Welcome to Luperon, DR

George Town Continues

The Exuma Yacht Club sits right in the heart of George Town village. It has recently been renovated and is also the home of Exuma Divers. 

The older famous Peace and Plenty Hotel has a wonder pool and bar, hosted by Dr. Libation...They also have music..."rake and scrape"  weekly.  It sits right on Elizabeth Harbour.

Kyaking is very popular here, and this touring kyak , complete with solar panels, electric engine, outriggers,  was sailed to Staniel Cay and back for a week of exploration and beach camping. 

Very often we take our dingys across the harbour to shop at a auto parts/general merchandise store.  Quite the beautiful parking lot?

A former U.S. naval base was here, and this rusted out large tug was left behind. 

Flowers spring up in the most unusual spots.  Here a vine has taken over a well used ocean path and colored it purple.  Nice....

Being on a mooring in a hurricane hole is a great way to secure your boat and relax in all types of weather.  I lived here from June until November, and withstood Sandi and other storms.  The moorings were triple screwed and I leased mine from St. Francis Resort.


My time here in George Town is quickly coming to an end come early May when I sail to Luperon, Dominican Republic for hurricane season.  It's been a very special place for me and I hope to return one day.  

George Town 2013

Welcome Back....
George Town has been a real pleasant place to be since last June.  The Class C local bahamian boats raced here last month.  We followed them around in our dingys, what a treat.  They hike out on wood planks ,  human ballast extreme.

George Town Public Library
I volunteer here one day a month,  great place to meet cruisers and locals......Formerly a government building restored by cruisers .


 

Here is the famous straw market.  Locals weave baskets, make jewelry, sell t shirts, etc....

 

Fresh fish from the surrounding water.  I used conch guts for bait and was rewarded with these snapper and grunts.

 

 

 

 

 

I really enjoy having  fellow cruisers over on "Whitewing", a fine evening.

 

  This is the Exuma Sound from a nearby hillside.  Beautiful, clear water.......

 

 

 I was happy to welcome my friend Nancy, a sailor and fellow club member.  We enjoyed snorkeling, hiking and just relaxing in this beautiful country.

 

This has been my anchorage since  Nov....right off a beach bar,  quiet neighbors,  beautiful view .  Water depth is 13 ft.    pleny of chain out with my anchor...no problems.....

 

  Couch Surfing connects people with a spare bed or two, with world travelers seeking accomodations.  I hosted a couple from Germany and thoroughly enjoyed their company.  They traveled from Nassau on the mailboat, a 12hour trip .  Great adventure. 

 

 

As in most cruising areas, a local beach has been turned in a cruisers meeting place complete with firepit, picnic tables, etc....Here is a gathering at Queens Dock ...fun time....

 

  Davis Islands YC own Robert Hill teaching local high school students the adventure of sailing .  It was a windy day and Robert had his hands full.  I worked with the newbies in shallower water and really enjoyed the joy on their faces for first time sailors......

 

  The cruiser's regattae had many fun activities from sailboat races to volleyball.  Here my team is awarded first place honors in fun volleyball...fun.

 

  Santana's is a great beach bar about 30miles out of George Town, but the real gem is Ma  and here baked goods.  The chocolate rum cake was heaven...thanks Ma!

 

That's it for now...might do another post before I leave here...but I do plan on working my way south and east to eventually anchor in Luperon, Dominican Republic in early May. 

thanks for visiting my blog...Capt.Herman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Chubb Cay

Greetings..
Welcome to Chubb Cay.
Chubb Cay is in the Berry Islands....after leaving Bimini, we took an overning sail , anchoring out in the banks, and the next day found Chubb Cay. 

Say Hello to Mia...our youngest visitor of the trip...She is one and is totally at ease on sailboats.  Quite the cutie ......

 

Sundowners aboard Whitewing...Mia's parents were on  their way back to the states and enjoyed the anchorage and gathering for the sunset.

 

 

 

Welcome to Allen Cay

Welcome to Allen Cay, Exumas, Bahamas

Here we are again,Capt. Andy and I found lobster in  some ledges just offshore...Free diving and using a hawiian sling or pole spear is allowed in the Bahamas....

 

 

 

 

Many boats from surrounding cays, and even from Georgetown, come visit the colony of iguanas in Allen Cay.  The lizards get fed daily and are sometimes aggressive , demanding food.   Watch your fingers....!

Capt. Andy strikes again...Nice job Andy....dinner on it's way.  Only six lobster per person daily limit....two is more than enough for a crew of three.

This small beach is used by the cruisers in Allen Cay.  Beautiful area, clean water, abundant sealife.  It's just a bit rolly on the hook and the current runs strong , moving the boat at night and making us check our holding.  Small price to pay ...

 

 

Welcome to Nassau, Bahamas

                                                NASSAU

Welcome to Nassau.  The Nassau Yacht Club sponsors the Ft. Lauderdale Race each year.  It is a very active sailing club and is low key.  It reminds me of my home club, Davis Islands YC in Tampa, Florida.  They welcome you if you are from another club and we enjoyed the food and drink.

We entered the busy Nassau Harbour in early afternoon and found our way to a slip at the Nassau Harbour Club.  Here we see an anchorage in the shadows of  the large  cruise ships.   Anchoring here one is exposed to current and the  bottom  is  full  of junk to entangle your anchor.  

The Mailboart supplies the other  islands with much needed food, supplies, etc.  When it arrives, the barren shelves once again have fresh produce,  fruit, and meat.  You can also order liquor and goods in Nassau  and have it delivered on the mailboat for a small fee.  It is the lifeblood  of the  smaller islands.  

The Atlantis Marina and Resort rises up on the northern side of the island.  It is quite impressive with its casino, marina, underwater viewing tanks, and beaches and bars. 

Under the bridge to Atlantis, is an area known as the fish fry.  Here we see one of the many working conch boats that dock and sell their  fresh seafood from makeshift stands.   At night, it's a food festival environment.  Yummy.

The Poop Deck is a local  favorite and the seafood  is fresh and good.   Here we see the staples of the Bahamas.....snapper, conch,  stone crabs.  Lobster is also readily available. 

 

Friends of mine, Kat  and Bud on "Kats  Kradle", having spent many years here in the Bahamas, recommended Goldies for the conch salad.  It is also in a fish fry, but more established, built up dining areas.   It was worth the cab ride.  Here is my friend Capt.Andy McDonald....other crew member Debbie Shackelford took the  picture.  We had a great trip over from Stock Island...good to have friends aboard!

                                                                                                 Breakfast aboard "Whitewing"....our motto was who is better than us"....plus we're on vacation.  !!

We had a great stay in Nassau.  We enjoyed other restaurants, bars, and local points of interest.  The winds were strong from the Northeast, so we headed to Allen Cay in the Exumas instead of the Abacos as originally planned...Flexibility and no schedules are the way to plan your sails.

Staniel Cay, Exumas, Bahamas

Welcome to Staniel Cay.  Whitewing is on a mooring ball near Thunderball Grotto, a famous underwater cavity that was used in the filming to the movie  "Thunderball".  It is best to get  there at a slack tide to avoid the strong current.   I  did move off the mooring ball to a peaceful anchorage in nearby  Big Major  Spot....

The garbage at the dump is burned weekly .   Glad I was upwind from the smoke!

 

Another  beautiful sunset at Staniel Cay, Big Major Spot

/bSailing takes many forms here in Bahamas.  A group of dinghy dames came and sailed their sunfish a good distance to Black Point and also to Sandy Cay.  When the winds died, Bob was at hand to assist in the tow...

Our dingys are our transportation.   Here we see  various types and models.  I recommend the largest and highest horsepower you can accomodate.  A hard bottom rib type around 10 to 11 feet with a 15 horsepower engine seems to  work well here.

Beach gatherings complete with sunsets, food and music are a great way to meet other cruisers and get  off the boat for an evening.  Here at Big Majors Spot, some cruisers have created  a  nice spot with a fire it, picnic tables, etc.   We had over 20 boats represented and a great  time.

Big Major Spot is known for the wild pigs that swim off the beach to dine from cruisers boats.   Often,  cruisers will actually swim with them and pet them while  on the beach.  Here is  Bob  and  Peg with friends continuing the traditon.   They are fed constantly and seem  to enjoy the visit

The Thunderball Grotto was used in the filming of the James Bond film..."Thunderball".  Once you dive under the entrance,  you are treated to a wonderful large roomlike chamber full of fish and opening to the sky .  Young folks have been seen jumping from above.  The best time to visit is slack tide, you have about an hour to enjoy before the current starts to rip. Bring some cereal to feed the beautiful fish. 

   

 MahiHere is a day's catch of Mahi Mahi, or the fish dolphin.  We trolled at 8 knots with frozen ballyhoo.  When one is on, it is kept in the water and the others in the school can then be hooked as well..Thanks to Bob and Peg for the fish that did not get away.   

 

 

I had a great few  months in Staniel Cay and enjoyed all the beautiful water of the area. Staniel Cay Yacht Club is a fine watering hole and good fresh conch/seafood.  The area has become quite popular with the larger megayachts, but all are friendly around the bar.  Good bread can be found at the yellow house , Rhonda the baker.  Coconut is my favorite.

Thanks to my friends Bob and Peg for their hospitality and friendship during my brief stay in their paradise away  from Tampa.