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.