March 21, 2020 George Town Exuma Bahamas

Nola, Lexi and their nanny Narissa

George Town Exuma Bahamas March 21, 2020

Welcome to Spring!   We hope you are seeking practical, well researched resources to keep you and your loved ones safe during the pandemic.   We greet you from an anchorage near Monument Beach, off the east side of Stocking Island, 2 miles across Elizabeth Harbor from George Town, Exuma, Bahamas.   Here we intend to hang until winds move in more favorable directions and the logistics of travel seem more stable.  While the Bahamian government has banned most gatherings and travel due to Covid-19, cruising boats may not be allowed to stop even for fuel or water at other islands.  It is currently a detail being reviewed but not settled.   We hope to head north than cross the Gulf Stream around mid April.   Conditions for water travel along the U.S. east coast change daily so our progress toward home is likely to be determined in short spurts. 

In the last post we mentioned the Cruisers’ Regatta, two weeks of almost non-stop activities.  We crewed for the Around the Island race, about 15 miles, on Untethered Soul, a 47’ Vagabond Ketch, 52,000 lbs. empty.   Our crew of eight came from Oregon, California, Florida, Michigan and Sydney, Australia.   We tied for the Baking While Racing prize (we made rum balls), caught no fish (only one boat caught anything, a respectable barracuda) and placed dead last.  We felt good about finishing in a timely way, however, so the race committee could collect the race marks before dark!   We had an absolutely wonderful time with good people!  Several days later, Dietrich crewed on Windara,  a J-46 sloop.   It was an all-Michigan boat with owners, Glenn and Elsa Gustafson from SW Michigan, Pete and Sue Stott from Suttons Bay and Dietrich from Traverse City.  That was a lively, competitive race!   They finished first, physically, and after figuring the handicap, they came in third.   There were cool flags and Kalick (Bahamian beer) for everyone.  

The many national allegiances found aboard Untethered Soul

Narissa with our baking entry in the Around th Island race

Around the Island Race crew aboard Untethered Soul

Windara in perfect sail trim, image courtesy of
Capt. Saylor Vann of S/V Sassie

Life on board is enhanced by emails, on-line research, occasional phone calls to Michigan, boat maintenance, reading and Dietrich’s homemade bread along with daily reports and entertaining blurbs from the local Cruisers’ Net.   The dinghy allows us to explore nearby islands and snorkel the reefs.  Hiking tops the list for great exercise and a way to be with friends in the open air, at an acceptably social distance.   The Spring Break crowd has shown no interest in social distancing.   Students from Iowa said their university gave them an extra week for the break so they expect to stay here to party (bars and restaurants are closed).   They were friendly, eager to talk and seemed so innocent.

A view from Monument at the full moon

Stocking Island shore on the sound 

The high tide comes flooding in 

Stromatolites on the shore at low tide 

Stromatolites on the shore at low tide

This dryset rock wall is likely from Loyalist days on Stocking Island or 200+ years old

Surf and limestone

Surf and girl

Monument at dawn

Wave

Surf and limestone

As we dinghy around the area we try to read boat names and places of origin.  They have been a reliable source of entertainment.  They usually come with a story, readily shared, and the owners come from all over the world.   We have hopscotched down the coast and into the Bahamas with some of them, others we have had as neighbors in various anchorages:  Little Martha, Salsa (Sue and Pete Stott from Suttons Bay, Mi.), Ariel (formerly a Northport, Mi. boat, Jesse and MarieEve), Cookie Monster, Hello Texas, Albacora (Sydney, Australia, Toni and Steven),  Untethered Soul (Oregon, Meg and Paul), Folly, Wine Speed, Better Than Working (Toronto, Lawrence and Joan),  Lemonade (California, Narissa and Scott, lost home and business in 2018 fires, live aboard a lovely trawler now, with two  marvelous dogs, lemons from life to Lemonade), Cramina (Montreal, Marc and Annie), Salty Paws (Maine, Bill and Molly), WyRow (Ontario, with two children), Bel Motivo, Alforria,  Antigone (Minn., Martha and Dave from Australia),  Yinsanity (N.J.,owners’ last name is Yin), Stout Wench, Blue Horizon (British Columbia, Barb and Miles), Veela (Belgium), Two Loons, Lord Charlton, Free Range Chicken, The Sixth Girl, Deja Vu (Erich and Marta, Maple City, Mi.), Music & Lyrics,  Earl Grey, MyCat (Maine, Zeke and Halley), O’Hanakai, Wandering Toaster, Flying Dogs, Great Catsby, Latitude Adjustment,  PapaGaina, Away Away, Knot Yeti, Meshugga, Locolola and our dinghy, Orpheus, named after the muse Calliope’s son.  

Albacora's guest brought collagen masks that other thought resembled Freddie Kruger's look

Many of these cruisers have become part of our treasured cruising posse.  Why have we listed all these names?   Because every one is worth remembering.

And paraphrased from Winnie the Pooh…

How fortunate we are that, together, we have experienced something that makes it so hard to say goodbye.