A lot has happened

We said our goodbyes to Staniel Cay and continued to head south.  Next destination was Black Point.  We heard a lot of good things about this place and were excited to go.   Once we arrived there was a nice anchorage with plenty of room for us to drop anchor.  We had heard that there was a nice laundromat that we immediately took advantage of.  Our first few hours were spent doing laundry but it was great place to meet other cruisers that were doing the same thing.  In-between loads we walked around town to get the lay of the land.  We found a restaurant/bar, a tiny market, and a place to get free water (priority).  We also saw a phone booth, I know to some that this may be no big deal but when is the last time you saw one, do they even exist in the US anymore. Even funnier is it was locate right next to the local jail.

It just so happened that there was a local regatta taking place while we were there.  We had a perfect view, they were sailing right through the anchorage.  One boat passed by us with inches to spare.

We hiked to a blow hole on the other side of the island during high tide so it was very active. Then a path took us to the beach, another site to behold.

 

Next stop Farmers Cay.  Seas were good but half way to our destination the engine alarm went off (me panic) we were motor sailing so we quickly turned off the engine.  Walter hurried to see what was wrong while I stayed at the helm trying to keep us on course.  You know the engine pump we put on at Staniel Cay, a bolt had loosened so it was not flushing water to keep the engine cool.  Best thing we did was stay those extra days waiting for the one we ordered.  Walter and his quick action and smarts was able to replace the pump (while under way) in no time and we were able to start the engine back up and get back on track. 

Farmers Cay was our next destination, it is very small island but we were still able to find a place called “Ty’s” for some rum drinks and a fish dinner.

It is always nice to get your feet back on land when possible, we dinghied to a beach were we came across some ruins of what looked to be a small resort, Mediterranean looking but now all abandoned. But Walters highlight of the day was finding a place to swim with the sea turtles.

Time to move on again, the plan was to go to the island that David Copperfield owns where there is a sunken Steinway and mermaid sculpture, it was supposed to be great snorkeling too.  When we arrived, we just could not get a anchor to set after a few try’s, too much coral and grass.  Disappointed, we decided that we would have to move on and find a place to anchor for the night (maybe on the way home we can try again) we went a few miles and found a small sandy area and called it a night. 

George Town was the ultimate destination!!!!!  A days sail we arrived in Elizabeth Harbor and anchored in an area called sand dollar beach, Walter was so excited. The next day it was a dinghy ride to Chat-n-Chill.  We had been in George Town a few years ago when we rented a vacation house, saying maybe one day we can sail our boat. Tada! A Kalik beer and a Cuban cigar to celebrate.

We went to Monument Beach, a place where cruisers have been spelling out their boat names for years with rocks, so when in Rome.  Once  we were done we hiked to the top of the hill that is marked with a monument representing the highest point in George Town.  It was the best view around you could even see our name (which we abbreviated). 

Glutens for punishment we went to another beach that day that had what they call a art walk.  The path lead to the other side of the island, along the way was corky things cruisers made out of rock, coconuts or anything they could find.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update on the boat maintenance.  Walter found a small drip on the raw water shaft pump seal.  He replaced the impellor, but it still dripped out the seal.  The raw water pump is what cools the heat exchanger for the engine making us dead in the water.  Now what???

Thank goodness this was found while at a  location where we could try to order a pump from the states and have it shipped to Staniel Cay.  There is a shipping company called Makers that fly’s into Staniel Cay 3 times a day.  Walter was on it, he located a pump in Tampa and was able to express ship the pump to Makers in Ft Lauderdale .  Then we spent the next few days trying to get Wi-Fi so we could track the pump.  This all may sound easy but was a real challenge.  Not only did we need to coordinate the ordering, and shipping of the pump to Makers we also had to create a import/export license for the Bahamas, be able to upload our boat documents, passport and the approved import/export documents. Now all we needed was for the pump and documents to be in the hands of Makers before they would be able to allow customs to schedule the package to be on a plane.  So, while waiting for all this to be coordinated we have been lucky enough to still be on a mooring ball with high winds and rain for the last few days. Today we got notified that everything was in order and Makers will try and have the pump on their 3pm flight, but not sure what the process will be to get the pump in our hands once it arrives. 

While trying to coordinate getting a pump, we ran into some friends we met back in Nassau, John and Peddy on a boat called Rumbo.  We shared our situation, John said hey I have 2 extra pumps that he had rebuilt, happy to give you one.  Walter was so excited he almost peed his pants. We rushed back to the boat installed the pump and the engine ran like a charm (no drip). We immediately went back to Rumbo gave John our broken pump so he could rebuild it and paid him for the one he gave us.  This was a true generosity, a blessing!

Even though we had the pump and the boat was good to go we had come so far into the process of getting one shipped that we are waiting for it to arrive so we will have a spare.

Side note: Went to shore to get a look at some nurse sharks that hang out by a fish cleaning station. Walter wanted me to move down to the next step, I hope he was kidding.

More to follow 😊

 

We have been chased by bad weather and no Wi-Fi, finally able to update.

Three days in Point Harbor Marina!!!!

Before I get to the status of the outboard motor, wanted to share our experience at the Point Harbor Marina AKA Margaritaville.  We originally made reservations at the marina based on a fellow cruiser’s recommendation.  Since we had to get the outboard worked on why not enjoy ourselves as well.  The day we pulled into the marina there was only one other boat, that should have been a sign. So, we got situated in the slip but it was rolley and the water was swishing all over the place rocking the boat, we put extra dock lines to try and keep the boat stable (we thought).  Not being familiar with this harbor we were totally unaware that it was close to the harbor entrance and a lot of boat traffic including all the cruise ships.  For the next few days the best way to describe the how the boat was handling being in the slip is “washing machine.”  With wakes coming from all directions moving the boat in circles you could barely stand.  We were committed to staying because we still could not get the motor fixed and knew we could not continue further south with out one.  We were able to get the name of a Honda mechanic, called and left a message about our situation.  After half a day with no call back we got a taxi and went to his shop, only to find out that he was offsite on a job, but his staff promised he would call us as soon as he returned.  As luck would have it there was a marine store across the street that we decided would be a good place to check out.  We had the part numbers for some of the things that might help get the motor fixed but none were in stock, and it would be two weeks to order them. Just down from this store was another marine store but they did not carry Honda parts at all, only Yamaha.  Still not having heard from the Honda mechanic, we noticed this store also sold Yamaha outboards as well.  Still no word from the Honda mechanic we to a serious look at the cost of the Yamaha’s.  We killed a little more time in this part of town and found a Fresh Market organic food store, it was awesome, thankfully we brought our backpack and were able to buy some fresh vegetables as we were almost out.  Still no word from the mechanic, so we had to make some serious decisions on what were going to do.  Being stuck for up to two weeks waiting for parts or repairs and paying for a slip that was horrible or do we buy a new outboard and get back to the water as originally planned.  We buy a new outboard!  

The marine store was able to deliver the new motor to the boat.  It was a orchestra of dock lines and wenches getting the motor on board and but with the assistance from one of the dockhands Walter was able to get the motor on board and secured.  We were so thrilled to know that the next morning we would be able to leave and head south so we celebrated (again) and went out for some jerk chicken at a local restaurant.

Morning came and we decided that our next destination would be Allen Cay after crossing the Exuma bank.  Weather was supposed to be turning with high winds out of the west and Allen Cay would have good protection.  We arrived with a beautiful sunny day (before the winds) set anchor and grilled some steaks, had some wine and watched another terrific sunset.  Night came and so did the winds.  Allen Cay is a known inlet to cruisers to hide from the winds, with sand bars and some shallow water, boat after boat came in looking for a place to anchor and hide.  It was full, spent most of the night watching our anchor alarm to make sure we did not drag into anyone or anyone drag into us.  With so many boats in one location it would been catastrophic.  Morning came and the winds were still blowing 18 kts with gusts of 20-25.  By afternoon the winds died enough that we were able to take the dinghy to Iguana Beach.  The Iguana is the Bahamas only natural land animal and are now protected because they were becoming endangered.  True to form Walter brought some oranges to feed them, what a sight.  The big and little Iguanas came out to get a taste.  It was almost like a scene from Jurassic Park.

We decided to stay another night on anchor there because the winds were still too high to sail further south.  As mentioned there were a few sand bars in this area and the boat had swung over one allowing the keel to bounce on the sand, so we decided to pull anchor and reset it in a different spot.  All was going well, found a spot to drop anchor but the anchor got caught on a coral head the size of a basket ball instead of the sand.  We pulled the anchor up but the coral head came up too.  We could not reset the anchor until the coral head came off.  With a boat pole in hand Walter struggled to get it off while a drove the boat in circles.  The coral was on the anchor so hard, whoops, it pulled the boat pole right out of his hands into the water, never to be seen again. Thank goodness we had a second pole, got the coral off and re-anchored, settling in for another windy night and anchor drag watch.

Storm that has been chasing us

Still being chased by the winds and  some bad weather the next morning we were off at first light to Hawksbill Cay in the Exuma Sea Land Park where they had mooring balls. This area should protect us from high winds that now will be coming from the north.  We arrived and got situated early enough that we were able to dinghy to the close by beaches and go for a walk and do a little swimming.  Night came and the predicted northly winds were now coming from the west, we were totally exposed, it was a rough night.  What weather reports we were able to get, indicated that the winds would turn and come from the north, but they didn’t they continued from the west (argh).  This was the first time I had to wear “relief band” anti-nausea bracelet it was so bad.  Even though we were on a mooring ball we had to make a decision to stay or go, we went.  Fours hours later we were at Warwick Wells another mooring ball anchorage in the Exuma Sea Land Park.  The winds were now coming from the north, and we were well protected so much so, that we stayed for three days.

bones of a sperm whale that washed up on shore, they say due to the plastics in the water that eventually clogged its airway

Warwick Wells is known for Boo Boo Hill, a place where cruisers write their boat name on a piece of drift wood and place it at the top of the hill as a rite of passage they say.  After a mile hike up the hill we arrived and left our mark.

We dinghied to all the close by beaches making the best of our time there.  

Soon it was time to leave as the park has no resources and we were running low on fresh water, propane and fuel.  Off to Staniel Cay we go, who as all the resources we need even a tiny grocery store.  Staniel Cay has mooring ball field that was on a first come basis’s, whoop whoop we were able to get the last one.  We decided to stay for 4 days, so we could fuel up and fill the freshwater tank.  We needed propane too, learned from the local folks that you can take it to the grocery store and drop it off for a fill and pick up the next day, the store was just a dinghy ride to the other side of the island.  

Time to play.  We dinghied to pig island, where as soon as your dinghy arrives the pigs swarm over looking for food.  I thought they were going to be cute little piglets but now they were huge.  Again, in true form Walter brought some carrots to feed them.  But before he could get some carrots out he was swarmed and just through the carrots as quickly as possible, I jumped back in the dinghy. As other boats arrived the pigs went to them, making it so we were able to walk on the beach and soak in all that was going on.

In the afternoon we went to the Thunderball Grotto from he James Bond film and did some snorkeling.  We are still here and will leave in another day.  

Today we woke up to rain that is expected to last most of the day.  So, boat maintenance is on the agenda.