Allure to the Abacos/15

[Frank]

View from "Capt Jack's"

it's a burden......   :o ;)

[s/v Faith]

Beautiful Frank!  Keep the pics coming!

[Frank]

I was up before dawn, beautiful to see the day unfold. On the way to town I passed a traditional, locally built Bahamian dingy.

[Frank]

Next I passed the "Abaco Rage" on her mooring. This is a traditional, wooden Bahamian Racing boat. Under sail pics yesterday...here's a closer look. You'll see how long the boom actually is. A HUGE mainsail!! Must have wicked weather helm!! Also..you'll see the 2x8 sliding boards they use to "hike out"

[Frank]

Took a walk to pass time until the coffee shop opened. A small surf rolled into the beach. Boats cross paths during high tide at the harbor entrance

[Frank]

Up early and slipped the mooring at 6am. the wind was up and made for a very nice 4 1/2 hr sail to Treasure Cay. Marsh Harbour is big/busy/hectic and a  l o n  g  walk to get grocery's. Treasure is somewhat "Americanized", but the anchorage is great, you can get wifi onboard, both the bank and grocery store are a short walk. The grocery store is open until 1pm sundays and while not as big as Marsh Harbour's...it has far more selection and way better prices than Green Turtle or Hope Town. Even the ATM was open today! Cash is always hard to get here with only Treasure and Marsh having ATM's. We take so much for granted back home.
The trawler in the pic was sure "rockin" out there.

[Frank]

It was nice to see more boats at the anchorage and far more boats at the marina. Things have been bad $$$ here for a few years...they need the boost.
I've mentioned before...the $10 anchoring fee (protected basin) gets you showers, wifi and use of pool etc. A great deal really

[Frank]

Back in New Plymouth (Green Turtle Cay) for a fundraiser last night. Good time! Walking back to the boat I was struck by the difference a relatively small 3ft tide makes when the water is shallow to begin with.
Had to throw another sunset pic in. They just never get old to me...

[Frank]

Had a nice broad reach up to Manjack yesterday for a visit with friends. The lad on the Catalina 25 was there (he's been over since Sept! he's only 23yrs old) and an Albin Vega...proving ya don't need big!! I anchored between them.

[Frank]

Sunsets are awesome...but if ya get up early....sun rise is just as beautiful.  This was this morning with the sun coming up over Crab Cay

[Frank]

New Plymouth had the "Worlds Shortest St Patrick Day Parade" today. Left at 4pm from one bar and went about 200 yards to another bar. Lots of green, high spirits and fun!!

My birthday today. Never bought a drink once!!    :o

[Tim]

And here all along we had been celebrating St. Patrick's Day or St. Gertrude's Day (patron saint of cats), actually the parties were all for Frank's Birthday! 8)

Happy Birthday kid!  ;D

[Jim_ME]

Happy birthday Frank!  :)

[Bubba the Pirate]

Happy Birthday, Frank.

Thanks for spotting the Vega! Does my heart good. :-)

[Frank]

Thanks guys. it was a good day.

Bubba...typically 2 or 3 Vegas pass through yearly. Great little cruiser!! Fairly fast too.

Another beach bonfire last night. No "electric music" but great acoustic guitar and flute.
The "big boat" was a 28!! Then my 27 followed by a Hake 26 with super shallow draft (18in board up).
What a great Bahamas or Keys boat! Good story's, a few jokes and good tunes. Nice night!

[Bubba the Pirate]

I've owned Bella since December 2013, sailed her since June 2014 and have been very happy. Can't wait to get down there.

[Bob J (ex-misfits)]

Happy belated birthday Frank!
Sounds like you had a good one.

[Frank]

Was at Manjack for a while, but then found out friends were at Powel Cay. Funny....sailed by it 100 times, never stopped! So, I went up. Beautiful totally undeveloped Cay (no homes) with great beachs. There was no wind, 5 boats....all pointing in different directions! Not even enough wind to tighten an anchor rode! Good friends, good wine, good tunes, great sunset and then...3 dolphins swam by the boat!! Magical night!!  Good sail back to Green Turtle today.

[Frank]

Larry and Elizabeth hosted "golfcart drive in" movie night at Bluff Point yesterday so I sailed down and dingy'd in..  They made a screen for their garage door and use a projector. Fun night!

Good sail down

Movie was the Biography of Steven Hawkins, Brilliant man, given 2yrs to live while a student...now about 73!

[Frank]

I met up with LuLu and GiGi on the way in. I've known them for about 12 yrs but missed them the last couple. Turns out LuLu got new hips one year and their boat got a new engine the other :D  They're back on the go again. A great Swiss couple, they have circumnavigated and lived aboard for 33yrs! Very interesting couple, well read, up on current affairs, and a wealth of stories! LuLu still has that "twinkle in his eye" after all these years   :D