Nassau - Cold!!!

1-9-10 Yesterday, Thursday, was an eventful day or at least start of the day. We planned to leave at 7:30 am with other boats bound for Nassau, a 125 mile run with an overnight anchorage on the Great Bahama Bank. We had two anchors out and the secondary anchor we discovered after much pulling and maneuvering was caught on a 75 lb anchor chain that was calcified, coralized and very antique. In the process of using the dinghy to lift this hunk of junk off our anchor a secondary tow line we secured to the dinghy as a precaution flew loose and of course the prop picked it right up. Not good. We were in an anchor field with many boats and drifting like crazy. Bill dropped the anchor AGAIN. A fellow boater went under and released the prop from its tanglement. So, bottom line, 8 am we set out for Nassau, quite exhausted. There were two contingencies, smaller boats taking the southern route and larger boats taking the northern (deeper water) route. The rest of the day went fine, and we motor sailed to the Great Bahama Bank and anchored at 8 pm. Long day but the sky couldn't have been more beautiful. The stars and moon were so bright (no light pollution). This morning we hauled the anchor at 6 am. I have taken pictures of the most beautiful sunrise ever. We have another 50 mile day - 10 hours more or less - to Nassau. Bimini was cold the few days before we left as was Miami and a lot of the rest of the world we understand. Nassau will be warmer - already is here - and then we plan to head for the Exumas. Our Vermont friends who because of the dogs had sailed the northern route straight through heard us clear Harbor Control upon entering Nassau Harbor and directed us to their anchorage. We joined them and after some fraternizing and story telling, we hit the sack, exhausted.




1-10-10 This morning we see there are also three Montreal boats whom we have met along the way and other acquaintances from Ft. Lauderdale. Just great to make so many new friends. The best part is the neighborhood keeps changing. This harbor is partyville. Cruise boats going by all the time. We did some boat stuff and then took the dinghy into Nassau and looked around. We replenished the provisions and then had lunch in one of the local places, Daphneys. Snapper with crab rice (really good), cold slaw and grilled plantain (sp?). Delicious. We also found a salon and got hair cuts. Boy does that feel good! We made it back to the boat before a storm hit, windy with heavy rain. Hopefully we will get to see Paradise Island tomorrow.

1-11-10  Wild night; high winds and rain.  We rocked and rolled.  The day is party sunny now, but winds continue and it is cold.  The front is now supposed to stall and pass through tomorrow.  We dragged other boaters to our local lunch find.  They also loved the snapper.  Too cold to do much walking around.  We are talking about moving on in a few days.