We are currently at Staniel Cay in the Exuma Island Chain of the Bahamas. N 24.10.73, W76.26.76 We are anchored right next to the Thunderball Grotto where the James Bond movie “Thunderball” and another movie “Splash” were filmed. We snorkeled through the cave and did a drift around the island. This also is a small Bahamian town that has small plane runway. It gets its food weekly via the mail boat as its very difficult terrain to grow anything. There is the pink, blue and general store to purchase supplies and has a yacht club which provides internet.
We have traveled around 3800nm so far. Since leaving Nassau we went to Normans, Shroud, Warderick Wells and Pike Creek area. All have abit different terrain and things to do. The focus is around hiking and snorkeling as the sights and water is prettier than I would have ever dreamed. I had forgotten since our last sailing trip here around 1992. Its abit different being in your own boat and it’s a good thing we started getting used to the shallow draft cruising in the ICW. But then here you have to worry around visual sight to make sure you don’t run up on a reef or anchor drag as the wind and current can oppose each other.
Thoughts:
– We were told that global warming is happening as the winter winds/cold fronts are making it further south this year.
– Water is our focus now. Both in sailing depth and human consumption. Rose’s farm upbringing taught me early to conserve on water as we had septic system that would get full. We still heat our shower water in a solar bag and shower in the cockpit, hiding behind the weather cloth and sun awning Rose made. We could do it in the head but there’s more to clean up. What’s vanity at our age anyway. We usually double cycle this water by rinsing off our swimwear as we use skins to snorkel.
– Things cost abit more here. Gas $4.24/gal, Diesel $3.54/gal, RO water , eggs $3-4/dozen, trash $4/small bag (I did this as they had recycle bins), Head gets dumped overboard as the current of the Atlantic flushes out this area.
– A dinghy is like your car so yes we bought the 15hp outboard. It sure moves us a lot faster. I attempt to justify it as a safety tool to get back to your boat fast in event of an emergency.
– We have been having some rain in the evenings so it’s been rinsing our boat and snorkel gear. I bucket the water on the dinghy floor to wash other various things.
– I cleaned the hull that had a light algae film by snorkeling. Tom put on a dive tank to add a zinc to the prop shaft since the last one fell off or got eaten. You attempt to perform this at slack tide so you don’t have to fight that as well.
– We had our first attack of noseeums during sunset/sunrise as the wind died and had humid air. Boy do they itch! People have told us to use ammonia or ambesol to provide relief. It sorta works.
– Had my first medical emergency at sea. J A cruiser dropped a conch shell (sharp edge) on my small toe while walking on the beach. Our nurse friend Maggie assisted to stop the bleeding and suggested I watch and possibly take Cipro as the bacteria in this water is bad. It really hurt and I iced it during the evening as our friend Tyler would suggest.
– Hit Nassau and am having a problem using my ATM card. Lost/broke all my sunglass clips. So you see we have the material life issues as well.
– Met a +20 woman that came down here to teach 3rd grade. She grew up here prior to her parents divorce. I wonder how her life differed from my farm life.
– Cruisers come in all flavors. We have met some that come to the same spot and sit, then go back to the US for the summer. I would say that maybe 10% continue on south.
– We equalized our house battery bank with the 2K Honda generator as you have to turn all electrical draw off.
– We saw a sailing boat from Haiti FILLED with people that was stopped by the Bahamian police. I understand that they will follow them to Nassau and send them back. We don’t really know how well we have it!
– 2 dinghies/motor have been lost in the last week during the night via the painter letting go. One floated to Andros about 40nm away and returned to the police close to this area with all contents still there. Thats amazing. Not sure if they wanted a reward. Moral – tie 2 painters to your dinghy.