Well, the coolant level didn't change overnight, so it isn't going anywhere when the engine isn't running. Not a sure sign that all is well, but at least things are not as bad as they could be. Keeping on ...
I distinctly remember reading, or being told, or maybe it was just a part of sailboat lore, that sailors spend many more days dealing with light winds then they do heavy winds. I'm sure that's true (since sailors never lie) but it hasn't been our experience so far. We came down the ICW battered every few days by howling cold fronts. Many of the days of motoring weren't prompted by no wind, but by channels and cuts too narrow to sail in. Once in FL we had more days of wind (and thus bounce on mooring balls) than we did calm. We spent more time hiding out in No Name Harbor. And now, in the Bahamas, light or no-wind days are the exceptions. We sailed into Black Sound to hide from winds, ended up spending most of a week there waiting for them to lie down for a rest. We sailed into Treasure Cay to hide from winds, and they have blown a steady 20 plus, occasionally touching 30, for the better part of four days now. (That would be knots, by the way, not those wimpy MPH numbers.) Boats are still coming in and going out, but it would be uncomfortable anchored out anywhere the wind could get a good hold on the water. We are in one of the better protected anchorages in the Abaco Islands, and we spent last night rocking and rolling hard enough to wake Deb a couple of times. (After engine work I spent the afternoon removing at least some of the oxidation on our starboard cabin exterior, so I slept like a tired deck monkey.) Tomorrow might be a good day to head to Marsh Harbor. We want to see a couple of the other Cays, all getting rave reviews as places over-civilized people can stop to find a cure. Depending on concessions that may be demanded by the WesterBeast, we may leave Marsh Harbor heading north west again, just to see of of those places. But the winds are forecast to blow all next week from directions not conducive to comfort or sleeping in some of those places. so it may or may not be wise to try. Keeping on ...
We didn't make the pizza party last night. Word got around that sometimes the pizza isn't as good as advertised. Since Deb makes the world's best pizza right here on Kintala, sub-par pizza isn't much of a draw. And it is Spring Break Week. The Abaco Islands are now chock full of charter boats being crewed by enthusiastic young people shedding energy at a furious rate; lots of noise, lots of motion, lots of music. It is all rather fun to watch, from a bit of a distance. Being in the middle of gyrating partiers all roughly 1/3 my age, particularly after weeks of moving softly through some of the least party like places on the planet? We decided to let the kids have their fun without us. Keeping on ...
Lots of cruisers are working their way back to the States. We aren't planning on going that way for nearly two more months. (Truth be told, if it wasn't for hurricanes, Daughters, and Grand Kids, I wouldn't see any reason to go back at all.) I wonder if they know something I don't? Plans are very fluid right now as in, beyond the next couple of days, we don't really have any. There are lots of currents running through our lives, and the lives of those we care about most, right now ... currents that may influence which direction Kintala sails and how long she stays in one place for a while. It will all work out so long as we are keeping on ...
I distinctly remember reading, or being told, or maybe it was just a part of sailboat lore, that sailors spend many more days dealing with light winds then they do heavy winds. I'm sure that's true (since sailors never lie) but it hasn't been our experience so far. We came down the ICW battered every few days by howling cold fronts. Many of the days of motoring weren't prompted by no wind, but by channels and cuts too narrow to sail in. Once in FL we had more days of wind (and thus bounce on mooring balls) than we did calm. We spent more time hiding out in No Name Harbor. And now, in the Bahamas, light or no-wind days are the exceptions. We sailed into Black Sound to hide from winds, ended up spending most of a week there waiting for them to lie down for a rest. We sailed into Treasure Cay to hide from winds, and they have blown a steady 20 plus, occasionally touching 30, for the better part of four days now. (That would be knots, by the way, not those wimpy MPH numbers.) Boats are still coming in and going out, but it would be uncomfortable anchored out anywhere the wind could get a good hold on the water. We are in one of the better protected anchorages in the Abaco Islands, and we spent last night rocking and rolling hard enough to wake Deb a couple of times. (After engine work I spent the afternoon removing at least some of the oxidation on our starboard cabin exterior, so I slept like a tired deck monkey.) Tomorrow might be a good day to head to Marsh Harbor. We want to see a couple of the other Cays, all getting rave reviews as places over-civilized people can stop to find a cure. Depending on concessions that may be demanded by the WesterBeast, we may leave Marsh Harbor heading north west again, just to see of of those places. But the winds are forecast to blow all next week from directions not conducive to comfort or sleeping in some of those places. so it may or may not be wise to try. Keeping on ...
We didn't make the pizza party last night. Word got around that sometimes the pizza isn't as good as advertised. Since Deb makes the world's best pizza right here on Kintala, sub-par pizza isn't much of a draw. And it is Spring Break Week. The Abaco Islands are now chock full of charter boats being crewed by enthusiastic young people shedding energy at a furious rate; lots of noise, lots of motion, lots of music. It is all rather fun to watch, from a bit of a distance. Being in the middle of gyrating partiers all roughly 1/3 my age, particularly after weeks of moving softly through some of the least party like places on the planet? We decided to let the kids have their fun without us. Keeping on ...
Lots of cruisers are working their way back to the States. We aren't planning on going that way for nearly two more months. (Truth be told, if it wasn't for hurricanes, Daughters, and Grand Kids, I wouldn't see any reason to go back at all.) I wonder if they know something I don't? Plans are very fluid right now as in, beyond the next couple of days, we don't really have any. There are lots of currents running through our lives, and the lives of those we care about most, right now ... currents that may influence which direction Kintala sails and how long she stays in one place for a while. It will all work out so long as we are keeping on ... |
| The look out my galley window a few days ago |
2 comments:
Sorry we did not get a chance to chat more before we decided to take off South.
We went to Hope Town, don't miss it . Mooring at $20 per night and all entitlements of HT Inn and Marina-if you use their
mooring balls. Stayed for three nights.
Then sailed south to Eleuthera-Spanish wells in blustery N Winds. Great sail. Then furthe S to Hatchet Bay and then Cape aeleuthrra Marina.
Tomorrow a little furthe South to Eleuthers Point (princess cay) to meet some people on a cruise liner, then hopefully over to Exumas and back toward home,
Really good to meet up w our sister ship.
Fair winds and following seas.
Steve and Dorothy
S/v Marigot.
Have you considered staying (or coming back to) the Abacos for Race Week in July? It's great fun. Technically, that's during hurricane season, but it's very early, so the chances of getting hit are minimal.
Glad you're enjoying the Abacos. I really did when I sailed Jammin there a few years back.
Scott
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