Those Were The Days

When you pass through the cut, literally a man-made cut through a rock cliff, and into the harbor, you get the feeling; Great Harbour Cay is going to be interesting and at one time was a pretty spectacular resort.

It's still a fine marina and the locals are some of the nicest, most accommodating folks, we've met in the Bahamas or anywhere for that matter.

If you spend a little time in Great Harbour you'll soon see and come to know it's history. It has quite a past.

In the beginning, famous and some say the infamous, including Hollywood celebrities, came to play in this idyllic environment. Cary Grant danced the night away in the clubhouse. Brigitte Bardot graced the beaches with her beauty. Jack Nicklaus had a house on a hilltop along the back nine. Earl Blackwell, author of the celebrity best dressed list, enjoyed a home on the island. Great Harbour Cay was popular with the socially elite Rockefeller clan, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Ingrid Bergman and Hugh O’Brian were regular visitors. 

Elizabeth Taylor and entourage (I'm told)

Slim Aarons Photographs
(Still for sale here)

          Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas

                       March 1973.

Mel was Googling around last night and found the official website with the island's history laid out nicely. http://www.greatharbourcay.com/WebPages/history.htm
And, this blog was mentioned on Great Harbour Cay's Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Great-Harbour-Cay-Life/538138552897749

Check out the architecture, Atomic Age/Mid Century, from those days we looked forward, when we thought the future was our future.  

Unfortunately, while golf carting around the island we passed by this hotel and it's a complete ruin. Later that evening, hanging with a gathering of folks at the marina, a fellow told me he had explored the hotel earlier in the day... said, even in it's present condition you can still make out the opulence that was once there. It will probably never be restored, but if it was... The bones are still there.
Maybe we'll get some pictures before we move on.

This last pic is a page from an old brochure that says it all in one word.

I bet it was.

And, it's still cool, just not as groovy as it once was. — You dig?

More on Great Harbour Cay >> Here http://istaboawaypoints.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-birds-eye-view.html


Adios,

Istaboa

2 Runs And The Berrys

Happily, there's not much to report regarding the run across the Gulf Stream. A bit chunky and wet's about all.

For those who watched our progress online, you probably noticed our wandering course. Maybe, "wondering course", is a better descriptor as we did change our minds and the day's destination several times. But in the end we settled on Cat Cay as a place to check-in. Customs and Immigrations offices are onsite making the process a simple task.

Mel went about the paperwork as I desalted Istaboa. Pizza for dinner at the only restaurant on the island then early to bed... early to rise.

In proper conditions, Cat can present a nice sunrise.

So, after more plan changes, on the fly, we pieced together a route across the bank to Great Harbour in The Berrys.

Mel had read good things on ActiveCaptain about Great Harbour and she wanted to experience it. I wanted to make it to Nassau and the Exumas so we could stop for a while.

Here we are in The Berrys.

As usual, Mel was right. It seems to be an interesting little island group and the marina's great. It kinda reminds us of the Abacos back years ago. The first restaurant we tried was just up the hill at the marina. Rocky Hill served us fresh pan fried Snapper that was truly fine. The marina here is surprisingly nice and has, (they're probably the only marina in the Bahamas offering), Free Internet. It's not incredibly fast, but it's fairly consistent and because of the huge Batelco tower at the marina we have strong cell service also. So, I guess we're back on the technology chain.

We've stopped in The Berrys before but never explored, just anchored out for a night then continued on to Cat or Florida. I think we'll like it here for a few days. And, the weather appears to be deteriorating which means we'll have time to find out.

This morning, as I look out the window at mirror like seas, I realize that today would've been a good day to run. But...  sometimes you just have to stop and smell the proverbial roses — and God knows we have a nose for roses.

So we shall.

Adios,

Istaboa

Damn Interesting

A great sea story and a Damn Interesting website.

The Demise of the SS Morro Castle

Always Something Else

And, that's why we come to Lauderdale to start off. As much thought as we put into provisioning and preparation, there's always something else to be done or pick up at Publix.

Yesterday I woke early to do a quick beach walk. Ft Lauderdale has a very active beach. Not like Jupiter with smiling pups running in the surf, but mostly young locals doing Cross Fit classes and having a nice time doing them.

So tomorrow we'll depart for somewhere TBD. Again, it's all weather dependent, but the weather seems to be favorable.

Adios,

Istaboa

Classic Doonesbury

Finally! We Toss the Bowlines

Enough of the house projects for a while — now it's back to our true love; floating and traveling aboard Istaboa... It's been a while.
It felt good to crank up and head out to sea, even if only for a short run offshore to Ft Lauderdale.

Today was a bit of a shake out cruise to see how the adds and changes we've made played out in real life; everything worked as it should.
Our old pal Craig came along as he's the fellow who implemented these modifications.
Some will remember Craig from the Boatronix days back in Tennessee. He's now home in Ft Lauderdale.

So now we're tied up at Bahia Mar marina, amongst all the real yachts of Lauderdale, looking for a weather window to head to the islands. Maybe Exumas, maybe Abacos, maybe both, maybe somewhere we've never been.

Like —




The weather's the deciding factor because Istaboa's loaded with full tanks of fuel and we've got all we need, including time.

We'll see...

Cheers,

Istaboa

Great Band

Louis C.K. Sails Around NYC

Drone Footage Of 46 Nordhavn — St. John's, Newfoundland

I was checking the Nordhavn Owners Forum and came across this drone shot video.

Amazing!!

MV Maritime II leaving St. John's Harbor

The Thrill Is Gone

Club Paradise in Memphis — 1972ish