Jeanette and Dan’s Visit

Sat Apr 1st 2023 (26 NM, 5 hrs) - Sailed back to Georgetown to pick up our buddies Jeanette and Dan. It was a glorious sail, broad reach sailing with wind gusting 25 knots. We had 1 reef in the main sail and ‘scooted’ along at an average of 9 mph, not bad for Muti. Georgetown anchorages are so much emptier (pleasant) than our last visit. We anchored at Monument Beach for a few days. Rob’s peeve: although there was plenty of space another vessel anchored over our anchor. When challenged they said they weren’t moving! What is wrong with people?! 

Sun Apr 2nd thru Tue Apr 4th 2023 - Dingy’ed over to Exuma markets and Prime meats multiple times to stock up on some fresh produce before Jeanette and Dan arrive. We had been informed that snacks and cheese were expensive but still a little eye watering. We hope the locals get a special price. Where are all the cruisers, the stores are empty. Took a dinghy ride through the multiple hurricane holes in this area. While the water in the channel was very choppy, it was flat in these protected areas so I guess there is some protection from the wind but I’m not sure vessels would survive a Cat4 or 5 hurricane.

Wed Apr 5th 2023 (12 NM, 2.50 hrs) Headed off to Emerald Bay Marina for the night to pick up Jeanette and Dan. They arrived early evening. After catching up over a cocktail on Muti we walked over to the resort restaurant by the pool (our old stomping ground) for dinner and some more cocktails (see a pattern?)

Thu Apr 6th 2023 (45 NM, 8 hrs) - Left for Black Point, Guana Cay. Good east wind, sailed all the way on the Atlantic side and no-one on board puked. That’s a win in Rob’s book! Spent the evening hanging out. When sailing on the Atlantic side one needs to traverse a ‘cut’ between the islands to get to or leave a sheltered anchorage. The current in these cuts can be quiet fierce as they are generally fairly narrow. The idea is to time the passage through them at either high or low tide. Did we mention the color of the water in this anchorage is pure blue? Nice pic of the flying fish in the water!

Fri Apr 7th 2023 - Took a dinghy ride into the settlement and went for a walk. The settlement was pretty quiet as most of the cruisers have already begun their journey back north. Stopped by a restaurant to have some lunch but since they were not serving alcohol due to it being Good Friday we decided lunch on the boat was a better option as we had beer on board. 😁 As we left the dinghy dock there were several sharks swimming around waiting for one of us to accidentally fall in. Devoured some chili with all the trimmings followed by a swim in the clear blue water, obviously with one eye open for a hungry shark. Later hung out in the cockpit with some cocktails, watched the sunset, no green flash, and had a bite to eat before retiring for the night. We were all exhausted!

Sat Apr 8th 2023 (25NM; 4.30 hrs)- Arrived in Warwick Wells in the Exuma Park: https://www.bahamas.com/plan-your-trip/things-to-do/exuma-cays-land-sea-park Absolutely gorgeous! Impossible not to swim, the water is extremely blue. After our dip jumped in the dinghy and explored our surroundings. Beautiful. 

Sun Apr 9th 2023 - Dinghy’ed to the harbor master office to pay our mooring bill, then dinghy’ed over to a recommended snorkeling site. We snorkeled at multiple spots. Man, the current was ripping, we almost lost Dan and Jeanette. Back at Muti we had some snacks and everyone but Gerda got in the water again. A reef shark swam under the boat, luckily everyone was out of the water otherwise a heart attack would have ensued. Dinner on the boat was pesto pasta with shrimp and tomato. We think the juice from the defrosted shrimp attracted the shark, amazing how acute their olfactory senses are.

Mon Apr 10th 2023 - Left for Staniel Cay, wind and water very calm so we had to motor. Once we found a good anchorage (or parking spot as Jeanette calls it), we dinghy’ed in to the marina to procure drinking water (our water maker is acting up), checked out the local shark congregation (nurse sharks that look like huge tadpoles) and have a bite to eat at the yacht club. Mediocre food but at least we were able to eat off the boat for the first time in a while. We popped over to the grocery store and bought a few tomatoes, bananas and avocados. Drove by Pig Beach, but didn’t go on shore. One pig followed us for a while in the water as we left. Hung out out on the boat for the rest of the day, some swam, and Rob made us sourdough bread for dinner which went down well. By bedtime the wind had started up so tomorrow is going to be different weather-wise.

Tue Apr 11th 2023 - Woke up to a dreary day. We decided to go to Black Point for better overnight protection from weather, the short trip occurred in pouring rain and gusty wind but we managed to anchor in a nice spot. We had a great late salad/bread lunch on the boat. Weather remained a little inclement so we did not venture out but a good time was had by all onboard with the help of a few cocktails. Wind howling by the time we went to bed.

Wed Apr 12th 2023 - Started raining early in the morning but it was less wet later so we decided to venture out for lunch and to drop garbage and get some drinking water. Other than the restaurant having no fish or chicken the outing was successful. French fries and rum punch seemed to do the trick for Gerda and Rob, Dan had a cheeseburger and Jeanette was brave enough to try a conch burger. Started raining again just as we got back to the boat. Rob decided we should head down south for a few hours to escape stormy weather, fortunately he had no rum punch at lunch so we pulled up anchor and motored (mostly) to Galliott Cay. We anchored in a very quiet spot, since this is a good staging area to head to Georgetown we will probably continue to head south tomorrow.

Thu Apr 13th 2023 - After a very rolling night due to current and high winds we woke up to clear skies, finally! We left after breakfast to continue our journey south towards Georgetown. Seas were a little rough, wind in our faces and a few showers later we anchored at Black Cay. Had some turkey pasta for a late lunch. Poured with rain on and off during the afternoon so took it easy and just hung out on the boat.

Fri Apr 14th 2023 - Because of the issue with our water maker (as in it’s not working at all), we decided to stop at Emerald Bay marina to get some fresh water on board. We went over to the resort and had a great lunch (still see a pattern?) and also did some laundry. Rob took Jeanette and Dan for a walk around the fancy power boats in the marina to walk off our big lunch and we spent the evening on the boat having cocktails, talking nonsense and laughing a lot. 😁

Sat Apr 15th 2023 - Off to Georgetown! It was already hot when we left the marina for our short trip south to GT, the seas were quiet so it was an easy trip and we anchored in Sand Dollar bay.  Dinghy’ed into town and had lunch before doing some provisioning for our journey home. Jeanette and Dan joined us just out of curiosity (or maybe courtesy 😁). Rain showers on and off but we timed it well and didn’t get wet. Exuma market was crazy busy, apparently there is another regatta starting this week. Later in the afternoon we went for a dinghy ride with a few drink stops at Chat ‘n’ Chill and The Snappy Turtle Bar before coming back to the boat for a light dinner and nightcap for the boys before calling it a night.

Sun Apr 16th 2023 - Rained for a bit and was very windy during the night, woke up to a nice calm day. Staying put for a day for the first time in a while. We dinghy’ed to shore and walk the trails over to the ocean side, the one trail was called the Art trail where people left various forms of artwork along the way. The ocean side was stunning, all though too rocky and windy to get in the water. We dinghy’ed over to the Rusty Anchor restaurant in the February resort for cocktails and lunch. (Rob’s favorite restaurant in Georgetown.) The dinghy ride there and back was super bumpy (which Jeanette and Dan thought was an adventure!), but we were all glad to be back on board. Jeanette and Dan had an early evening swim and then we all enjoyed a bite to eat watching the setting sun, night sky and stars over GT.

Mon Apr 17th 2023 - Headed north again to Emerald Bay marina where we will bid Jeanette and Dan farewell. We were able to sail as the wind was mostly behind us, one last treat for our guests. At the marina we watched a nurse shark (or 2) roam around the boats before we went for lunch at the resort pool restaurant. Dan liked the beautiful golf course at the resort. In the afternoon Jeanette and Dan went to the beach for a swim while Gerda and Rob did some chores around the boat and laundry, then we all met up at the bar for some more cocktails. When we got back to the boat we sat out on the front of the boat by the trampoline and had some more cocktails before a quick dinner (and the guys had their final scotch). 🤦‍♀️ We had to make the best of their last day here. 🤷‍♀️

Tue Apr 18th 2023 - After a lightning storm in the middle of the night we woke up to a peaceful morning. Had a final lunch at the resort pool. As a farewell note, wanted to post some of Jeanette’s amazing scenic photos. Hopefully a good time was had by all.

Peace out.