OtherGoose: week of Jan 23-29 THe Big Blow

Jan 23-28

After we left Allen's Cay we stopped in at Hawksbill, dropped anchor and went ashore. The mosquitoes were getting bad so we went back to the boats. The weather prediction was starting to worry us so we headed down to Sampson's Cay and tucked into a tiny bay beside a closed marina. It's now a resort but when it was open many yeas ago it was very high end. The buildings are well-built, like homes along the Florida coast. The head office is in Maine.

We talked with C-Soul about heading to Blackpoint but thought that with the weather building, that spot would be pretty crowded so we stayed here. We are just north of the "Pig Beach" and Staniel Cay. Just after we anchored, we got a call from Poerava, and two other big cats came into site. They were going to come in as well, but before they could get here, two monohulls showed up and took the last bit of space. And Endangered Species called them to drop down the other two miles to Staniel. The two monohulls are still here with us...Arctic Bear and Sunset Dream'n, both Nova Scotia boats.

So we have been here since the 23rd and it looks like we will be here for a few more days, because this weather is very rough. We are seeing 3 knot winds on our instruments and C-Soul behind is is picking up the odd 40-knot gusts. For three days there have been huge waves rolling out on the banks behind us, and in here there are 1-2 foot waves with white caps!

Gail and I both celebrated our birthdays here. On the first day we walked the beach and I found another sea bean and a hamburger! I let Gail 'find' the hamburger, but she gave it back to me for my birthday LOL! Actually I found quite a few different ones. We have a book on beach detritus that identifies a lot of the sea beans, along with shells and other stuff.

When it rained we filled the two 5-gal pails and I managed to get lots of laundry done. It dries in a flash in these winds but it takes 3-4 x the number of clothes pegs! So they don't blow away! The winds were blowing so hard he tide couldn't get back into the bay. The supply ship called the resort on Friday and cancelled his trip in! We would try to leave but the residual waves on the Bank are 5-6 feet on the beam and winds still upwards of 2 knots.

So we wait! Everyone in George Town is anxious for me to get there to get the Regatta organized. Although, they are having the same bad weather so events wouldn't be happening anyway. My co-chairs are still stuck in Florida!! We aren't going to rush anything, especially with Todd here. He's having a good time, swimming and beach walking. Some kids would be good...hopefully there are some there!

I just hope, when it's time to go, we can move! Two anchors out and 2 -20lb kellets, and a handle cranked windlass! Good thing Todd is here! And we're not shovelling it!