Sailing Baby Blue

Well what do you know, once we decided we would be happy no matter where we ended up this year, the weather gods opened a window and we made it all way to the Dominican Republic in one shot. That one shot amounted to the longest time out at sea so far: four days and three nights. Before setting out we took advantage of our week waiting for weather at Salt Pond, Long Island to re-provision with food, water, and diesel. Salt Pond turned out to be a very enjoyable stop with friendly people, a bona fide marine supply store, and free wifi fast enough to further our Game of Thrones addiction. Because our stop there coincided with the annual cruising rally from Georgetown, we also took part in some of the planned activities, like two school bus rides to one of the bars down the road where we ate our fill of appetizers and I became kind-of-a-big-deal with the local karaoke scene. (Apparently when you see the same three guys singing the same ten songs week after week, fresh blood is pr...

After taking our best shot at reaching Rum Cay under sail from Conception, we had only progressed about three miles in two hours. Although we had all day to get there, it was just too frustrating so we gave up and motored into the wind. As we neared the island I noticed on the chart that we were running along a ridge where the water went from very very deep to relatively shallow and mentioned to Jon that maybe he should check the trolling line. The last time we caught a fish there was no other indicator, I just grabbed the line and realized there was something on it. So Jon checked, and sure enough, we'd hooked another fish of many colors and names, the dolphin-fish/mahi-mahi/dorado. This one was much bigger than the first, and male. Jon brought him into the boat as we neared the coral head-strewn shoreline and the sky grew dark with clouds. We managed to anchor safely without hitting any coral heads or tripping and falling onto the dead fish in the cockpit. As we were setting ...

Jon finally catches a fish for lunch. And dinner. And second dinner. I am in charge of the filming and shrieking. Our self-steering gear is featured and keeps us from crashing into anything.

After our beautiful sail to Calabash Bay, across the Exuma Sound from Georgetown near the tip of Long Island, we went to bed full of fish filets, fish tacos, and ceviche. In the morning we got the boat ready and set out into the Atlantic with no clear destination. We had hopes of making whatever southeasterly progress we could and were prepared to stay out overnight if we got lucky with the right conditions. But we had little reason to hope based on the forecast, and as expected, going the right direction would mean motoring painfully slowly into the wind and bashing into the waves. We tried for Rum Cay, but the point of sail that was working best for us was leading straight to Conception, so that is where we went. Conception is a small island of only six square miles and is a nature preserve. After we anchored and hauled the dinghy off deck we spent the very hot afternoon wandering up and down the beaches on each side of the island, with sand that felt like sifted flour un...

We arrived in Georgetown just in time for the Annual Cruising Regatta. It should come as no surprise that the weather interfered with some of the planned activities which were delayed several times during our week-long stay, so while we left before the big boat race we were able to see some of the other events. Incredibly, out of all of the available anchorages in Georgetown's giant harbor, which during the week we were there was filled with well over 300 boats, we pulled up right behind Godspeed ! We all thought we would probably never see each other again, when suddenly a familiar looking boat was spotted, drawing closer and closer… I guess it shouldn't be too surprising considering we both heard the forecast, and great minds think alike when it comes to finding the best protection from the wind. Our first order of business upon arrival was to get to the grocery store for some much needed fresh food, and then to the dock for free water. We spent a day running around...

Underwater adventure montage.

Allan's Cay, Exumas Iguana party A very assertive little bird who must be used to being fed along with the iguanas. The tour boat from Nassau pulling in to Leaf Cay. Norman's Cay Jon snorkeling in the little channels, before low tide leaves nothing but spongy beach. The right beach for yoga is harder to find than you might expect. Our makeshift cabana for the afternoon on Shroud Cay. Sometimes Jon is overly optimistic about water depth when it comes to exploring in the dinghy. Then my free ride changes from being rowed to being towed, and I hate to say I told you so! I don't remember exactly where this was mostly because our view each night looks about like this, give or take a few clouds. The best yoga spot so far on Hawksbill Cay, which might also be why it was one of my favorite stops. The man loves caves!

2/16/15 We've now been in the Bahamas for a little over a month and already we're closing in on Georgetown, the end of the line for many on a Bahamian cruise. After passing through the Abacos at lightning speed, we made one of several attitude adjustments during our day-long voyage to the next island chain, Eleuthera. Though I didn't think I had any expectations for what we would find when we got to the Bahamas, not knowing much about it in the first place, I was a bit surprised when my idyllic picture of what sailing to the islands should be did not immediately manifest itself. We moved the boat from island to island in search of just the right spot: a protected anchorage all to ourselves right in front of a pristine beach with good snorkeling on the banks side and surfing on the ocean side. All of this would be a peaceful walk down the road from a little village of pastel colored cottages, a stand selling fresh produce, and a casual bar with an amazing happy hou...