N24 50 12 W76 20 56, Cape Eleuthera Marina

What, Cape Eleuthera MARINA? Johesa in a marina and not at anchor? No, we are not turning into marina people but there is a new front coming today and we needed to get into a place to get some west protection. That is the good and bad about the Bahamas, the winds are east 90% of the time but when fronts pass through and the winds clock around to S, SW, W and NW there are very few places to hide. We spent one day and night in an exposed anchorage at Cat Island and got rocked and rolled all day and night. I'm getting ahead of myself though, let me start at the beginning.
We left Georgetown, (picture to the right is our anchorage at George Town and below that is the Internet cafe) made it Cat Island with a nice motor sail. The first night there was beautiful. The only boat at anchor with good protection from the winds and free Internet to boot. The next day we moved to a place called New Bight and went into town for some fuel and re-provisioning. Nice anchorage with good holding but exposed to the SW & W. The first night was great but the next day it went down hill fast. We were getting pitched all day with SW winds, it was so bad we couldn't even get Jessie to shore. Then in the night the winds switched to the W so we started rolling for the rest of the night. So with much regret we left Cat Island with a Dolphin escort and sailed to Little San Salvador, Half Moon Bay for the night. This is leased by Holland/American Cruise Lines so when there is a ship in the harbor we have to anchor way on the end so we don't disturb the paying customers. About 2 hours after we got anchored the cruise ship left and we had the place to ourselves. We met the locals who work on the island and they gave us the grand tour of the place. It is a beautiful place but we were amazed at how the cruise ship thing works. When the ship drops anchor they send their people to shore with everything, food, gifts, services and such. Then went it is time to leave they pack up everything and move onto the next location. There is a new ship almost every day so the local crew ferry's people back and forth to the ship and cleans up after they leave. We spent only one night there as the weather was predicted to go bad and there is no protection from S, SW or W at this anchorage.

We are now at the Cape Eleuthera Marina for the next frontal passage. The marina is under construction so not all of the services are available yet but the people here are great. They have really gone out of their way to make sure we get everything we need and took us out for pizza, tours and shopping in town. The laundry facilities still need some work as Cindy demonstrates the fine art of plunger washing. We have been here three nights and will move out tomorrow for the town of Rock Sound. We will spend a few weeks at Eleuthera before we head north to the Abacos.

So ends another day in paradise as the captain blows the conch horn and gives thanks for another beautiful day.



Bill & Cindy standing by.

N23 30 75 W75 44 69, Georgetown

Left Nassau and finally arrived in the Exumas. This was where we anchored at Hawksbill Cay. We spend New Years here with two other cruisers we met along the way. For the most part we we the only people anchored in these spots. From here we continued south to numerous cays and stopped in Waderick Wells Park for a break. Not really a break as we were working at the park to get free mooring. Cindy was clearing brush and I got to dig ditches. It felt good to do some real work for a change. The snorkeling was great but all the sea life is protected and we could not take any of the fish or lobsters.
Then to Staniel Cay where we started to find many other boats. Some of the cruisers stay here all year, we had enough after about a week. We did snorkel in the Thunderball Grotto, James Bond movie, and had the best conch burgers in the Exumas. Got our laundry done at Black Point then anchored in a remote anchorage for a few days to try some lobstering and fishing. My new plan is to hang around people that are getting fish and get invited for dinner. Left the Exuma Bank at Farmers Cay. Nice little town that we spent the day in, and then out the cut to Exuma Sound the next day. Here we are at one of the many beach parties that boaters put on. They even bought and roasted a pig for one. Hopefully it wasn't one of the beach pigs that swim out for food. They did seem a little agitated though. So now we are in Georgetown and will be leaving as soon as possible. It is kind of interesting but this is a place where the cruisers come and stay all year. They have their activities and are very clicky. They don't really care to welcome newcomers to join in the reindeer games. It's to bad it has come to this but people are the same all over. We are going to Cat Island to get away from the crowds for a while again.
Bill & Cindy signing off.