The Exumas.... Finally... Part 1 of 3

For years we have been cruising to the Bahamas and for years folks have asked; Have you been to the Exumas?
Our intentions were always to travel north to south. Start with the Abacos and work our way down to the Exumas before heading back to the US and the Keys. But it never worked out that way. Either weather or good times and friends kept us in the Abacos. But not this year. The picture above is our first night at anchor just off Highborne Cay

The Sailing Catamaran "Diamond Girl".
They are from Jackson, TN

Yesterday we dicided to go into the Marina at Highborne Cay and this little fellow was our first visitor. He just flew in and sang us a short song and left.
(He just paid us another visit as I am writing this)

There is a short road next to the marina. Take a left and go to the beach... to the right is the famous "Spring". more on that later.

So we went to the beach; and a beautiful beach it is.

I am going to break this day up into a couple more post. Lots of pics.

DIngy day in Nassau

So we decided to stay a couple more days in the big city. We did last minute shopping and later put the dink in the water to explore Nassau and Atlantis. Atlantis made us think of Disney World with boats.

If these folks are worrying about a recession they're not showing it.

We dinked over to the Green Parrot and had Jerk Chicken Wings. When we pulled up to the dingy dock there a fellow shouted out... Radar! He had met Radar in Palm Beach and remembered him.
He didn't remember us.

Tomorrow we're off to the Exumas and Highborne Cay. We probably won't have internet for a while but we will catch up with the blog when we do. We promise lots of pics.

Bamba yay,


Istaboa

Two Sides of Nassau Harbor

As you can see... Nassau has no shortage of Mega Yachts. The above picture is of Hurricane Hole Marina with Atlantis in the background. Both of these marinas are very upscale and pricey.

But across the way is where we are tied up. As I said earlier Nassau Harbour Club Marina is a bit funky but cool. It's kinda a shame that the place is so disheveled because they are in a great location. Just across the street is a shopping center with everything one needs and the prices are reasonable. Even diesel was the same price as Fort Lauderdale. The marina staff are very helpful and kind. Peter the Harbor Master is a good fellow and knows how to get things done.


Craig from Boatronix has flown in to solve my Inverter problem. It was actually cheaper for Craig to fly in and bring the part as it was to have it shipped. Plus, Craig could install it. So our big problem got smaller and Craig got to spend a couple of days in the islands. A win-win for everyone. There is a 45% duty that must be paid. Peter explained to us how to manipulate that system a bit to get the part here quickly, so that helped some too.

This morning I got up before dawn and it was raining. Normally not much rain in the Bahamas this time of year and the locals love it. Our old friend Mort from Marathon called this a "Bahamian Boat Wash."

As you can see from the above picture this is a Red Sky Morn. So should we stay or should we go on down to the Exumas today as planned? Guess it's time to study weather and charts to find out.

Adios... Bamba yay


Istaboa

Nassau

Mel in Downtown Nassau

Yesterday took the bus into downtown Nassau. Again, very busy but fun. We got our Batelco Cell phone reactivated and had lunch. Before lunch we met this fellow who was a barber. So I took advantage of the situation and got a trim. Most interesting hair cut ever. The walls were lined with Junkanoo headdresses and Masks. Tiki was a nice fellow. Everyone there was a native and when we walked in they start talking in a thick Patois accent that we cannot understand. We don't think they were talking about us; they just didn't want us in on their conversations. We respect that.

Mel and Tiki the barber

Bamba Yay, (look it up)


Istaboa

The Bank and Nassau

Following Total Return as the sun rises over the Great Bahama Bank.

The trip across the Gulf Stream was a piece of cake. A little bumpy at first but settled down to almost flat.
We entered the Great Bahama Bank just north of Bimini close to Hen and Chickens. The Bank was even more flat. We plotted a course for Russel Beacon where we were to meet our friends Russ and Molly onboard "Total Return". We got there about 5:30 and were dropping the anchor when everything went black. No AC electrical power at all. To make a long story short; we had lost our Inverter. I want go into what that is, just understand it's important. No AC on a boat like this is a bad thing. But the boat will still run. (I know some will say, just use your generator, but unfortunately it's not that simple.)
Total Return and New Horizons found us and anchored close by. We were all up before the Sun and made way across the Bank for Nassau.

Pulling into Nassau was exciting. We have never been here before. It's very busy, especially now because of Spring Break. The above pic is Atlantis. We are not staying there.

We are staying at Nassau Harbour Club. Funky but cool.

The above pic is the full moon rising above Nassau Harbor.

When we got in I made a few calls and managed to temporarily fix the AC issue. We now have AC electrical power.

More about Nassau soon.

Adios,


Istaboa

The finishing touches

Just before leaving Palm Beach We found Boggy; a master teak varnisher. So we decided to put the 4 finishing coats of AwlBrite over the really beautiful varnish job we got in Panama CIty. It came out great. As you can see in the next shot.

It is so bright it's almost like a mirror.
Boggy did a great job.
Our friend Ben from home will be proud. He always gave me a hard time about our teak.

Adios,


Istaboa

Nassau

We have made it to Nassau where we will stay for a few days. Nassau is different from most places in the Bahamas. Not bad just different... and... it's Spring Break. Crowded and loud. 

Pics soon.

Adios,

Istaboa

The Emerald City

So this evening we are in Fort Lauderdale. We promised our friend Karen we would stop and have dinner, so we did. We love Fort Lauderdale... if you are a boat person you probably understand. This place is all things boats. You see boats from everwhere. All the incredible boats you see in magazines are here. We think the best thing about Fort Lauderdale is that no matter how big your boat is... you just disappear into the mass. No one is any big deal here.

At night from Pier 66, the city lights up beautifully. In the foreground of this picture is a beautiful 200' sailing vessel named "Athena" from Greece, flanked by a 100' freighter from the Marshal Islands . The backdrop is the skyline of Fort Lauderdale night lights. The action is created up by the lights of the many small pleasure bosts that pass through this picture like the gondolas of Venice.

The day may bring a different picture but tonight we're drinking so let us fantasize...OK!

Tomorrow we take off for the islands. We will be dark for a couple of days... then we promise plenty of good pics of the clear turquoise, azure waters of the Bahama Bank and Nassau when we get settled and find bandwidth.
Life is good...

adios,


istaboa

On the move

This morning we are leaving Palm Beach and working our way south to Ft Lauderdale. We think for only a night but who knows.
The plan is to cross over the Gulf Stream Monday and spend the night on the Bahama Bank. Meet up with some friends out there and make way for Nassau on Tuesday where we will spend a couple of days.
Istaboa is provisioned up nicely. We should eat and drink well while in the islands.
Again... say a prayer to the weather gods.

Adios,

Istaboa

Boat Dogs

Some of our favorite pup pics from along the way. If any of you friends have any (pup pics) to add please email them to us. We will keep updating this and post it again from time to time.





Adios,


Istaboa