January 2008
We have been very lucky this year. Having celebrated a great New Year with friends Jim and Judy we met up with John and Marla aboard Misty just south of St Augustine to travel south for the Bahamas. The journey was interrupted by a side trip to Stuart to pick up our air tickets for the April wedding of our son Christopher to his long-time girlfriend Jodi. These had been sent to Paul and Shirley with whom we had stayed in December. We stocked up at the local Publix supermarket, refuelled and headed down to North Palm Beach for a 24 hour wait to cross to West End on Grand Bahama.
We were soon joined by Jean-Michel and Anne in Cipango - they had been solving engine troubles in the next berth in St Augustine and were also keen to catch up with the sun as soon as possible.

Cipango reaching from Memory Rock to Great Sale cay
Misty anchored at sunset just off Great Sale Cay
The skipper likes to sit right up in the pulpit when sailing
John and Marla pose while sailing Misty

A pre-dawn start brought us to West End in the late afternoon although the iron topsail did most of the work. We checked in and re-fuelled before retiring to the bar and restaurant for the evening. An early start again and we were soon sailing fast towards Great Sale Cay to anchor at sunset tucked further in the bay than we have managed before.
Another early start and another great sail (from Great Sale) to Munjack Cay and a day off. To be able to sail for two full days like this was fantastic since the long days often involve lots of motoring. Cipango caught fish but our luck had run out.
A day off and on to Great Guana Cay where we found a lovely marina with a laundry. The night was spent at Nippers Bar on the Atlantic side where we had supper and were introduced to ‘Fire in the Hole’ rum with much dancing. The rum was passed out free at intervals and tossed back on the toast of, ‘Fire in the Hole!’. We found the boats...

With a frontal passage forecast and expected winds of 30 knots we moved on to Marsh Harbour to re-stock and shelter. Marsh Harbour is one of the biggest towns in the Bahamas and a good for all sorts of things. We were able to refill our UK Calor Gas propane tanks here for the first time since St Lucia in early 2006. Now we know this is possible it will considerably improve our reserves when we get back to the US.
As if one wedding was not enough for this year our eldest daughter Johanna has announced her wedding to boyfriend Nigel in July! We are thrilled to bits but can see that the summer cruising plans have just flown out the window! Such is life and family must and will always be our priority.
Our dreams of being rich one day are also evaporating but our youngest daughter has brought some relief by declaring that she is NOT getting married this year. Imagine getting all four of our children together with our two grand children TWICE this year! Its only money...

The warning sign on a large poisonwood tree - the young ones are difficult to spot
The poisonwood tree causes severe skin irritation and blistering if any part of it comes in contact with you - fortunately the bark pattern is a good warning
The Atlantic beach on the west of Great Guyana Cay
This large mooring bouy had washed up on the west coast of Great Guana Cay - The steel coat had rusted away leaving expanded foam but the shackle at the base was new!

Our little flotilla gained another member in Marsh Harbour. Worthless Wench is another Crealock 40 (#11) just like ours and Bill and Carolyn hail from Washington, North Carolina which is the new home of Pacific Seacraft. Very interesting to see the minor areas of evolution evident in our boat.

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