’s magenta colour in the coral-head clouds, we dined on freshly seared tuna and sashimi with a glass of Argentinian red wine.

We have been eating well; numerous conch recipes (chowder, fritters, grilled, sauteed in butter); slow cooked breasts of chicken; banana bread and banana flambe’; barbeque steaks and burgers, grilled lobster and  lobster Alfredo topping Angel pasta....just to name a few delightful dinners.

Friday, April 15

30NM West Bay, Conception Island to Hawksnest, Cat Island

Vacation with Barbara Wiscott at the pool.  Trip to see the Hermitage on the highest peak of the Bahamas 206 feet.  Lot’s of good food and wine!

Total: 330 NM

55 NM Cat Island to Staniel Cay

A fish caught Wade!!  And thank goodness after a half hour of fighting (and kicking ass) he let go taking the 150 test line with him and a huge cedar plug.  Meanwhile, I take down the sails and reel in a 15 lb. blackfin.  Get to Staniel and snorkel Thunderball Grotto....this time inside the big cave.  We become part of the school of sergeant majors, parrot fish, huge blue angels, neon needle fish tons of other varieties.  The purple coral, orange sponge coral, florescent tube corals and brain coral, the most impressive garden, yet.


http://youtu.be/VLX2o9V6AJk

Wednesday April 20

17 NM Staniel Cay to Bell Island (Cambridge Island) 

A delightful sail past the Apoise and Mystere and a ton of other Megayachts.rium

Sea Aquarium, a natural aquarium of the most variety of fish and a huge lobster.  Wade touched it and it swam away fast  like arocket squid.  However!  Judy’s dive had a plethora of those old prehistoric looking lobsters making way on the underwater sea wall.  Since this is a park the fish and lobster seemed not only unafraid but extremely friendly.  Rachel’s Bubble Bath is a lovers’ bath of seabubbles from ocean waves crasheing over the rocks.  We met Rose, the owner of Sampson Cay Marina.  Wade snorkeled the Elk Horn reef and I was lucky to see the Elk Horn at Rocky Dundas cave.  The cave was beautiful but not as many fish as Thunderball and the rocks were very sharp.  

20 NM Cambridge Island to Waderick Wells

Boo Boo HIll

Judy’s Dive

Pirates Lair

Lovers’ Sandy Beach “Thank you for taking away all of my fears.  I love you”

60 NM Warderick Wells to Nassau

  

Nassau Harbour Club Marina

Hahahaha!  Mystere is docked one boat over.  Got to see the whole family and recieved with open arms. 

Met Mr. Mosco)ritsky), a Greek guy who owned tha marina, the mall and half of the Bay St. downtown area.  He owned a gorgious Ferrettti 80 named after his wife Leodarie II.  We were both born July 23 and his wife was also a Leo.  He offered us a ride in his red jaguar and told us of his acquisitions such as 2 Rolls Royces, as well as all the property including his mansion on 300 metres of waterfront.  He was very lonlely there without his wife.

I got new Maui Jims!!!!  and we got a new Nikon camera!!!!  Shopped til I dropped (still recovering).  We didn’t stop until we found the right diamond earrings for Zephyr’s 25th Birthdday.  We got a bunch of free stuff for going to these duty free shops and Wade gave me a topaz necklace.

Pacifico Bar became our local haunt for beer and beedies.  The locals bought us beer hoping that we would move some cocaine for them with our boat to Miami!

It was cool to see Atlantis but it came short on our dining experiences.  However, the limoride over the bridge was unexpected fun and it was my first time in a limo!  Hahah!

60 NM Nassau to Anchorage in Middle of Ocean 5 miles northwest of Channel Marker

65 NM Channel Marker to Bimini