Turf to Surf

  After one full week in Nassau we felt rested enough to tackle the 3 day trip back to Florida. We had docktails with several loopers that are on the same exit plan so we will travel with them.  Safety in numbers. Leaving Nassau harbour.  A few big boys in port. Anchored outside Chub Key for the night…it was very rocky and not the kind that rocks you to sleep, more the type that rolls you out of bed 🤬. Still, a beautiful sunset. Second day is the longest, a little more bouncy then we would like, but conditions improve as we make our way. This section is on the Banks; it is 9 feet deep and you can see bottom, the whole way across. We anchored on the west side of Bimini and had a mostly quiet night. Day 3 conditions are perfect to cross the Gulf Stream; this section is really deep and if the current and wind collide you can get huge waves….but not today, it is perfect.  The current also gave us push so we gained approximately 2 knots. West Palm Beach, a welcome sight for tired cruisers.

  With a few days of fair weather and nastier stuff coming by the end of the week we decide to start moving north. Anchored and travelled with some friends along the way;  Will and Joy and Cam and Heather from Sea Clef. Up to Norman’s Cay but the boat rocked all night. We moved up to Highbourne Cay hoping for a quieter night but it was not to be…another sleepless night of rocking. Enjoying our evenings. Then across to Nassau…..a little sporty but doable. With the bad weather coming it will be nice to have dockage and enjoy a nice break. I know I need a break from being bounced into our table, or railing or doorframes…the body is getting a little bruised up.  This morning a gallon of water rolled off the bed and onto my fourth toe…it looks like a blueberry. Now my right wrist will not rotate or make a fist, not sure if it’s delayed reaction to my fall or I hurt it handeling lines.  Just feeling beat up and needing a break.  Even my steadfast captain had an episode with a sliding bowl of

 We got off the dock by 8am with a 2 hour run on the outside/unprotected side of the islands (the inside is too shallow) to this protected anchorage.  We were 4 boats following each other, always comforting.   It was sporty out in the open but unfortunately conditions quickly declined and it got really rough before we could tuck into the sheltered side.  Everything that wasn’t nailed down went for a ride.  We lost our microwave, our breadmaker and a dozen beer. Big sigh of relief when we made the turn and entered the cut; We can now stay on this protected side all the way back up the Exumas. We had a very windy night…lost our Looper flag😒, but anchor held and as the weather calms a little we will head north with the rising tide this afternoon.

Quick trip north on Great Exuma Island to this marina for fuel, water and a few nights rest.  At least we thought we would get a few good nights sleep safely tied to a dock, but the boat moved and creaked night and day here….the tides seems to be either rushing in or out, add the wind and the boat doesn’t know which way to go. In case you’re wondering, they charge $2.25 a foot per night here…..at 42 feet that’s $94.50 for us. In addition water and hydro are metered here. Richard washed the boat and the dinghy.  It was long overdue, we’ve had no rain to rinse the salt of and I caught up on laundry, it was free here so I took advantage.   Sandals resort just down the coast from the marina, this is their beach front.  Beautiful hard packed sand beach without stones or shells or anything….not sure how that happens.  If you’re curious the Sandals is $1,000 a night. Nicest marina so far for us in Bahamas, great location…beautiful boats.  I took my first tumble at the fuel dock here, tripped

  To get to Georgetown we had to cross from the west side of the chain of islands to the east side.  We crossed through Farmers Cut. The only review was that it was narrow, but deep.  Scariest 3 minutes of boating so far….waves crashing through this opening were huge.  Red Rover handled it like a pro….my knees were knocking for a while. A longer day today….this location offers great protection from the forecasted winds. It was quite sporty on the outside without protection from the islands, but it got better as the day went on. We anchored along Stocking Island, just across is Great Exuma Island, Georgetown. Soooooo many boats, a lot of live aboards here in Elizabeth Harbour. A dinghy ride across the Harbour to the market for a few supplies….you can pretty much count on everything being double the price….I don’t know how the locals make it work. Through this hole in the wall and back out to the Harbour. Up the beach to the “Chat n Chill” for a beer and take away ribs and fries…..nice t