An old girlfriend just called.....

[Frank]

Last night at Hopetown

I anchored out front tucked around the little island at the entrance.
Anchor light on the right in the picture with chairs
No mooring ball fees ...
Love shallow draft!

[Jim_ME]

Enjoying your photos Frank, as usual.  :)

Awhile back, someone asked for advice about the type of boat for cruising Florida and the Bahamas, and I gave my typical advice of a heavy full-keel boat like an Ariel or CJ's Rhodes Meridian. Reading about his cruise there and the strong fronts passing through so often, it seemed like a good motion at anchor when you are trying to live and sleep, was important, even if you sacrifice space/layout.

Yet, seeing you find places to anchor close in with your shallow draft during the fronts, and enjoying your boat so much, has me appreciating more fully the benefits of optimizing the boat type choice for the kind of cruising you will actually be doing.

I can imagine that if you were making a passage to weather or a long beat into a chop, you still might miss your old Ariel? But the kind of cruising--island hopping--you're doing allows you to pick conditions that suit the boat you have.

I can definitely see how the shallow draft and lighter displacement made trailering the boat such a long distance easier.

     

[Frank]

I can honestly say that the sweetest sailing boat I have owned was the Ariel.
Excellent set of compromises.
Faster than expected, comfortable at sea.
It was a wet boat with low freeboard and certainly hunted at anchor (as they all seem to do) but the only real complaint would be hobby horsing in waves at anchor. All short waterline boats do..
Even déjà vu with a 3ft longer waterline will hobby horse excessively at times.
Déjà Vu is a much dryer boat underway. The accommodations far exceed an Ariel. And while the ariels 3ft 8in draft was quite shallow really, déjà vu takes shallow draft to a different level.
I have been busy with multiple friends the last few weeks and had a great day yesterday for the beginning of songwriters week here at Hopetown. Lunch with one group, music watching with another.
I woke up this morning tired and quite honest… “peopled out”
In need of some time away alone, I searched the chart for a quiet little bay to hide out in. Black Point Cay is quite small with an abundance of back waters to get lost on your dingy touring. Only a 10 mile sail, I told friends I was headed there for some RnR. Never having been there, I asked about anchoring and was advised to anchor out front as I’d never get inside.
Here I am… just now.
Déjà Vu is a quick sailing little boat that points quite high when trimmed properly and has great accommodations. With a decent forecast I would take her to the Berry’s and Exumas. She performed well in the Golf Stream when things got up beyond the forecast getting her here.
I certainly would prefer the Ariel for longer offshore passages.
Your point of getting a boat for how you use it is so accurate.
A 6ft draft passage maker here would be burdensome!

[Bob J (ex-misfits)]

Looks like a nice place to drop the hook!

On another site I've noticed quite a few folks complaining about all the fronts moving through and creating rolly anchorages down there this year. I've wondered if those folks come from the protected slip mindset & aren't accustomed to anchoring out.
Based upon your past experience what do you think about the weather this year?

[CharlieJ]

Ditto for me on my Meridian :) I didn't find the drsft a problem

[Frank]

Yep CJ, your Meridian got you into the shallows too!

Weather?
December and early January were amazing!
Last 4-5 weeks has been a blow-nice-blow-nice.....
Typical winter weather.
Next week here will blow pretty good again.
It’s been a couple of weeks since the last strong blow.
Here, sailing and anchoring in 20 knots seems kinda normal.
Like getting 8 inches of snow at once back home.. it happens often in winter and you’re set up for it.
There have been better years...
And worst

[CapnK]

Took me a while but I think I found your hideyhole.

26.40126434238966, -77.0305852699613

PS what is your board up draft?
Found it - 2' 7" ...

[Frank]

Here ya go

[Frank]

Back at Green Turtle Cay
Anchored in the shallow town harbour.
Friend had his drone out...
Sent me these

[Frank]

Up at Manjack for a wonderful pizza and music night last night.
Good friends and a couple of talented musicians too.

George was having fun and spoofing the multi engine go fast boats

Sunset from déjà vu

[Frank]

Sailed to Guana yesterday
Fun night of snacks and guitar music on a friends boat.
Beautiful sunset across the Sea of Abaco
Sailed to Hopetown this morning.
Friends playing a benefit concert tomorrow
Will be fun.

Sure is nice to be distant from the news...
Crazy times!

Feeling blessed

[CapnK]

How fast did the triple-2hp dinghy go? lol I bet geting them synced was a chore. ;D

Yes, right now - "away" = good.

[Frank]

There’s a center console cat, about 32ft long at the boatyard.
It has 4-450hp mercury race engines out back... 4!
That’s 1800hp!
WTF?




I still think George’s dingy will take him! 😂

[Jim_ME]

Sure is nice to be distant from the news...
Crazy times!

It must be nice to be distant in such a place.  :)
Will have to make do with your photos and videos on the subject from less serious times...
[now eerily ironic] ???

[Frank]

Although I am aware of what is happening, I have no TV or radio so there’s no constant exposure to not just the news, but the sensationalized, opinionated BS that has become the delivery of news...
it’s wonderful to be disconnected..

Today I’m off to Manjack.
It will be strong winds from late Friday through Sunday
Enough food for several days? Water? Where to securely anchor in the blow?
Cruising keeps life, and issues...simple
I love it

[Tim]

You nailed it Frank. With TV and Radio one can't help but be affected by the constant barrage of opinions. My rural life with neither allows me limited but sufficient access to source news without the BS. I have not had a TV for 35 years. Now if I could just have the same simple issues as you I would be really happy ;)

[Frank]

Blow forecast so tucked into Cresent Bay at Manjack
It’s howling but so close to shore it’s nearly flat calm
Nice tour earlier

[Frank]

Blowing 20, gusting 30 but nice being shallow in the Lee.
Beautiful water colour!
Nice sunset

[Frank]

Back anchored at Green Turtle Cay, right in the settlement harbour.
Gotta love shallow draft.
A 5ft black tip was in looking for dinner

[Jim_ME]

More great photos of a beautiful place, Frank. :)

I was wondering what a typical day and week is for you? Do you have a routine that you have settled into? How much time do you usually spend on land?