As January came to the end, Dan and I disengaged from Staniel anchorage and our cruiser friends at various anchorages nearby. We ourselves had enjoyed a small, lagoon type enclosed anchorage named Pipe Creek.
Sunspot Baby was having dirty fuel issues and were still moored in Cambridge Cay; their boat unable to move. Beautiful place to be stuck, though. They were in the process of cleaning the fuel, five gallons at a time through a filter. Later they told us Staniel Cay Marina, where they purchased the fuel, made it up to them.
Barbara Ann, the boat we had dinghied into the Staniel anchorage was in Staniel solving their engine issues. Once their boat was working again, I think I remember that they moored Barbara Ann at Sampson Cay Marina turned around and headed back to Naussau by plane and then the USA to do their taxes, leaving their boat temporarily.
We met Tempest whom we hadn't seen for two years and visited with them at Staniel before they moved on. Jay and Barb on Jupiter's Smile, a IPY we had traveled to Colombia with in 2009-2010, were in the Bahamas, so we tried to figure out how to hook up with them. We missed being able to re-connect with Cormorant, South Sea voyagers whom we had met when we traveled with our kids in 1998 on the old Sea Star. We knew Mar Nel from Titusville were coming in soon after having boat issues which delayed their Bahama arrival, so we were watching and listening on the radio for them.
Dan and I often look around at the boats in an anchorage and decide to go meeting and greeting- especially if the other boat is, like us, an Island Packet. IPY's have a small community and a couple of websites of news. Sailboaters are usually very interested in what each other's plans are or where they have sailed. We met IPYers in Staniel anchorage and others in Pipe Creek, a beautiful and very protected spot that can seem difficult to enter because of a narrow channel with limited depth. Our first time in we were assisted by radio by the friendly owner of an IPY a little smaller than ours. We also had met SunDance 5 in the creek where Rosemarie and I walked the beaches and climbed a bit.
The relatives who were soon to arrive were flying into Black Point Settlement, just six miles further south. They were due mid day on January 30 and we needed to be in the anchorage there to greet them at the small airstrip. We did whatever food shopping we could at Isles General Store in Staniel but it was not the day for the mailboat so new supplies were limited, and then moved on to Black Point anchorage. Sometime in that time frame our repaired genoa arrived back to Staniel from Nassau and we furled it back on the stay.
Second visitors
We were looking forward to more visitors. Daniel's (visitor in Jan.) dad and his wife, Nadsa were soon arriving. We always look forward to visiting with them and rarely have a chance to. Steven, the dad and my husband's nephew, with Daniel, had helped us sail Sea Star to Halifax, Nova Scotia from Provincetown, MA in 2008 to start our cruising life. (see earlier blog entries) At that time we had prepared a small farewell party and our two sons, some friends and relatives arrived to see us off from Wickford, Rhode Island. It was wonderful to have our significant people see us off.
When Steven come to crew with us in July2008, he carried a gallon of frozen beef stew, a chicken dish and other goodies in his small duffel. As well as being an excellent chef, he has sailing experience and knew what was needed to make a passage; a well fed crew.
Nadsa, our soon to be visitor, is an interesting and spiritual person. She's a Master Chef and rarely takes time away from her busy restaurant. Dan and I were glad they could both accept our invitation. We thought the trip might provide a bit of a respite from their high pressure occupations, and what better place than in the beautiful Exumas. . I do admit to being a bit on edge about the food access and preparation- for now there were four people on the boat. As it turned out I shouldn't have given it an extra thought.
Nadsa and Steve arrived at the Black Point Settlement airstrip not in this tiny plane but a twelve seater.
Where my pictures went, I really don't know. I had them arriving, and on the golf cart.....oh well- imagine and see the scenery
Loraine, a local restaurant operator whom I have mentioned in previous blogs, loaned us her electric golf cart to pick Nadsa and Steven and their small amount of luggage up and drive the short distance to the pier.
A couple more scenes...
In Black Point Settlement
A delivery by ship, not the almost weekly Mailboat, but kind of similar. Doesn't it look as if the dinghies will be squished? No- they moved some so that all would be well.
The mooring field at Cambridge is a little more crowded than when Daniel was there.
Walking on the beach and up the hill for a view of Bell Island
The pictures above and below were taken later in Feb with a new underwater camera. I inserted them now because we spent two sunny, companionable days snorkeling the Cambridge area.
It's hard to get fish in the picture.
This little Bananaquit came into the galley. Another little birdy must have told it that Nadsa, a professional chef, would be in Sea Star's galley. Thank you for the wonderful dinner Nadsa; fried rice with succulent vegetables and lobster. (purchased and not from the closed area of Exuma Land and Sea Park) . Thanks to you too, Steven. Steven made a pasta dinner another night. With these Excellent guests, our visit was leisurely.
A few days later, heading back to Staniel Cay for the plane, we passed Sampson Cay Marina and Dan and I were treated to dinner there.
Some folks were really relaxed-
We had great conversation and family news--
Nadsa and Steve heading Northeast- in February :(
Then about one week later, we geared up for the visit from our son, Steve, and friend Christa. We were so glad that they could get away from jobs and problems and enjoy the warm Bahamas with us.
"I can't do it Captain" Hmmmm. Did I say warm? On the day they arrived the weather was terrible! Wind, rain and waaves. Christa had never been sailing with us, and so we worried about her reaction when she would come aboard. All day Dan and I were anchored in Black Point, but with a south- westerly wind that is not comfortable there. Christa and Steve were to arrive about 3:00pm and we were concerned we couldn't leave the boat and get the dinghy safely to shore--AND get them and luggage back to Sea Star. We considered putting them up at a hotel until morning. Then we received a call on the ship's radio. Lo and behold it was Lorraine, offering to pick up our visitors and deliver them to the dock. We accepted with gratitude, but as fate would have it we were not to stay dry anyway.
Runaway Sailboat I looked off of Sea Star's bow and was alarmed. A sailboat was heading what looked like- right for us! I alerted Dan who quickly called the entire anchorage and then Lorraine's and asked if a cruiser was there, as there was a sailboat loose in the anchorage. Its captain now alerted to any boater's biggest nightmare, Dan and I watched with relief as we were gearing up to get in our dinghy and see what we could do, relief... that the boat slipped right on by US but was now heading for two more boats and quickly, the reef along the shore line. By now another cruiser and we were charging toward the loose boat in our dinghies. Our dinghy that we were unsure of being able to get ashore in- and the same wind of 25kn and waves with 3ft chop!
Dan went along side looking for another anchor to throw or perhaps the key in the ignition- nope. The second boater who rushed to assist had a more powerful dinghy but he went airborne as he used his dinghy to try to turn the boat in the chop. Next time we looked up, because we had almost been swamped by waves and were bailing, the two crew of the sailboat had arrived by dinghy and one was now trying to board the bucking boat.
The story ended well after a few more scary moments. The sailboat kept drifting quickly toward the certain crash on the rocks and the west shore but the dragging anchor caught something and the boat stopped. Despite its belching black smoke, the first man did start the engine revved it high up and abashedly began to motor off to the other side of the anchorage, having a difficult time because he was stopped by his anchor. Dan had been hollering across to "cut the line", but there was a language barrier. The international symbol of hand across the neck frantically got the point across while the other dinghy steadied the boat into the waves. The second man while still in his dinghy, was handed a sharp knife to cut the anchor rode. This allowed the boat to use it's engine. He then climbed aboard and secured his dinghy.
Soon, re-anchored and pitching wildly in the waves, that boat left the anchorage.
Will they make it?
Well, ok- back to the story of our guests. The radio came on again and Christa and Steve were eating at Lorraine's and would be to the dock in a few minutes. No time- or reason for Dan and I to change to dry clothing after the attempted rescue- (remember, this is the Bahamas and even wet is kind of warm.) We forced the dinghy to travel to the dock, where we waited for a wave to carry us up and jumped onto the ladder to the dock, tying the painter line as the boat surged back and forth. Of course I could not take pictures of any of this in the rain, spray and surge- but here are a few from the dock.
The shore where the loose sailboat had dragged to only a few minutes before
The dock we had to reach to pick up Christa and Steve. It looks like one could go to shore but there are sharp rocks over near the shore.
Look for this boat in the next picture. It's next to our dinghy.
There is a half-ladder down there we had to reach high to swing up on, out of the dinghy.
The new arrivals were troopers; smiling, giggling, all into the excitement of this new adventure. Even Lorraine's son watched with curiosity to see how these Gringos would get in that little boat. It is not just chance that these fishermen choose solid skiffs for their transportation.
Dan had the engine running, Steve remembered how to maneuver to balance his bodyweight and jumped quite athletically into the dinghy, smiling and laughing the whole time- then somehow got the luggage I handed him (in slippery plastic bags) into the boat. Dan barreled off to Sea Star. Christa watched the bouncing and smashing of the dinghy while we packaged their other bags and waited her turn. What could she have been thinking?
Christa and I were astonished that it was Steve, not Dan returning to pick her up. Steve told her exactly where to step to balance as she stepped in from the algae-coated vertical ladder, and she was soon in and seated sans mishap. Lorraine's son, still there, held the line and I passed down the remaining luggage, scrambled down, got in and we were off! Soon, we all were safe and comparatively dry aboard Sea Star.
Dan and I had decided earlier in the day to leave the Black Point anchorage and go a short distance south to a more sheltered bay because of the unfavorable wind direction. That plan worked beautifully and soon the "kids" and Dan and I were all in the dinghy,this time heading for shore and a walk on the beautiful coastline.
After our walk and as evening was approaching, the weather settled. The wind direction changed just enough to make the boat comfortable. The kid's first night was settling in but they still needed to learn how boat systems are more finicky than home systems. Dan and I were introduced to our new toy, a Go Pro video camera, a very small, waterproof camera we hoped would allow us to video some of our snorkels and that could be used without damage when water incursion on the boat destroyed my being able to capture our experience. I'll just say here, it's a sharp learning curve to effectively use the Go Pro.
This is actually sailing to Norman's Cay the next day.
This could have been anytime. Well, sometimes they had on their wetsuits and snorkeling gear.
Somewhere along the chain. Maybe the Shaw's private island near Cambridge Cay
An interesting perspective by Go Pro. The people seem tiny and far away.
Again, the last activity before getting on the plane is...
Feed the famous Staniel Cay swimming Pigs.
At Sampson's anchorage at sunset.
A sight we will miss.
Steve shows us how to use the Go Pro. Quite a wide angle lens. At "some point" I will insert some short movies here but that process is befudling me right now, and I want to move on and catch-up.
Heading through the channels at Shroud Cay to the sea on the other side. The cut is in front of us.
Here's the kids in the dinghy, but what is on the side? No clue.
Dad high, Steve low. Look Ma, no air! Steve was able to freedive to 30' after not diving for years.
The night of Superbowl pre-game at Black Point- Scorpio's Restaurant, obviously out of sequence.
Cruisers from Sun Spot Baby. He took the lovely Bahama Sunset shots at Cambridge Cay.
We had our own room at a beachfront restaurant on Staniel Cay to watch the Superbowl. Everybody else was for the Giants.
Check out. $145.00 worth of food in the Bahamas. Broccoli $6, lettuce $4.95-after that I couldn't even look. We just bought what they actually had.
This was Not the part of the sail that originally ripped and that we sent to Nassau to be fixed with the instructions to inspect the sail and please fix or re-sew any issues. Only two modest sails in the Exumas and we were again looking for a sailmaker.
NEXT- MARCH IN THE EXUMAS.
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