George Town Blow

Just realized that my post about staying on in George Town till after the current front -- the most significant weather event of the season -- passes did not actually post.  We remain in George Town till who knows how long...

Woke up this morning at 1:00 am to gusty winds and some rocking.  It was about 20 knots then though thankfully not too rolly as we are protected from ocean swell here in Elizabeth Harbour.  We are located on the outer edge of the anchorage off of Chat and Chill Beach so no boats behind us.  Checked on things around the deck and anchor to find all was well.  Looked up and noticed a boat cruising in and, lo and behold, it was our friend Tam on Ask For who ended up anchoring just down a ways from us.  He’d left George Town for a few days and I’m sure was glad to be back in the harbour.  Went below to work on a crossword puzzle when I heard more voices.  Another boat cruised in and anchored between us and Ask For.  I noticed in the morning that this boat has a yellow quarantine flag which means that they’ve just entered the Bahamas after a long sail.  Bet they’re glad to be here, too.  Dave also got up for awhile and adjusted a water jug on deck, then went back to sleep.  I tried to go back to sleep but just dozed. 

Early gray Monday morning, 25 knots

After preparing coffee and oatmeal, I went on deck and listened to the weather.  Sounds as though we’re in for a sustained blow as the front lingers over the south central Bahamas.  During his forecast, when Chris Parker got to our neck of the woods, he said, “Oh, George Town is really getting it!”  Today we’ll have 25 knots which is not bad, but the kicker is that tomorrow and Wednesday will be worse and the wind will not go below 20 knots till Friday.  Tomorrow we’ll have sustained 30 knot winds with gusts to 35 and squalls (short windy bursts of rain) to 42.   Fortunately we are protected by Stocking Island so no ocean swell and the current is minimal.   We hope that the next front that is developing on the US East Coast will not develop into another nasty front. 

Every morning the George Town Cruisers Net comes on the VHF radio to tell us of the events of the community, lost and found items, and where to take our garbage.  Since the George Town Regatta is occurring this week, we’re getting the news of the scavenger hunt, fun and regulation volleyball, softball, sand sculpture contest, arts and crafts show, model small boat, dinghy, and big boat races and more, but with this wind, a few of the events have been cancelled.  Of note, Terry (a Jersey gal, I am sure) announced that she regretted to say that the poker run in George Town had to be cancelled as it would not be safe for players to cross the harbour in their dinghies.  She requested that we ask God for good weather for the poker run. 

We spent an afternoon and a morning figuring out how to get our jib box here.  The internet “store” is a bright green cement building with a moldy wooden roof and, I think, a dirt floor.  It is run by a sweet, young Bahamian couple.  We needed to have our cruising permit scanned so we could send it to the folks who are shipping the package.  The internet their was verrrry slow.  Found an agent who will take care of customs.  All told it will cost about $100 to ship.  That’s the way it is.  The store also has a US phone line, so you can call the States for only 15 cents a minute.  Beats the $2 a minute on my cell phone.  Gave TJ and Mom a call.  So great to hear their voices. 

Winch Wench

The day before yesterday, I took apart our winch to lubricate it.  It took a long time, but I cleaned then greased and oiled all the parts and put it back together again. I was pleased that there were no left over parts and that it seems to work.  Now I can do the other winch.  Some boats have as many as eight winches.  Thank goodness we only have two.  As I worked, the 18-mile sailboat race around Stocking Island took place.  As we're on the edge of the anchorage, we had front row seats at the finish line.  It was nice to listen to the commentary and watch the boats come in as I was doing the winch job.  A cat called, Glory Days, and a mono-hull were neck and neck on the last leg.  The cat pulled ahead for first place.  It really was beautiful to watch the boats in full sail.  The hero of the race, though, is an assuming 26-foot sloop called Magic Frog.  Everyone loves and roots for Magic Frog.  One thing I love about this community is that it doesn’t matter if you have a million dollar cat or a forty-year old fixer-upper salvaged from a field.  People, for the most part, are accepting and will jump in to help when needed. 

Big boats racing in Elizabeth Harbour

Hooray for the mighty Magic Frog

We’ve met another nice couple with whom we plan to travel, along with Plane to Sea, south.  They are Rod and Eveline on Manatee, a classically beautiful, both inside and out, Gozzard 36.  Yesterday we had the calm before the storm, so Rod, a retired air force pilot, and Eveline, a pharmacist, decided to go snorkeling.  It wasn’t that spectacular but the highlight was seeing a lion fish, a fish that looks as though it sports turkey feathers that stand straight out and happens to be highly poisonous.   We kept a respectable distance.  Lion fish, however, are considered to be a delicacy.  The poison is in the “feathers” so one must be meticulous in cleaning and preparing this fish dish. 

The night before last, we had dinner aboard Wayward Wind with Rod, Eveline, Janis and Don.  Janis prepared spaghetti and I, a large salad with locally grown tomatoes and peppers.  Eveline brought delicious herbed cheese and crustini along with a nice bottle of wine and a dessert cake.  I look forward to these evenings in the cockpit as we watch the sun set and enjoy each others’ company.  Aside from the occasional mechanical issues, storms, and hassles with getting parts, it’s a nice life.