The Weather..😱..Chris Parker’s forecast was running late so we looked at the Bahamas radar and saw that the pre frontal showers were much smaller than yesterday. Just before 7 I was up on the deck pulling the anchor and securing items for the trip to Little San Salvador. I waved at Chris on Purrfect and saw Dave readying Marcelle. As we were motoring toward the channel waypoint I looked at the Bahamian radar, saw that there were showers heading toward us and let everyone know that before we left the the harbor’s protection we’d have rain. Heading toward Davis channel I began our storm preparation. Radar, running lights on and enclosure closed. We furled the jib sail at the first drops and soon our radar showed the swath of rain enveloping us and obscuring any trace of our companions. Occasionally the wind blew into the upper 30 knot range as we kept on course into Exuma sound. We could see that the very heaviest rain split to the north and south and by the third hour the sun was starting to break out.
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| The satellite shot shows the gap between the clouds with the arrow pointing toward Little San Salvador |
We were motor sailing past the cruise ship playground at Princess Cays and under full sail passing the property Disney recently closed on at lighthouse point. The beauty of this end of Eleuthera will become “magical” and the mixed feelings of the locals is understandable. Fine sailing across the open area between islands called the bridge with none of the dire predictions with wave issues. We could see the cruise ship at Half Moon Cay, Little San Salvador for the entire 11nm passage. Our buddy boats saw a few small whales and Sheri saw a spray from one as the afternoon passed. We glided into our spots spaced over a quarter of a mile as the ships horn was letting all know it was time to turn this paradise over to us.
Sheri piloted the dinghy into shore while I swung from the boat halyard into the beautiful water. Swimming in I saw Sheri was fighting with the dinghy at the beach as a few rollers splashed into the boat and spun it around. I relieved my frustrated crew and set the stern anchor to hold the boat from shore. Near where we set our chairs were two beach lounge chairs buried in the imported sand. I freed one and Dave assisted me in freeing the second. Our beach picnic area was taking shape.
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| The daily rental starts at 200 for the small and much more for the two-story cabana with hot tub |
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| Strolling by the pirate ship bar and viewing platform… Yes we played in it |
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| Sheri and Shelly stroll along back to our dinghy |
Everyone brought an appetizer and drinks as we recounted the trip and enjoyed the afternoon. We walked down the beach and explored some of the accommodations passengers utilized. It was fun to explore and joke around with our new companions. By six we were back on our boats in our somewhat rolly but safe harbor.
February 28
We all were out and setting sail for Cat Island by 8:30 and it was another fine quick sail though Steadfast heeled more than Sheri preferred. Main and jib working in unison pulling the boat through the crystal water at 7.5 knots is a feeling I enjoy as Sheri sits below reading and waiting for the course change where sails come in and we’re a power boat for the last couple of miles. We anchor at Orange Creek spaced evenly across the lee shore. After lunch the dinghy beach assault happens as we decide to pull up onto the beach rather than tie to the questionable wall. As we were coming onto the sidewalk a car slowed and a Bahamian woman driving by shouted out a welcome to us.This Bahamian welcoming approach has happily been very common.
We walked to the store by the harbor that was also a hotel, post office and general meeting area. It was there that we met Allan who spent his winters as an expatriot living amongst the Bahamians. He retired from Southwest Airlines 10 years ago and while completing a goal of visiting the out islands in his plane he landed at Cat and a part of him never took flight again. We took his assurance that his 5 star recommendation for lunch would accept our 3 star rating and soon we were his guests jostling down the carved stone roadway. He turned his 4 door ATV onto his friends property to deposit 2-5 gallon water bottles at these locally designed house pods that would soon steal the hearts of unsuspecting VRBO renters.
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| A view of the deck in from the deck of the rental |
Next we were at a hilltop resort restaurant drinking in the beauty from up high over lunch. He returned to redeposit us at the harbor side in his extended cab pickup that he paid 10,000.00 duty to import. There is an appeal to this isolated life once you adjust.
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| Lots of flowers around Shannas restaurant deck |
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| Fun signs over the bar |
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| We were all bundled into the pick up |
After freeing the dinghies from the beach we went back to Steadfast for a quiet night. Tomorrow we sail to the southern part of Cat Island called the Bight.
We were motor sailing past the cruise ship playground at Princess Cays and under full sail passing the property Disney recently closed on at lighthouse point. The beauty of this end of Eleuthera will become “magical” and the mixed feelings of the locals is understandable. Fine sailing across the open area between islands called the bridge with none of the dire predictions with wave issues. We could see the cruise ship at Half Moon Cay, Little San Salvador for the entire 11nm passage. Our buddy boats saw a few small whales and Sheri saw a spray from one as the afternoon passed. We glided into our spots spaced over a quarter of a mile as the ships horn was letting all know it was time to turn this paradise over to us.
Next we were at a hilltop resort restaurant drinking in the beauty from up high over lunch. He returned to redeposit us at the harbor side in his extended cab pickup that he paid 10,000.00 duty to import. There is an appeal to this isolated life once you adjust.
Sheri piloted the dinghy into shore while I swung from the boat halyard into the beautiful water. Swimming in I saw Sheri was fighting with the dinghy at the beach as a few rollers splashed into the boat and spun it around. I relieved my frustrated crew and set the stern anchor to hold the boat from shore. Near where we set our chairs were two beach lounge chairs buried in the imported sand. I freed one and Dave assisted me in freeing the second. Our beach picnic area was taking shape. 
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