Opening a New Chapter

Well, our time has come to leave the Bahamas and head back to the United States.  Our plan is to take the Old Bahama Channel from Ragged Island.  We will post about our experience when we return.

We are still unsure of where exactly we will head in Florida but that can be decided once we get back to the land of internet and cell phones.

Our second visit to the Jumentos and Ragged Islands was even more special this time.  We traveled with another kid boat named S/V Taia.  They have children about the same age as Samantha and Nicholas.  We did a lot more beach time, spear fishing and conching.  We feel so fortunate to have met Taia and having been able to travel with them for so long.

It was a sad goodbye but we feel good that it won't be for long.  We are going to try and meet up again this winter when we will set out again for our next adventure.

Fair winds and following seas for us all.

Nicholas is helping with the main sail

Two tuna we caught from Flamingo Cay to Buena Vista Cay

Taia and Shambala on Buena Vista Cay

The Blue Hole on Raccoon Cay

This kids chasing goats on Raccoon Cay

Heading back to the Jumentos and Raggeds

This morning we are anchored back in Thompson Bay, Long island after a stormy sail from George Town yesterday. We left Red Shanks anchorage early in the morning with S/V Taia expecting to only be able to sail for a few hours, then motor the rest of the way in light winds based on the forecast. The sailing was great for a while but the clouds kept building. Then the rain and lightning started. The wind was still good but since our cockpit is open I (Paul) got absolutely soaked while the kids and Staci were holed up down below. We saw many lighting strikes to the north of us but felt pretty safe as they were a few miles away. In a matter of seconds the wind clocked around 180 degrees and the temperature dropped about 10 degrees. Running downwind now the boat slowed considerably. Then a massive lightning bolt hit the water just a few hundred yards from the us with a boom that shook the whole boat. Code Brown!  I fired up the engine and throttled up to 6.5 knots to get into Thompson Bay as quickly as possible. An hour later we were anchored, the storm passed and the sun was shinning.

Since our last post we travelled from Rum Cay up to Conception Island which is a national park. While there we did a little snorkeling and took the dinghy into the mangroves at high tide. The mangroves are like a nursery for sea creatures and we saw turtles, rays, small sharks, and baby barracuda. We joined people from about ten other boats on the beach for sundowners and a bonfire but managed to escape before the gin and tonics got the better of us and the kids ended up missing another bedtime by 2 hours.

Playing with hermit crabs at Conception

We raised sail the next day and headed back to George Town to meet up with some friends. We had a great sail back but didn't catch anything despite trolling three lines behind us. We anchored at Monument Beach and caught up with our friends aboard Perry and Taia. All the kids had a great time running wild for a few days.

Kids playing at Volleyball Beach

Boogie-boarding the dunes

The last day we were in the harbor Matt, Ernesto and I went spearfishing but had no luck. Just as we were about to leave Ernesto came swimming back toward the dinghy saying there was a dolphin next to him.  We ended up playing with the dolphin for about a 1/2 hour. It was an incredible experience to be so close to a wild creature in its habitat. We could hear him echo locating as he swam toward us. We swam all around him but he would not let us touch him. It appeared he was having as good a time as we were.

So, now we are on our way back the Jumentos and Raggeds with S/V Taia. Our friends on Perry are using this weather window to head south toward Grenada. We will spend the next couple of weeks in the islands and then we are hoping to have good weather to sail non-stop back to Marathon,Fl along the north coast of Cuba via the Old Bahama Channel.

Roasting marshmallows 

 

Rum Cay

After a week in George Town we decided to take advantage of a storm front coming down and head to Rum Cay.  The wind was out of the east most of the week then SE.  This morning the wind started out of the S then SW as we left the harbor.  The first part of the sail was with the motor and relatively easy.  When we got around the top of Long Island we changed direction slightly for Rum Cay and were able to sail at about 6.5 knots.

I like it sailing down wind on a broad reach mostly because I don't notice the 4-6 foot ocean swell as much.  Although the boat doesn't seem to like sailing down wind.  It gets pushed from side to side.

While making lunch the wind shifted and the storm front moved in.  We had to do a jibe because of the wind shift to stay on course.  The wind also picked up so we pulled in the genoa and sailed with a single reef in the main, still going 5-6 knots.  It rained off and on as the front moved through.

"Land Ho!" Are some of my favorite words but we still had 2 hours ahead of us.

For my land loving friends and family realize that 5-6 knots is approximately 7 miles per hour.  I can run faster than our boat sails.

We zig zagged through the coral heads and made it to the only marina on Rum Cay called Sumner Point Marina. It is out of business now due to hurricane damage so free.  Yes!

Next thing was tying up which took and hour because the wind was still blowing hard and pushing us off the dock.

Whew!  

We caught a cero makarel along the way, so dinner was easy.  We fed the leftovers to the nurse sharks and lemon sharks.  The sharks possibly outnumber the residents of this cay.  It is small and extremely friendly.

We definitely had a great time here.

On this Cay there are a few stone sculptures.  This gargoyle the kids especially liked. 

Back in George Town

It is getting close to Family Island Regatta time.  We are here in George Town, Elizabeth Harbor for a few days or a couple of weeks.  We never really know where and when we might go next.
While we are here we have been enjoying everything there is to do here.  Hiking, swimming, beach time, fresh produce whenever you need it, water, and more.

This is a great place to be for cruisers.  We also have good internet.  Finally!

So here are some pictures that I didn't get to post earlier because of our slow connection.

Our new family portrait on Boo Boo Hill

At Black Point with our cruising friends aboard SV Perry

Sand Man and Family

Samantha opened up a hair saloon on the boat.  Don't we all look nice?

A Junkanoo Outfit we found in the Ragged Islands.   Doesn't he look colorful?

Artwork made today.  We are working on ideas for all the shells we collect.

More mosaic art.

All the catch for our bon fire in Lee Stocking Island.

The Boyz at the bon fire.

Of course the Girls too!

More Conch!

The cutest Hikers on all the Islands

Nick's artwork.  

Samantha's artwork.

The Highest Peak in the Exumas

We have been near Lee Stocking Island for a few days now waiting out some weather coming through.  In the meantime we have been having fun.
We had a big bon fire with our friends aboard Quartet, Baccaleiu, and Air Time.  We enjoyed fish, conch, and lobster caught by our on board fisherman and spear hunter Paul and of course marshmallows.  This island also boasts the highest peak in the Exuma island chain.

Elevation 123 feet.  And we climbed every one from sea level to the top. Yea!

Our plans as always are written in the sand and change as often as the wind direction.  Originally the plan was to keep heading south through the Caribbean.  We realize now that we do not want to rush through the island chain and we also do not want to deal with any hurricane force winds while there.  So our new plan is the head back to Florida and wait out hurricane season while finding work temporarily.  Then we will head back to cruise the Caribbean next winter.

The Jumentos Cays and Ragged Islands

We have been without Internet for about 2 weeks since our decision to visit this distant island chain.  The Explorer Chartbook calls it a place for self-reliance, and they aren't kidding.

The sail over from Long Island was peaceful with the wind out of the NE.  We did have to run the engine a bit to stay on track through a couple of shallow passages.

Our first night was at Water Cay where there was one other boat with us.  There was not much going on, the island being unpopulated wilderness.  We didn't expect to see many other boats. 

Flamingo Cay was next to visit.  To our surprise there were already 5 boats in the anchorage and 5 more showed up later.  On this cay we found beautiful beaches, a cave we drove our dinghy in to explore and many coral heads.  Paul speared us nice fish for dinner which Nicholas ate most of it but we are all OK with that.  We wanted to spend more time exploring but needed to get south to a better anchorage for a cold front heading our way toward the end of the week.  

Buenavista Cay offered nice protection from the ESE wind and beautiful coral heads right next to our boat.  Paul immediately speared a couple of lion fish right next to where we were anchored despite the baracuda following him around.  He describes the lion fish as slow so easy to spear.  I guess I would be too if I didn't have any known predators, except humans.  All of the islands so far have been uninhabited and this one was no different.  Except for a rooster I am not sure anything else lives there.

During our trip Nicholas has been enjoying snorkeling with Paul and going in the dinghy while Paul spears the fish.  Nicholas waits patiently and feels like he is part of the fishing.  Samantha decided to start reading bigger books.  She just finished "Junie B Jones" and moved on to "Ivy and Bean".  Her goal is to finish a book in one day.  

Towards evening at Buenavista Cay while out checking the grill I noticed a large dark object swimming around our boat.  Paul and the kids came up and we watched it circle our boat several times.  It turned out to be a VERY large hammer head shark.  We left the next day for Johnson Cay, no swimming with that shark for us.

The next island Johnson Cay was by far our favorite in the whole island chain.  It was just our boat in the anchorage with a beautiful sandy beach all to ourselves.  Much to my surprise there are goats that live there.  I don't know how they survive but they seem to be thriving.  We saw a few baby goats too.

Paul is obsessed with spear fishing and continues to fish, despite the sharks.  I am watchful but as soon as I see one I jump into the dinghy.  

We moved to Man-O-War Bay at Racoon Cay for the north wind that came through but had to move to the other side of Racoon Cay as the wind turned NE.  There aren't that many places to weather out storm fronts.

Duncantown on Ragged Island was our next stop.  We sailed down and anchored near Hog Cay.  On Hog Cay is a cool Tiki Hut built by cruisers and hiking trails all over the island.  

While there Nicholas and Paul went fishing .  Nicholas caught a large trigger fish and soon after that Paul noticed a large tiger shark skirting the dinghy.   That was the end of fishing.  The dinghy ride to town was fun but a little bumpy and long.  Maxine is a wonderful lady that runs the local market.  We found eggs, oranges and a few other things but not much produce.  If we planned to stick around she would order food from Nassau for us to be delivered on the next mail boat.  We didn't want to wait a week for the extra food so we headed back north, another storm front was coming through.  We weathered the storm in the same place as last time but this time with 7 other boats, 3 of them were family boats. We had so much fun with our new friends.  Bone fire at the beach and beach time with other kids is always a great time.

We have caught so much fish we eat it for pretty much for every meal.  Paul was determined to find a lobster before we left the Ragged Islands but better luck next time.

Paul cut his foot while hiking with Nicholas so I have had a crash course in learning all that Paul does.  Pulling up the anchor, raising the main sail and securing the dinghy.  Whew!  I have had the easy life until now doing two people's jobs.  I have a greater admiration for those that single hand big boats.  

Yesterday was Nicholas's birthday and he is now a big 6 year old.  His wish came true for a lego birthday thanks to some quick shopping before we left the US.  He said it was the best birthday he has ever had.  

The wind is pushing us along for our return to Long Island and Internet. We will spend the next day or two there then back to Georgetown.

A Philly Cheesesteak at Long Island

Our sail down to Georgetown was wonderful.  The wind was out of the west at about 15 knots so the boat sailed beautifully with no engine sounds. Yea!

Once we got into Georgetown we were surrounded by boats.  There were easily 3 times as many boats compared to last year.  Of course we are here earlier than last year by about 2 months but, Wow!  So now we are overwhelmed by all the cruiser activities like bocce ball, exercise classes , volleyball tournaments, baseball games, ect.

We provisioned at the market and spent a day at the beach when a cold front moved down from the north.  This offered a rare chance of a change in wind direction so we could sail to Long Island. Both Nicholas and Paul where sighing with relief, seems neither one of them like being surrounded by a lot of people.

So yesterday was another great sailing day from Georgetown to Long Island with winds up to 20 knots out of the north.

There is a nice store to provision and a cool beach within walking distance from the dinghy dock at the restaurant.  We had a nice inexpensive dinner which included one of the best Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches I have ever tasted.  Yummy!

Next stop will be the Jumentos and Raggeds.  We are currently sailing there with another nice wind out of the ENE.

Here is a picture of a rainbow as we left the harbor.

Pictures of Sam and Nick with Conrad and Mark from S/V Perry enjoying some body surfing at the beach near Lee Stocking Island.