Sun Spirit

We blasted through Eleuthera in 4 days, but we were all anxious to get to the Abacos to spend a few  weeks before heading back to Florida. A perfect weather window was predicted for our passage across the northeast channel today. On Sunday we travelled from Rock Sound to Hatchet Bay with a very rough and bumpy ride. Unfortunately we had trouble rolling in our mainsail and it was a challenging 30 minutes to get it fixed with waves rolling the boat up and down and from side to side. Finally we entered the cut to a very protected Hatchet Bay, Things settled down at night and the next day we had a calm and uneventful trip to Royal Island. Anchor up at sunrise. Royal Island and it’s neighbour Egg Island are at the northern tip of Eleuthera and are a popular staging anchorage  before heading to the Abacos. Egg Island  had some great sandbars at low tide. Interesting how our perspective on the weather changes. It has been so windy this year in the Bahamas - we were always hoping...

 A quick stop in Rock Sound - it is a very nice protected bay - you can move around to be protected from the wind in any direction. We spent the first night on the west side of the bay and the next morning moved the boat to the east side so we had easier access to the town. The town is small and there is a Blue Hole right in the middle of it - 600 ft deep - popular for swimming with the local people and tourists, but not us today. We had a good walk, lunch and bought some groceries. After we finished in town we moved the boat back to the other side of the bay for a calm and quiet night. We are heading to Hatchet Bay today. Another rough ride this time heading directly into the wind and waves.

 Anchors up at 7 am for the crossing across the Exuma Sound to Eleuthera with our buddy boat Gaya. Beautiful sunrise as we passed by the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, The first part of the voyage was not too pleasant - we had 8 foot waves and not much wind. The waves knocked the wind out of our headsail and Gunter had to keep adjusting the course. Finally we had the waves behind us and we could surf the waves and made great speed. At 3:30 we dropped the anchor at Rock Sound and just in time before a squall hit with heavy wind and rain, There are only our 2 boats and one more in this anchorage. We recognized the other boat as we have met them before - a German couple from Hamburg - we will visit them tomorrow. Steve caught 2 fish today while underway - a mahi and a wahoo. Steve and Lise brought some of the fish over for dinner and we celebrated Lise’s birthday. They got back to their boat just in time before the rain again. Some random pictures from this past week; The laundromat that sel...

There are no typical days cruising in the Bahamas, but these are some of the things that may happen in a day, Wake up to sunrise - usually at the bow of the boat - with predominantly easterly winds, the bow will be facing east. Breakfast: Pull up the anchor if we are moving: Arrive at our destination and put the anchor down. I like to snorkel out to look at the anchor to make sure it has dug down and we are secure. In a busy anchorage, I will hold up a pool noodle while swimming so that people in small boats and dingys can see me in the water. Rinse off the salt water.   If we are near a town, then we will take the dingy in to the beach or dock to see what groceries are available. In this case at Staniel Cay, we shopped at the Pink store. Lunch - we are too lazy in the morning to make pancakes for breakfast, so we will sometimes have them for lunch instead. Afternoons are spent exploring, swimming at the beach or reading on the boat. Gunter usually cooks dinner on the boat, but one...