Left Freeport this morning. Had to wait for 1/2 tide and rising to get out of the marina, so we left at 6am in the dark. Touched bottom once when we hit the bar; just made it out. Had to leave as early as possible to make the 63-mile crossing and get into the Great Harbor Cay Marina before dark - arrived at 5pm; had to slow down to wait for the tide (again, as usual).
Easy crossing. Auto did almost all of the steering. Seas were calm - about 1 foot most of the time. Thanks to Chris Parker for providing the beautiful weather. Cold - wore foulies to keep warm most of the day, as the temperature was in the 60s with a wind (not enough to sail with, though).
Beautiful marina. Laid-back island town; reminds me of some of the smaller places on the Chesapeake, or maybe in Maine. We are here for a few days or more; depends on when our stuck-in-Miami buddy boat can make the crossing and join us. And this looks like a really nice place to hang out.
Today's breakage report: 1. the lever locking the wheel to the autopilot kept working loose; temporarily fixed it with a big rubber band so we didn't have to hand-steer all day. 2. The NMEA connection between the wonderful Garmin chartplotter and the not-so-nice Raymarine autopilot stopped working again. Someday I have to tear it all apart and finally (FINALLY) replace the cheap undersized Raymarine wires and connectors with something that will stand up to being in a boat.
Pictures etc. when we get the time.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Free from Freeport, Bound for the Berrys
Plan to leave Freeport tomorrow morning, Friday, bound for Great Harbor Cay Marina in the Berry Islands. 65 nautical miles @ 6.5 knots. Sunrise to sunset. Leave & arrive at half-tide and rising. Winds NW-N 5-10 knots. Seas 1 foot. Should be a smooth crossing.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Lucaya - the tourist area of Freeport
and now for something completely different ...
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| Pool and beach at the Grand Lucayan Hotel & Resort |
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| Grand Lucayan Hotel & Resort |
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| Hotel Lobby at the Grand Lucayan Hotel |
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| The marina in Lucaya |
The Majority Rule Day Parade in Freeport
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| Schoolkids marching |
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| Police Band |
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| Police Band |
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| She got the vote for women in The Bahamas - about 40 years ago being honored during the Majority Rule Day festivities |
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| Police Band new outfits |
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| How 'bout dem shoes, mon |
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| 55 gallon drums - really! |
Sailing and living in the Northern Bahamas
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| Shark, underwater - from the dock at Old Bahama Bay Marina West End, Grand Bahama Island |
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| Crossing the Little Bahama Bank north of Grand Bahama Island |
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| Sailing with buddy boat Tranquillity across the Bahama bank |
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| Getting towed back after the bad day at Great Sale Cay |
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| The propeller and saildrive - not too much damage after the chain-wrapping incident |
Rainy Day in Freeport
Glad we got the laundry and shopping done in the last 2 days. It's
been raining pretty heavily for the past couple of hours - still is.
A lazy day in the boat, still tied up in the boatyard (marina?) in
Freeport.
Time to check the charts, call some possible marinas, and take it easy.
No activity in the boatyard today - raining too much?
Cool and comfortable - feels like low to mid 70s.
been raining pretty heavily for the past couple of hours - still is.
A lazy day in the boat, still tied up in the boatyard (marina?) in
Freeport.
Time to check the charts, call some possible marinas, and take it easy.
No activity in the boatyard today - raining too much?
Cool and comfortable - feels like low to mid 70s.
Yes, we have no bananas
Restaurants & cafes here - when you can find them. Lots of stuff on the printed menu. Out of most of them. You have to ask "what do you have today". Usually about 4 items. So pick one and eat. Typical Caribbean.
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