The Wind Turned Out of the NW and So Did We

Steadfast heading into the 4-6 foot waves leaving Old Bahama Bay Marina began her rocking horse imitations, but at the first waypoint, she turned to port taking the waves broadside.  Pitch turned to yaw—gulp.  Breath deep and hold on.  Suddenly she picked up her skirts and began dancing on her tail—not good.  Three minutes to the next way point.

Made it!  Course correction to port again and the seas were on our aft quarter.  Some better.

-Now hear this, now hear this:  This is your Captain speaking.  I am not looking forward to chicken meat balls for supper tonight.  Catch me some fish!

-Aye, aye, Captain.  The lines are rigged and ready to be deployed, answered the First Mate.

At the next waypoint, our new course put the seas to aft, the waves were a gentler 2-4 feet.  We slowed to 6.5 knots and began trolling for the pelagics.  Now that's more like it.

-Arn?  (Newfie for: are there any fish?)

-Narn.  (Nope.)

Back at Old Bahama Bay, the locals do their own kind of fishing, looking for spiny lobsters, conch and stone crabs.   I bought a 10 pound bag of the most succulent stone crab and split it with the Aussies we met at the marina.  5 pounds of heaven-sent manna all for me.  Yummmmmy!!  Cappie isn’t inclined to partake. 

The weather outside is delightful—a balmy 75 degrees.  The flowers are in bloom making one believe it’s not winter at all.  Herons and egrets hang out around the boats in the marina, birds we seldom see at home. 

-A strike!

-Get the net, I don’t want to loose it!!

We reeled in a small King Mackerel.  Just right to feed Cappie’s supper requests.  Any fish is a success and we are smiling.

This morning, we woke up to the boat rubbing the dock fenders in Port Lucaya Marina.  We had a free night’s stay left over from last spring and so decided to use it.  The two pictures below show bivalves attached to the under-docks at low water.  At low tide, the docks look like they are wearing frilly petticoats.

This is a noisy place, part of the tourist-trap Lucayan Village.  Reggae is pumping 24/7 and weekends are party central.  Most importantly, the internet is not good!!!  We will be moving across the water to Grand Bahama Yacht Club for the next two nights.  Number one on the chores list today is hitching a ride/taxi into Freeport to get our Bahamian Cell Phone sorted out.  Three months roaming fees on our Canadian Cell is just NOT going to happen.

Put on your hat and sunscreen.  Let’s go sight seeing.