February 25 - 29, 2016 ready to cross to Spanish Wells

Joe opening a coconut for the boaters happy hour on Hawksbill Cay

met lots of nice people again

tide is going out .. 

Highbourne Cay .. the private island

we stopped here for fuel and water

this is a very high class marina …

up to Ship Channel Cay .. staging to cross to Spanish Wells

ruins on Ships Channel Cay

relaxing before the big day

February 25, 2016

The low was stalled and came in around noon, winds 20-25knots.  Looking at the boats in our string of mooring balls, all 6 of us where facing in different directions.  The power boats where one way and sailboats different.  We think it depends on the keel design, and which part of the current you are in.  Looking over at the other string of moored boats, they all where also facing every which way.

Our friends Finola and Harry on Escape Velosity came into the mooring field, manoeuvring like we did around the boats, and they ran aground. We thought because of all the dinghies around them that it was other friends coming to greet them.  Only later when they moored next to us did we find this out.  When they left a few days later, they released the mooring ball, and did not have forward or reverse, the anchor, forbidden in this area, was dropped and all the dinghies came to their rescue once again.

There was a Mayday on the VHF, a sailboat just over the other side of the island from us, lost its rudder .. 1/2 mile away.. There was a few very tense moments on Channel 16.  About one hour later we saw the Park Staff towing this sailboat into Emerald Rock Mooring Field.  Later we heard the skipper announce that his dinghy motor was also lost during this time, and needed a lift into the Park Office.  Harry on Escape Velocity, went to his rescue.

Joe is working on more coats of Urethane in the Salon, it dries faster when there is a front coming thru, it is not as humid.

We took 6 books to shore for trade and swap, we also rented another movie.  Supper, movie, urethane, bed.  Read a bit and lights out by 9:30.

The wind is still howling, but not as strong, the mooring ball hits the side of the boat when the tide changes. First on one side, then the other, then we are free of it hitting us until the next change in tide.

Friday   February 26, 2016

Joe was up listening to Chris Parker, the winds for Saturday are now from the north, not good for crossing to Eleutheras.  Snowbird and Moonlight Maid got accepted into the north mooring field, we watched them come in.

The wind and current was in the same direction for them, and they caught the ball on the first try.  Escape Velosity planned a drink only get together on the beach, but most people brought snacks.  It was so cold with the north wind.  We met Northern Spirit, Ron and Lynne Taylor from Parry Sound, Ontario.  We hope to meet again with them.

Saturday  February 27, 2016

Ok, Chris Parker and the weather do not always match.  I think we made a mistake by not crossing to Eleutheras today. Escape Velocity went.

Modaki left the Warderick Wells mooring field, with the rising tide … we waited until 8:45 for the sun to rise a bit, so we could see the shallows and deeper water.

We motor sailed to Hawksbill Cay, into the wind, of course. We anchored and went to view the 1783-1830 Russel Family Plantation ruins.

There is the ruins of 10 houses and numerous outbuildings. This is from  the Loyalist period. The cay remained occupied by various families until about 1900.  Near one of the houses lies the remains of a beehive oven surrounded by piles of conch shells.  These ovens where used for cooking as well as to incinerate the conch shells for use in the making of mortar to line the walls of the houses.  Around the ruins we found holes dug into the rocky ground for watering poultry and swine.  Everything  was so over grown, and we are not to walk off the paths, we are in the Park, we did not venture too far.

We did explore a few entrances to small caves and walked a beach.

Off again and we sailed to Shroud Cay for the night, a big mistake.

Paper Bird, Unicorn and Seaquel To where here, we all spent the most 

uncomfortable night ever in our sailing days.  There was an ocean swell, hitting us on the beam.  It started at 10pm and lasted until we left at 8am.

Sunday , February 28, 2016

We got the heck out of "Dodge", and sailed down to the lower anchorage in Hawksbill Cay with about 6 other boats.  Don Quixote, Art and Vickie

arranged a happy hour on the beach, drinks and snacks .. it was well attended. It was a lot of fun.  We even met a couple that met Clark James, last year in the North Channel. 

 We where still unsure if we where crossing to the Eleutheras or Spanish Wells …

Monday, February 29

Well we decided to head to Spanish Wells…. Snowbird and Moonlight Maid, left Warderick Wells and headed to HighBourne Cay for fuel and water, just as Joe and I hauled anchor at HighBourne Cay, from filling up. Now heading to Ships Channel Cay, to stage for crossing the Banks.  We saw them and talked on the VHF, they are heading to the Berry Islands.