Little House on the Boat

Andy on the Washing 

Mother Nature on the Drier

There is no water available in town today due to the storm. So the Laundromat is not an option. With a boat load of dirty clothes, we are experimenting with washing our clothes in ammonia and hanging them out to dry. This method uses no rinsing, so saves on water. With 30 knot winds our drier if effective too!

We have a one day weather window to leave  Georgetown tomorrow. If we don’t leave then, we will be here for another week and that is a problem for all of the plane connections we have made and for the general timeline for moving the boat back up north.  The problem is that every cruiser is thinking of leaving tomorrow so the grocery store is maxed out.  While waiting for the avacados to be unloaded, I spotted this sign on the laundry bulletin board. Not your average supermarket.

Good think we're  leavi

Including a few shots from the Cruisers Golf tournament, including the grounds crew.  Nine holes all lined up along the beach, with plenty of sand traps and water. These people know how to make any day fun. Chris and David…next year…put it on your calendars!

Lordy Lordy We Saw 40

In the middle of the big storm here. For those of you who know the Double Diamond beauty shop routine, around 4 o’clock we put our hair in rollers and go up to the top deck for a blow dry. (The captain has banned the hair dryer).  This evening as I approached the perch, the rollers blew right out of my hair! Three rollers overboard, with no intent to rescue!

Jeanne at the Beauty Shop in January

It’s been 30-35 all day and gusts to 40, just as predicted. Last night we hosted a storm gathering on DD, with a mere 20-25 knots, no problem. Tonight we hosted dinner with our immediate neighbor, “Onward”, the author of the Bahamas Cruising Guide. He made it over, but was soaking wet. The seas on the  outside are 10 feet and the high winds are predicted for 7 days. It looks like nobody will be leaving Georgetown for another week.

  On the VHF radio, the women are taking over the chatter…..”get me out of prison “ is a call heard today. We also heard a person that had a snake come out of their exhaust pipe when they started the engine. Gayle, the marine biologist, came on the radio and stated that there are no sea snakes in the Bahamas. There is an snake eel, which I believe is what we saw in Hopetown. So, the snake stories continue. 

Bread and Milk

Just like New England, there is no bread and milk at the Exuma Market. The largest storm of the season has landed in the Bahamas and it is predicted to last 4-5 days.  The winds are currently at 25, the predictions for Tuesday and Wednesday at 30-35 with squalls and gusts to 40. Everyone is staying put, the events for Regatta have been cancelled and the indoor projects that have been put off after 3 weeks of glorious weather can now be accomplished. 

Andy, getting the job done.

Andy is busy at work on the port side head, and I am going to tackle “ under the floorboards”. Since this is day 1, I suspect we will have to get more creative as the week goes one. This is clearly a stay in your boat and hunker down week. All travel plans have been cancelled.

Sporting Event: Cruisers vs. Bahamian National Baseball Team

A night out at the old ballgame. Note the broadcasting booth on the 2nd floor of the bar

Last night about 200 cruisers made it over to Georgetown and hiked to the baseball field to cheer on our team as they played the highly competent Bahamian National baseball team. Luckily for us, some of the Bahamian players brought along their girlfriends and kids to play, an  attempt to make the teams even. The real team had no problem, knocking it out of the park with skill and ease.

The umpires were a comedy team

Sue, our yoga instructor, getting tips from the Bahamian  catcher

Yukon Burbins

   Our team, the Yukon  Burbins, used a strategy that if one batter got a hit, the entire team ran the bases, to get a few more scores on the board. Around the 4^th inning, the cruisers drafted some key players from the other team, and awarded them a T shirt to authenticate their loyalty to their new team. That’s when things started looking up.

It was a rollicking night of music, rum, barbeque and baseball. We took the ferry home at 11 pm! That’s a record for staying up late.

The Around the Island Race and the Baking Challenge

Finish Line Photo after the 18 mile race: Catamaran vs Monohull

In the past, last year, the objective was to race your boat around the island and bake a cake at the same time. Both events were judged. This year, both events are taking place on the same day, but the baking does not have to be during the race.  In honor of my wonderful mother, Wilma, I made this entry into the contest.

I know she would have wanted me to carry on the family baking tradition. Given that our oven works the same if it is set on 250 or 400, and the ingredients we had aboard, I went with Rhode Island Rum Betty with Toasted Coconut.  The desserts will be judged on presentation and taste. Based on the fact that we have to get there by dingy and the wind is 22 knots, I think we’ll all have the same handicap on presentation.  Footnote: no prizes for this entry..

Maria  Elena, our Argentinian friend, Make a cake "Con Leche"

1000 Coconuts Released into the Harbour

Don, Maria Elena, Andy and Judy
The "Not So Coco Nuts" Team

Andy conferring with the team captain

The Coconut Challenge was today. There are three parts to the challenge First up we got in a dingy with our  team, paddling with  swim fins, trying to collect as many coconuts as possible.

 In addition we have a bucket to throw water on our competitors to attempt to try float their coconuts out of their boat. Pure chaos!

The boys launched

The girls bagged 

 In the second section, the team divides into the coconut launchers and the coconut gathers.





. And finally the team, acting as one, attempts to throw the coconuts over the volleyball net and hit the bullseye. There were 28 teams and a lot of laughs.  And, of course the party after the Coconut Challenge.

Sail the Harbour Kicks Off the Racing

Gayle and Bill hosting the viewing boat

Liam and Annie, the Aussies,  sailing Gone with the Wind

The Sail the Harbour race was a kickoff event, with multiple classes of boats and some great sailing teams. We had a ring side seat on Gayle and Bill’s boat. The wind was about 15 knots, the boats gliding through the turquoise water was a beautiful sight We cheered for our Aussie sailing buddies on Gone with the Wind. We had met up with them previously in Royal Harbour, Harbour Island so it was good to reconnect. They are in second place at the moment. The official winners will be announced at  the closing ceremonies. So we all know what sailors do after the big race. Last night the party was at the St. Francis resort. Plenty of rum for all!