From Nassau to Allen's Cays to Highborne Cay

May 15, 2009

May 13, 2009: We were ready to leave Atlantis in Nassau but when Charlie tried to start the engine, the boat did not respond. Charlie spent several hours trying to identify and fix the problem: checked the grounding, wiring, starter solenoid ... all to no avail. We envisioned a need to have the Yanmar dealer send us a part from Florida. So we had to stay at Atlantis another day. We contacted the Marina office for an electrician. The electrician was out of town but could come first thing in

the morning. Later Charlie asked if they could find another electrician who would be available the same day. They said someone would be there after 3 p.m. I went to another larger grocery store via taxi which cost me $28.00 round trip! I also included a trip to the drugstore. Once I returned from my shopping, I went to the pools to relax with Marilyn who was already there. A nice frozen Pina Colada hit the spot! Charlie was waiting for the electrician but he joined Marilyn and me later. The electrician had found a obscure starter relay ground connection which was causing the problem. We enjoyed the beautiful pool until it closed and then had a light pizza dinner before retuning to the boat.

May 14, 2009: We finally left the Atlantis Marina about 8:30 and proceeded to Hurricane Hole Marina for fuel. We had to wait until another boat fueled up and washed his boat off. We finally left that dock about 9:30 and proceeded out the east entrance to Nassau to Athol Island and Porgee Rocks. The wind was 20-25+ knots from the ESE as we headed to Allen's Cays group, our first stop in the Exumas. It was a wild ride with rail in the water. We had to tack across the rum line (course line) because the wind was too close to the intended track. It was too rough for me to fix lunch so we had peanut crackers and sodas for lunch. We saw land by 2:30 p.m. We arrived at the entrance way point at 3:30 and were anchored by 3:50. On the way there we dodged a wide rainstorm, but scattered showers found us just after anchoring and prevailed throughout the night. About 1:45 a.m. the anchor alarm went off. I was worried about our swinging and hitting a catamaran behind us. The current was affecting us more than the wind. I got Charlie up about 2:15 a.m. to deal with it because the alarm kept going off. We pulled in some of the chain but Charlie said it was tight so seemed to be holding so we backed down on the anchor at 60 ft of chain and let out 30 more. I was still concerned about the catamaran behind us when the current switched so I stood anchor watch until 7 a.m.

May 15, 2009: After a leisurely breakfast, we took the dinghy off the forward deck and put on the outboard preparing to go ashore Leaf Cay and SW Allen Cay to see the iguanas. There are few places left where the iguanas live naturally.

We explored several of this group of cays. We saw several of the iguanas fighting for supremacy. After a late lunch, we prepared to proceed down to the next cay, Highborne Cay, which took us about an hour to reach and anchor. We had to dodge the reefs as we entered along a beautiful beach.

Exploring Nassau and Atlantis

May 13, 2009: 

  

May 11, 2009:  We arrived in Nassau Harbor about 6p.m. See the picture of the Paradise Island lighthouse and Atlantis in the background. and were docked by 6:30 at Atlantis Marina 

on Paradise IS.  After showering and cocktails, we set out to explore and to find some dinner. Atlantis reminds me of Disney World but reminds Charlie of Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. 

     May 12, 2009:  I got up early to do laundry and then washed down the boat. 

 Charlie went exploring, bought post cards, and mailed them.  Marilyn Friend and I took a ferry across the harbor to Old Nassau where we wandered around a bit.  The traffic was horrible with narrow streets and bumper to bumper cars and trucks.  We purchased some island outfits as well as some groceries and a sixpack of Kalik before returning to Atlantis again by ferry.  The ferry tour guides are all free lance depending only on tips but are very entertaining and informative.  We rejoined Charlie and ate lunch before going in search for the underground aquarium.

While Charlie found a pool to lounge by, Marilyn and I toured

 yet another underground aquarium.  They are a special attraction here and beautifully done.  We all enjoyed cooling off in one of the many pools at Atlantis.     We had a lovely and memorable dinner at Cafe Martinique.  

 

Heading for Nassau

May 11, 2009

        Continuing May 9, 2009 events.  We did get checked in.  we took the dingy off the deck of the boat, put the engine on and went to North Bimini to explore for several hours and to find some lunch.  The first problem was to find a dingy dock.  None were apparent.  We also noticed that several of the marinas were closed.  We stopped to tie us at the vacant and closed Big Game Marina and Hotel, but discovered that it was locked up and we couldn't get out.  A guard said that it was in bankruptcy and we couldn't tie up there.  Charlie took the dingy to a small

beach next door where two dogs objected to his beaching the dingy.  The owner was nice enough top allow us to keep it there.  We noticed that many establishments had closed.  We needed a grocery store for sandwich meat and a place to get lunch.

      A young man named "Bossie " told us of a place on the beach and said to tell owner "Bossie sent us".  We expected a nice deck but it was merely a building with a serving window open to the beach with a table and an umbrella.  We met a man who was sitting wanting for his wife and grown daughters to finish wading at the beach.  His wife flew them over to Bimini for the day.  He was an amateur photographer and also owns a 44 ft. ketch which recently came off anchor and went aground where it was stripped by scavengers.  We enjoyed talking to them while we waited for conch salad and conch fritters to be made.  We enjoyed delicious frozen Pina Coladas while waiting.  It was sunny and hot walking around N. Bimini.  Marilyn and I finally found a grocery with some sliceable ham.   Hemingway's favorite bar, The Complete Angler"  burned down several years ago.  The Bar at the End of the World wasn't open yet when we left N Bimini.  

     Back at our marina  We also got some water which we are drinking up quickly due to the hot weather.   We had cocktails and dinner on the boat.  It seemed a better idea due to the lack of viable restaurants.

     May 10, 2009;  we got up about 6:30 to try to leave early.  The dingy was back on top of the boat; we bought ice, paid our bill and left about 8:15 (0815).  We took a southern route  going through a cut between Gun Cay and N Cat Cay.  We had to motorsail since the wind was under 10 knots.  Later in the day a breeze came up but it was on our nose.   We stopped west of the Russell Beacon ( which did not light up at night)  just south off the recommended

 course in 14.5 ft of water.  We were about 2 and a half hours from the NW Channel light.  The anchor held well through the night but we were rocking up and down a lot. The picture shows what it looks like all around the boat. No land in sight.

     May 11, 2009:   We had the anchor up and were on our way by 0700 proceeding to NW Channel light and Nassau.  We are currently in route having just gone by Chub Cay.  I think I am using their cell phone tower to get online.  We tried to get online last night at anchor but no site was found.  We plan to go into the Atlantis Marina on Paradise IS where we will rest for a day, do laundry, get groceries again and explore.  Wed. we will go to the Exumas.  We are still planning our route.

Safely in Bimini, Bahamas

Miami skyline

May 9, 200

     May 8, 2009:  We got up early to prepare for the crossing.  It was a beautiful day, sunny but without much wind.  We arrived at a fuel dock but had problems getting anyone to come down to fuel us up.  We had radio one marina and evidently gone to another marina's dock which had not opened yet.  After fueling we proceeded to Miami and Government cut.  As we arrived to the Cut, a cruise ship tender told us we could not go out the Cut and motioned for us to go up the ICW.  I tried to explain that we were going into the ocean.  He was insistent so I called the Coast Guard to find out what was going on.  Evidently when they have 2 cruise ships docked in Govt. Cut, they close the channel.  We had to backtrack south and go out Fisher Island

Cut;  so we did not get out into the ocean until 11.  We raised our sails but had to motorsail to make Bimini in daylight.  It was a smooth crossing with waves of only 2 feet if

that. In the Gulf Stream they say the water is a deep blue; note the

picture.   We arrived about 6p.m. We had tried to call several marinas in N. Bimini (Alicetown) by cell phone and radio to no avail.  Finally the marina on South Bimini answered confirming that the way into Bimini was still via the two small range markers.  Charlie's chart by Navionics incorrectly showed  red and green buoys at the entrance.  We docked at Bimini Sands Marina.  Maybe all the other marinas had closed at 5p.m. but this one had boats coming in as late as 7:30 with dockhands helping.  It has docks with a large turning basin in front of two-story condos.  So if you come by boat, you can dock your boat in front of your condo.  We can also clear customs at this marina.  We will have to dingy over to Alicetown but it is a short trip. cocktails were followed by dinner under a full moon.

     May 9, 2009:  we plan to check in with customs, explore Alicetown, and plan our route for the next few days.  We are at a marina so we can check in but also because our freezer is still not functioning well.  Electricity supplied at the dock or by the generator will pull the temperature down quickly, but once the compressor goes off, the temperature rises quickly.  I assume that it is an insulation problem, not a compressor problem.     

   

Preparing to go Across to The Bahamas

May 7, 2009 from Coconut Grove, FL::

     May  5, 2009:  we left Marathon by 9a.m. proceeding toward Rodiquez Key.  We had good winds most of the day from the SE.  We arrived at Rodiquez Key off the south end of Key Largo about 6p.m.  There were three boats anchored but by sunset there were nine boats at anchor.  We had our cocktail hour watching the sunset.  One of the boats had a conch shell which was blown to mark the setting of the sun.  We ate a nice dinner and enjoyed the soft breezes. 

     May 6, 2009:  We left the anchorage about 8a.m. but most of the other boats had left much earlier.  Only two other were still there.  We started out sailing with good winds and good speed toward  Biscayne Bay, but as the day progressed, the winds dropped to under 10 knots so we ended up motorsailing.  we arrived at Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove by about 4:15 p.m.  We cleaned off the boat which was covered with lots of salt from the Atlantic Ocean.  After showers we had cocktails waiting for our friend Marilyn to arrive.  Once she arrived, we walked to "The Grove" where we ate at a Peruvian restaurant called "Jaguar".  The menu was interesting and delicious.  We walked back to the marina where Marilyn could finally unpack in the forward V-berth cabin.  

     May 7, 2009:  We all slept late and then had a leisurely breakfast.  We then checked all our e-mails.  My new AT&T air card is making getting online so much easier.  After some other chores, which included cleaning out the refrigerator, we were off to Scotty's on the Bay for lunch.  Marilyn had a conch Caesar and I had Stone Crab Claws.  YUM.                                      

Charlie was tired of fish so he had a cheeseburger. Then we continued to the grocery store,  The Fresh Market, to provision the boat.  Several of our bags on wheels help make this less of a chore.

 We will have cocktails on the boat tonight followed by dinner and get to bed early so we can arise early to start our journey to Bimini.  We can make this trip in a day during daylight from Miami.

May 4, 2009

     The friend, named Marilyn Friend from Oklahoma, decided to stop her flight at Miami instead of going on to Nasaau so we used Sunday to explore Key West a bit more.  We were able to visit Hemingway's home, the Butterfly Museum and eat lunch at Bo's Fish Wagon. We also walked around for about 4 hours going to the "southernmost place" in US and again nto Mallory Square.   

     This morning we left Key West and headed north to Marathon.  We had a lovely day of sailing and had to use he motor for only a little while.  The winds were from the SE at 15-20 knots.  We arrived about 5 p.m. and hooked up to a mooring ball in the Boot Key harbor.  Charlie made a short run to West Marine.  After showers we headed to Dockside Bar and Grill for drinks, dinner and music.  

     Tomorrow we will continue north to Rodiquez Key where we will anchor our for the night. Wednesday we will go back into Biscayne Bay and Dinner Key Marina.  Marilyn will meet us there.  We may take a day to rest, regroup, and reprovision before going over to Bimini. 

      Check back later on this post.  I may have some pictures from Key West and Marathon.       

May 2, 2009

     Sharon has been in Charleston for doctors and mammogram appointments.  She got a clean bill of health.   She also did many errands while there and visited with a fews friends, had a haircut, and went to the Charleston Yacht Club's First Friday.  She also planted a few plants. 

She obtained an AT&T air card so she will hopefully be able to get online easier in the future.  She has added a number of pictures to previous logs so we encourage all viewers to check back posts on our blog. she is flying back to Key west today.

     Meanwhile Charlie has been exploring Key West, taking pictures as well as finishing various projects on the boat. 

     we hope to leave Key West to proceed to Bimini and Nasaau  in the next day or so, weather permitting.