George Town Work

Our Anchored position off the beach

It has been blowing and very windy here on anchor and each day, we have run the dinghy the 1.1 miles across the harbor for services. Yesterday was the all exciting LAUNDRY DAY! Laundry from an anchored boat is a real chore, but we managed to process 4 loads and get them back out to the boat bashing into 1-2 foot seas with spray coming over our heads. Yes, we had the laundry in garage bags and we wore full foul weather suits in order to get back across the harbor. Once on board we remade two beds and cleaned up the boat some more.

Local neighbor taking his dog to the beach

Today, we plan plan go to the beach, lunch at Chat n Chill where should meet up with Jeff and Sharon and Art and Peg as they rented a 15 foot whaler for harbor fun. This A.M. I blasted the dinghy full tilt across the harbor then filled 25 gallons of water and powered back upwind in 1 foot seas back to the boat where we lifted this to the deck and poured it into the tanks. So, it is a simply life out here, working on the boat and just living an easy life. We can't wait to finally explore some beaches and get a swim in and a beach walk.





Here are some random photos over the past few days....

Baking bread on anchor is a joy

When in "da Bahamas" eat LOBSTER

It can be "Block Island" tight here off Volleyball Beach

A treat for a late lunch after a day of laundry

Radeen's Reading over the past week !

Life is a joy on a cruising boat especially when every thing is working and you are anchored in George Town, Exumas where you have water, fuel, groceries and pump out boats! WOW

Jeff to George Town

George Town Bahamas, day one, and we have not seen anything yet....here is a quick photo essay...because I found a great WiFi connection while out here on anchor!

Hayden, Radeen and Jeff make it to land ....Welcome sign as you exit the dock

Job #1...hit CHAT n CHILL for a refreshing drink

Look at these BUMs....at Chat n Chill

Our boat at anchor off Chat n Chill and Vollyball Beach

Island Spirit, our 1994 Island Packet 35 at anchor, looks good for  19 yrs old!

This is the $8.50 local rum you buy for trading for LOBSTERs and FISH 

One happy Librarian at the local George Town Library open 10-12 Mon -Sat

The local boaters enjoying the harbor, wake boarding via a dinghy...coool 

Jeff, jumps ship and heads for his land based team for a week

More photos as we explore....

Thank you for sailing along

Sailed off the GRID to GT

Motor Sailing Black Point to George Town, Bahamas

We have nearly sailed right off the grid.....the "connectivity grid" that is. We are now in George Town, GT, Exumas, Bahamas anchored off CHAT n CHILL. We are about 1/2 mile off their beach and we have our new 55 lb ROCNA anchor out, you know, the one I bought for  Radeen's Christmas Gift. Well, this is why we bought it. It will blow 30+ knots tonight and we have out 150 feet of HT chain in 20 feet of water. We should be good with this, and we are looking for the winds to change from West to Northwest to North to Northeast, Once NE, we will have CHAT n CHILL upwind and our beach will be right off our bow giving us
protection.

Radeen filling in the log book, Jeff and Hayden blasting to GT

Over all, our run from Miami was easier than expected. Mainly because we have our good friend and great crew member Jeff onboard for the "Blast to George Town!" Our run was, as planned...

1. Miami to Morgan's Bluff on Andros (overnight on the banks and out NW channel)
2. Morgan's Bluff to West Bay on New Providence (we got stuck there 3 day w/25 knots ESE)
3. West Bay to Highborne Cay (fantastic sail, close hauled...get fuel and water)
4. Highborne Cay to Black Point (take Radeen out for Lobster Dinner at Lorraines)
5. Black Point out Dotham Cut to George Town (motor sail in 15-20 with it 20 degrees off stb bow)

Total Distance, 325 nautical miles

Jeff's house rental begins now on Sunday Feb 17-24 and his wife Sharon is flying in for a winter vacation along with friends from California! Jeff will be taking the water taxi run by ELVIS, the harbor master, to shore if it is too rough to use the tender. We plan to stay here for a while, relax and tour the island and the area with Jeff and Sharon. After that, we hope to press on and explore from here. We now have a full month to explore from here back up to the Abacos.

Thank you for following along.

Hayden, Radeen and Jeff on anchor off Vollyball Beach, George Town, Bahamas.

Look at the BLUE WATER.....beautiful 

Radeen's Blue Shirt is NOT as blue as the water!

Radeen overlooks the George Town approach, again, look at the water color

Salt spray has been spraying over the windshields for seven days!
Our boat is so salty and crusty....

Dotham Cut just north of Black Point. This is a great exit to sea
Notice the north rocky point, the opening is about 300 feet wide!

Here in George Town, there are over 300 boats on anchor and we too are anchored right at ground zero off Volleyball Beach at Chat n Chill. We will relax here, take a break, explore the town and the beaches and hiking trails. From here.....who knows, we may head south more...

HERE IS OUR TRIP MAP....remember to zoom out to see the trip from Miami

Black Point first visit

Happy Valentines Day 2013, Radeen

We ran 45 NM today, under motor and main sail with staysail, reaching Black Point settlement in the Exumas. This is our first visit to the village and we obviously have a lot to learn about the wonderful people and their town. Since it was Valentine's Day, we decided to take Radeen out for a nice dinner, considering she has cooked 3 meals a day for the past 6 days!

We phoned Lorraine's Cafe and ordered three lobster dinners. Arriving at 1830, we were treated to an open bar, where you go behind the bar and make your own drinks. Then the lobsters arrived, broiled and baked, served with corn and rice and mac'n cheese. Fantastic! Dessert was warm chocolate cake with pink frosting and cheesecake, with Valentine's candies. We enjoyed meeting Lorraine, who made us feel so welcome. Radeen really enjoyed herself and we were happy to take her out for such a lovely evening!

Fuel and Water Fri-Thur, Miami to Highbourne Cay
25 gal Diesel at $5.71 per gallon and
75 gallons of water at $.50 per gallon

Tomorrow, we will run the last 45 miles to George Town ahead of a new frontal system and 30 knot winds expected to blow on Sat night into Sun. We will deliver Jeff to GT on time for his beach rental scheduled for Feb 17th. From there, we will slow down, take our time and explore south of GT and then we will head north, exploring all the spots we missed on our trip south. After our Exumas exploration, we will head north to the Abacos.  Overall, it has been easier getting here than expected, but it certainly has bigger water and feels much more remote than the Abacos.

Here are some photos of today....

One of the many motor yachts cruising this area

Radeen, passed out, reading her book of the day....rough!

Motor sailing into 10-15 knots of south winds!

At Black Point, the dinghy looks like it is hovering above the water,
instead of resting on it. This water is sooooooo clear!

Jeff and Hayden working the open bar at Lorraine's Cafe

Our anchor chain running out in the clear waters 

Hayden and Radeen at dinner at Lorraine's Cafe, Black Point, Exumas.
Note the Valentine's Day decorations!

Tomorrow, we will make the last 46 mile run from here, Black Point, to George Town, off the Banks in deep ocean water. We need to be anchored down for the high winds and cold front approaching. Winds are expected to exceed 30 knots so we need to get ready.....

Life is great aboard our cruising sailboat......thanks for sailing along

Please, check our SPOT TRIP MAP here, it is really COOL

Exumas Breached

Team Island Spirit sails close hauled into the Exumas

We have declared TODAY, Feb 13, 2013, the BEST DAY OF SAILING, since we left Rock Hall, MD, in September! At 0640, we left West Bay, New Providence, Bahamas, rounded the coral reef and turned onto a course of 120 for 45 miles to Highbourne Cay in the Exumas. Our weather router, Chris Parker, called for winds of 15-18 knots, from a direction of 160-180, so this was a close hauled course for 8+ hours.

Team Island Spirit LOVES TO SAIL UPWIND, so today was a real treat. Jeff, our great crew, sailed with Hayden, while Radeen enjoyed reading below. We love to see Radeen, our librarian, get her reading in. as usually she is too busy to read. With Jeff on board, she could relax and read all day long.....this was a real treat for Radeen....it was also a real treat for Hayden and Jeff because they love to trim sails and sail upwind!

Sailing upwind in BLUE WATER

So, we navigated the Yellow Bank and the White Bank and looked for coral heads as we sailed east. Eventually we passed into the clear waters beyond these banks and sailed on toward Highbourne Cay. As we approached the cay, we passed 7SEAS, Steven Spielberg's motor yacht that we had seen in Fort Lauderdale in December and then we moved into the anchorage. The first task was washing the salt spray off the entire boat and cockpit and then we enjoyed cocktails and snacks. Radeen spoiled us with a great dinner of smoked pork and seared potatoes and salad along with red wine. Life is amazingly wonderful aboard a cruising boat....

Radeen off watch and reading book 1 of 2 for the day

Jeff working hard as we sail upwind on autopilot

Steven Spielberg's yacht 7SEAS is anchored next to us off Highborne Cay

Mark Cuban's Yacht FOUNTAIN HEAD anchored off New Providence as we sailed out

Hayden looking out at the beautiful water

Thank you TAMMY....we opened my Christmas gift today
and enjoyed many interesting flavor combinations! 

Now we have reached the EXUMAS ! We will blast south to George Town before the next front arrives Saturday night into Sunday morning. We will then spend time in GT and from there we will explore south. Life is great aboard a cruising sailboat.....thanks so much for following along...

SEE OUR TRIP MAP HERE..

Stranded in West Bay

Map of West Bay, New Providence, Bahamas

We made it to the Bahamas after sailing out of Miami, FL on Friday. It took 29 hours of primarily motor sailing and 7 hours of resting and clearing in at Andros. We dropped the hook in West Bay, New Providence, where we have been stranded since Saturday. On Sunday, Hayden's birthday, we tried to bash into 25+ knots of ENE winds only to go 9 miles out, turn around and surf back at 7.8 knots in building seas! DUH, that was really stupid. We had data from our weather router, Chris Parker, and knew it was going to be ENE or E winds....BUT....we thought we could push into this. NO, not down here, this is bigger water, with bigger seas, and we really do not want to move around in the dark, so we need to reach our destinations in the mid afternoons at best!

Departed Miami, made West Bay, now waiting for better winds.
This is the current plan for our George Town run.

So we are here in West Bay, New Providence, Bahamas, on anchor and safe. These is no reason to try to move on UNTIL the wind is in our favor. This will happen Wednesday when the winds move to SSE. Our next destination is Highborne Cay which is 45 miles on a course of 112 degrees. Our overall goal is to deliver Jeff to George Town by Sat/Sun where he has rented a beach house for the week of Feb 17-24. If the weather holds us up, then there are mailboats and planes to take Jeff to George Town.

Here are some photos of our rough days.....

Sunrise over our bow in West Bay, New Providence Bahamas

My "BEACH BUM" crew, Radeen and Jeff

Clifton Heritage Park, where we can land dinghy and walk the sand or swim

View from the Park of Island Spirit at anchor out in the deep water (10 feet)

Radeen is spoiling us with great dinners. Hayden made bread and Jeff stocked the wine cellar.

Radeen walking the low tide

We have now proven that when our weather router says the winds will be 22 knots, gusting to 28 knots from the east, we should believe him. We set sail out into this forecast to "prove" and to "collect data" as to the accuracy of our weather reports. Guess what we learned? ......YES, Chris Parker was right on! Now we know that :-)

This is the wind for today, dead on the bow, so we will wait until Wed, when it goes more SOUTH
http://passageweather.com/index.htm?http%3A//passageweather.com/maps/florida/mappage.htm

SEE OUR COOL SPOT TRIP MAP HERE

Bahamas Breached

Jeff and Radeen, ready to go, Coconut Grove Sailing Club at dawn

"The hardest part of a sailing trip is....just leaving the docks!" And so it was once again. You would think after all these years of running our boat, now with over 12,500 miles, we would be very accustomed to preparing a boat for a trip. 

This trip, departing Miami, FL for the Exumas then up to the Abacos seemed to be more challenging. With the normal prep work, we met our goal and departure date. Our good friend and fellow Island Spirit team mate, Jeff G. jumped onboard for a sail to George Town. Jeff keeps us all safe with nuclear power and we certainly hope the industry manages with him offline while sailing aboard Island Spirit.

Sunset sailing on the Bahama Banks

After Jeff concluded two days of meetings at the NRC in Washington DC, he moved his Friday flight up to Thursday so we could jump onto the end of a week long weather window and depart Miami. At 0600 we moved off the mooring ball at Coconut Grove Sailing Club and moved to the water dock, filled up, and headed out Biscayne Channel for sea. We crossed the Gulf Stream (Florida Current) and entered between Gun Cay and Cat Island onto the Bahama Banks. We enjoyed a wonderful chicken piccata dinner with strawberries and pound cake prepared by Radeen. Then we sailed all night long across the Banks, bound for the North West Channel.

Morgan's Bluff Fuel Dock and the only wall to climb up
That is the bar/customs house in the background

We arrived the narrow NW Channel at 0200 (2 AM!) and with lightning and a bit of rain, we crossed into the Tongue of the Ocean. We sailed this south to Morgan's Bluff. There we needed to wait offshore for daybreak in order to find the channel markers. These were not showing up on radar, so we 

decide to NOT enter the channel at NIGHT. Good call, as the channel markers were NOT there due to  Hurricane Sandy. Arriving in Morgan's Bluff, we dropped anchor and slept until our 0930 Customs meeting. We had called the day before to make sure they would be there then and they said they would. Well, 930, 1030, 1130....1230 was when the officers finally arrived! We checked into the country and departed immediately at 1:15 pm for a 28 mile sail to West Bay, New Providence, arriving at dusk!

Team Island Spirit, mid stream, offshore Miami

Over all, the 36 hour passage was not as difficult as any of the 10 Cape May, NJ to Block Island, RI runs we have made. This trip has many different components:  Gulf Stream Crossing, Bahama Banks Sailing, NW Channel Passage with missing marks, Tongue of the Ocean sailing at night, and brisk upwind sailing / motoring to get to West Bay. Now, the next leg is 45 miles East to Highborne Cay, where we will reach the Exumas. We can sail SOUTH on this EAST wind and reach George Town. From there....we will explore, explore, explore...

Here are some photos of this leg...

10 extra gallons of diesel fuel on deck to back up our 48 gallon tank
Fuel burn is 3/4 gallon per hour, at 7 mph!

8 gallons of gasoline in red tanks on the stern rails
 for the "car" our dinghy to get ashore

Hayden and Radeen at sunrise departure for the Exumas

Stiltsville homes next to Biscayne Channel

Looking off the stern down at the water color
Bahama Banks shallow water!

 Jeff offshore in the Gulf Stream

There it is...Gun Cay, the island cut that we passed through
Notice the waves crashing on the rocks, this is a calm day

ahhhh....Bahama Banks, 8-10 feet deep, calm, and great sailing
That is the shadow of our sails and hull on the sandy bottom

Sunset on the Great Bahamas Bank, 10 hrs to the NW Channel passage
We motor sailed all night 

0630, 24 hrs later, we are hoisting the Q flag, quarantined in Morgan's Bluff
on the northern end of Andros. Time to check in to Customs.

Island Spirit at anchor while Hayden is ashore checking in

Anchored off Morgan's Bluff, Andros Island

Up with the Bahamas flag....papers filed, and fees paid, we are good for 180 days

Off we sail for New Providence from Andros

West Bay, New Providence, Bahamas, a birthday to remember!
 Hayden announces the sunset with his conch horn...Thank you CAREY!

So, we tried today to bash our way into 20+ knot headwinds attempting to sail our way EAST in a East North East wind....DUH...that did not work. After reefing the jib from a 135% to 110% and sailing up onto the banks, 9 miles out, we decided to turn around and surf back into safe port. Doing 7.8 knots down wind in steep seas, we were all happy to safely back on anchor in West Bay with the boat intact. Island Spirit is one tough boat! We really need to WAIT for proper winds and better wind directions before moving on. That looks like Wednesday for now...Oh well, it is tough, but we will just live here until we can move on!

See our building EXUMAS TRIP MAP HERE