In George Town Bahamas. One of the joys of cruising is experiencing the local culture.
The excitement is building for a week of racing in the George Town harbour. The first boats arrived last week and more arrived today with a big entrance.
This big boy came right through the anchorage with lots of hooting and hollering.
Living the cruising lifestyle presents some exciting opportunities. It only takes a little courage to take advantage.
Compass Cay Marina in the Exuma island chain, Bahamas has a school of Nurse sharks that frequent the marina.
The sharks are used to human interaction, although the marina staff does recommend not putting your hand in a shark’s mouth – duh 🙂
My niece had the guts, I had the camera and off we went. She made me go in the water first. “Just in case,” she said. “It’s your duty as my aunt to sacrifice yourself.”
How could I argue? So I went first, nothing ate me and she came in after.
Here’s the proof we swam with sharks – okay I know they’re Nurse sharks and are harmless, but tell that to the adrenaline rushing through my body.
If you windsurf, you know it can be difficult to move gear around. Sometimes the beach you want to sail from is just not in the right place.
We visited friends in the Bahamas, and, yup, you guessed it. Our gear was on the east side of the island and we wanted to sail on the west side. So what did we do.
If you are planning on spending long periods of time on your sailboat, I recommend the investment in a cockpit enclosure.
Maybe it’s fun to sail in spray on an afternoon adventure, but when you have no home to go to after the sail, you might want to consider staying dry.
Matt is sailing Allura, our Niagara 42, the first year we owned her. Doesn’t he look like he’s having fun? Rain is pouring on him, around him and dripping down is back. I’m in the main salon taking the photo (and I’m dry of course).
We lasted one season and as soon as we hit Florida, we had an enclosure made.
Mattina, our Lagoon 380, came without an enclosure. Sometimes we are smart and learn from our experiences – not always – but when we, are I like to point it out.
Before we left the coast of the US heading for the Bahamas, we had a full enclosure made.
Compass Cay Marina during the march break . . . Where did the boats come from?
I’ve never seen this marina so full. We were all so amazed, since we’re used to being isolated out here, that our friend climbed to the top of the mast and took this photo.
Mattina is in the bottom corner, tucked between some very large boats.
Lots of fun on the docks . . .
All this happened after we were the only boats docked at Highbourne Cay Marina.
I fell in the ocean, right off the back of the boat! How humiliating.
My human friend, Debi, drove her dinghy to the back of our boat to pick me up for yoga. I should have known something weird was going on when Kristina didn’t put my harness on me. You can see it in the photo below. She makes me wear it, so IF I fall overboard, she can easily pick me up.
Well, I guess she forgot to put it one me.
This is the harness I should have been wearing!
Debi arrives and I get a bit excited.
“Hello,” I bark.
Debi drives close to the back of the boat and ties up. Kristina is ready with her yoga gear.
“Not today,” Kristina says. “There are wild pigs on the beach. You have to stay on board.”
I whip my head around to face Debi and she confirms the bad news. I turn too quickly and start to fall.
“Oh Oh,” I bark, but no one grabs me.
My paws slip off the first step.
“Help me,” I bark.”
I’m now on the second step and the third is not far away. Before I can let out my third bark, I’m in the water.
I know I can’t get on the back step by myself so I head to shore. Lucky for me, I’m pretty slow at the dog paddle and don’t get far.
Debi pushes off the stern and drives beside me. I’m a smart dog and turn to face her.
No here comes the problem. I’m not wearing my harness. The dingy tubes are two feet out of the water, and Debi has nothing to grab on to. She reaches under my armpits and struggles me aboard.
She’s soaked, I’m soaked, but at least I’m aboard.
Kristina Stanley 