Sitting below in Black Sound. Still fairly hot here.Landed tuesday,scrubbed teak,washed decks,did the SS, sails-dodger on and I'm nearly done. Need to organize below and stock up. Great to see the blue-green water again. "all good" as they say on the island.
Let us know how Manjack Cay is.
Been up to Manjack....very quiet. Everyone is away and only two boats anchored by Bill/Leslie's
It rained a lot...the grass is nearly four ft high. Still very hot here. Too hot for a guy from north Ontario
Very slow...only two boats at the green turtle club, black sound is only local boats yet.I was at marsh harbour yesterday....maybe six boats. Should pick up for thanks giving. Seas have been very calm since I landed. Winter winds are'nt here yet.
I hope you find someplace to spend USA thanksgiving. This front may be interesting. Pete's pub if they are open or ???
Send some pic's.
Take care. Don't swim in the pool alone in Black Water Sound Green Turtle Cay.
Thanks Giving will be a big meal with Violet and Smitty at the "blue bee" bar.They opened the dining room last year.Smitty loves to cook...Violet loves to serve "GumBay smashs" ::) I can't believe how quiet it is....very few cruisers so far.
Enjoy the quite while it last. Soon you will have pleanty of boats around. Cold up north and people need someplace warm and cheept to spend the winter.
Take care and post some pics when you can.
Hey Frank,
Be on the lookout for a 42 ft Catamaran with a couple and six (6!) children aboard.
They left our marina this morning, heading for the DR via the Islands. I'm not sure where they will hit enroute to the DR, but you won't miss 'em if you see 'em.
Really nice family; we met them earlier this summer then they stopped here on their way back south. Oh yeah, they are Canadians. ;)
I'll PM you with some of their personal info.
--JR
Lynx....was at Marsh Harbour yesterday and that ole beat-up Tri is still anchored in behind the Moorings.
PS...'me dumb'...left my camera in the glove box back in Ft Lauderdale. Judy fly's in around Dec 10th...pics then
PSS...just back from talking to a fellow out cruising with his daughter on a 26fter. Both very happy. Small boat-big adventure
Couple of notes: november is WAY calmer than winter here
cruisers are just now starting to arrive
New Plymouth looks great with Christmas lights up
cold front is here....down to 77 today....burrrrrrr
I love it here
Cottage is coming along well
Had dolphins swim by while fueling up today
saw four sharks in the lagoon
there has been a 23, 3-25's and a 26fter arrive so far (so much for needing a big boat)
Flying home for Christmas next week
did I mention I love it here
PS...2 of the 25's were C&C's They are GREAT sailing boats. Their owners loved them
Quote from: Frank on December 11, 2009, 04:40:31 PM
Couple of notes:
cold front is here....down to 77 today....burrrrrrr
Hmmm....low 20's here tonight. Didn't get above 37 today.
If any Vega's pass through I demand pictures and stories!!
Please and thank you ;D
Here is one from a couple of years ago. A very young couple restored it themselves and were working their way thru the Carribean. It was later seen by a member in St Thomas or there abouts. This pic is in Hope Town Abacos....Nice kids by the way...mid twenties
Quote from: Frank on December 11, 2009, 04:40:31 PM
Couple of notes: november is WAY calmer than winter here
When does the winds start to increase in the Bahamas?
Best months to cruise?
Depends what you want? Winter see's many fronts....often back to back with 20 to 30 knot winds not uncommon. Reefing is GOOD :o :o I have a nylon 150 for light days...never used. Main AND jib are often reefed. Temps are still very good but not crazy humid/hot like summer and the bugs are'nt near as bad. We generally sleep with the hatchs open during winter months and its fine. The wind is always clocking so if you are patient there will be good sailing to your next place. No set schedule is good. I found november had very light winds and calm conditions.It was much warmer and more humid. The bugs were out more as well.
I have not spent time here early other than this year.If this was normal...I would say the winds start to increase about now. This week has had consistantly more wind than november.
PS...Lynx or Faith...chime in at will here
Just landed back home for Christmas. Left temps in the 80's....landed to -17 cel. and a foot of snow. Took 10 minutes to scrape ice off Judy's windshield at the airport park-n-fly. Sure is a shock after wearing shorts for 4 weeks :o There was a signifigant front moving in as we left. I'm sure Dave will experience at least part of it. Calling for 3 days of 20 to 30knt winds.
Back home here I'm looking forward to family time and friends the next 2 weeks....then back down again. Hope to see some of the members over there.
Thunderstorms forecast for today - if winds come around to the NW tomorrow as forecast the front will be past and we'll head across the Yellow Banks to Allan's Cay.
Frank, I hope you had (are having) an excellent visit home, I am very much looking forwards to reading more about your adventure and seeing some of the world you live in through your camera lense.
Have a fantastic New Years.
Frank - Are you back in the Abacos yet?
Happy new year to all. I'm flying back on thursday and will remember my camera this time ;D
Greenman...not too much adventuring this year as my focus is building our cottage on Manjack.
We've been up and down the Abacos several times but always seemed to feel "at home" in this
erea. I'm afraid to say the boat is a 'floating trailer' as we work on the cottage.
Funny what a few weeks do....the water is noticably cooler and calling for near gale force winds this weekend thru to monday night. Yep....winter has arrived.Still great to be back.
Its a cool and breezy day here. I've got my jeans and a jacket on....that doesn't happen too often. Took a bunch of 'small boat' pics at the boatyard but my computer isn't pulling anything up from the card. Hate new stuff...takes this ole coot a while to figure it all out.
And here we are in Punta Gorda, (Florida you understand) and it was 23 degrees this morning at 0700!!!
What a crock THIS is!!!
But it's supposed to warm back to normal this week- sure hope so, cause this ain't supposed to happen here.
Charlie, It's already started to cool off for the day, and it's still 53 degrees, after wind chills a couple days ago of MINUS 15 (NW Oklahoma), so it must be coming your way. Hang in there. At least you're on the boat rather than marooned here in the land of dirt and rocks.
CJ....ya need a lil cool to apprec. the warm ;D
Figured the camera out.
Small boats here at Green Turtles boat yard. Who says ya need big
more small
more small
Keep it up Frank, and you'll have Laura swimmin' the Gulf Stream ;) ;D
Gerry's C&C 30 he has owned since 1984
And his beat up bike with taped up tires ;D ps...he launched today
Now a few "in the water" lil guys over here
In the water small
view from Jubilee's deck in black sound
White sound
a few whitecaps on the 'sea of Abaco'
CJ...it IS warming up ;D ;) :o
Couple of quick pics from today "just anoter sh itty day in paradice" ;D
Sundowners bar view...how DID they get THAT name
Its blowing hard here today as well CJ. Nice day, fairly warm but gusting to 25 at times. Had a "domestics" mornin.....laundry, cleaned up inside. Thinkin a good book otta fill out te afternoon.
Quote from: Frank on January 17, 2010, 02:25:53 PM
Its blowing hard here today as well CJ. Nice day, fairly warm but gusting to 25 at times. Had a "domestics" mornin.....laundry, cleaned up inside. Thinkin a good book otta fill out te afternoon.
Gee Frank, Sorry to hear your having a "bad" day ::)
Took this pic of Jubilee from a dingy on the way to laundry today. Black Sound is very protected, but you can tell the wind in the palm trees.
Very nice Frank. :D
In "latts an Atts" last year there was an lengthy article written by a cruising couple that had been boarded by pirates in Gautemala (sp?) and how a nearby boat didn't fair as well with the captain being murdered. I ended up meeting them and sharing several glass's of wine. Interesting conversation. They didn't resist...they are still cruiing. He did....he's buried. They had tons of advice on the Carribean.
I am not posting this to stir "that" debate...but simply to once again state it truly is the people you meet 'out there' that make it so interesting. Everyone shares advice, stories and favorite places. Every year it is the new people such as this couple and the young couple that sailed in from France, as well as the arrival of old familiar friends you are so glad to see that make cruising fun.
A few pics from today
calm waters.....until tomorrow
Frank?
Beautiful photos...you're an evil and heartless man... it's just barely above freezing up here in New England.
Windy yesterday but today.....pics tell all ;D
My view >:(
(http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz190/homesightinc/IMG_1956.jpg?t=1264299133)
Pic of entering White sound this morning (laundry day) and later enroute to Manjack there was a full "rage" on at the reef
One more 'teaser' fom yesterday. ...CaptMac....dust that snow off, trailer south and get over here ;D
Pic is a Ray in shallo water near the dock yesterday. They are so graceful....beautiful to watch
Hi Frank, Enjoying your entries and photos.
It really is inspiring to see you (and others) actually out there and doing it, and be able to follow along, especially from here in the frozen North.
CaptMac, it was quite a visual contrast to come upon your snow-covered boat amid these colorful Bahamas photos! (Unfortunately my world also looks a lot like this.)
Frank, your inviting him to "dust that snow off, trailer South and get over here" is so compelling--especially from someone who is living it.
Looking forward to more entries and photos, and also viewing snow scenes from a similar distance [sometime in the future]. Grog to you.
Frank -
Is the sailFar Island Clubhouse you've been building down there finished yet? If not, how's progress, and - when are we to start showing up?
Don't forget to stock the bar and fridge and the bar.
;D
PS - Nice picture of the 'scallops on the hoof'... ;)
Kitchen and furniture next week ;D getting there
Wow,
You build houses about like you restore boats! That is nothing short of amazing, especially considering WHERE you are doing it!
I enjoyed the pictures of the ray. Wonder if it is the same one? (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=72.msg29720#msg29720)
WOW
Nice work Frank
Craig...I bet it is the same. Brendal takes people up there to feed them. Here's a pic from the water
Beauty, eh.
(http://sailfar.net/imgs/bob_and_doug.jpg)
Dibs on the loft! ;D
Well sure eh....like ya can hav da loft eh.
Quote from: s/v Faith on February 04, 2010, 10:15:20 PM
Wow,
You build houses about like you restore boats! That is nothing short of amazing, especially considering WHERE you are doing it!
Craig....it is a lesson in patience, frustrating as all....but will be worth it in the end. Getting stuff to Green Turtle is hard, then up to Manjack harder.
We should all go down and hang out at Frank's place... :)
Your all welcome. Good anchorage out back in anything but a SW.
Better bring a good, no GREAT anchor. Been blowing hard lately with front after front. Calling for 40 knts tonight. Good news is you don't have to shovel it ;D
I've always maintained it's the people you meet that make it interesting. This pretty 1937 Sam Crocker design of 35ft has been around a few days. Met the owner....amazing guy. He is a shipwright....has worked at Shannon, Benjamin-Gannon and wooden boat school. Crossed the atlantic and been all through the Carribean. On windy days...he hand carves Violins. He has restored the ole Crocker over the many years he's owned her. Amazing boat. Very low freeboard, deep cockpit, HUGE side decks and a coal burning stove. Had a great afternoon drinking hot tea with rum and talking boats.
He built the rowing tender as well. Very fast lil boat. Note the deep cockpit on the Crocker
His skills show with the violins...all made with simple hand tools. Note the one in the works on the table....and check out the wood stove
Andy is a very laid back and extremely understated guy...but sure loves wooden boats
Frank, you are a lucky guy ;)
But then again I guess meeting people like that is one of the reasons for cruising :)
When I see this photo I have nightmares of varnishing endlessly...
(http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2700.0;attach=2426;image)
Painted outside....varnished inside...out of the sun ;)
still, it has to be refinished eventually... :o
Frank, What a lot of fun you are having. I am now in Key West ! I know , I know You probably think I made a wrong turn as I said I was heading for the Bahamas but I got a call from an old college friend who has just gotten into Key West for some repair work on his Wharram (sp) catamaran. I have not seen him in over a decade so I'm having a blast helping him with his boat repairs and catching up. He ran into some problems (the two legged kind) who vandalized his boat in Mexico. Same old,same old. He was away from the boat for the day and got a surprise when He got back. It is irritating enough to have things taken but did they have to destroy half the interior woodwork doing it ?
Anyway, guess I'll have to suffer with 75 degrees and sunny. I know it is a strange town but I really like it here. Great bars and lots of grog. This is the life I was meant to lead !!!
Well, farewell from the southernmost city in the U.S............
P.S. The weather is greatly improving !!
How're you getting 75 degrees ?? We're in Marathon and were in Flamingo before that and haven't seen anything out off the mid 60's in a week. Laura is so sick of cold she could spit!! :D
A few things:
CJ...It has been 60's here too long. Not bad , but with 25+ knt winds it sure feels cold. Seems that things should lay down tomorrow (hopefully)
Haidan...Yep, Andy hand carves the fancy stuff on all pieces. The 'cut outs' on the body are done with an exacto knife.
Gerald...my best memory's of Key West are a 'locals' type bar with a parachute attached to the cieling.It was on a corner lot and faced 2 back streets. Funkie and GREAT draft beer. Forget the bars name??
Dan.....Looking at my compac....I've got nearly as much interior finished wood as Andy, I don't get it?? Anyway...great boat, talented, experienced guy. Loved meeting him. ...thats what really matters...the people ya meet, the stories ya here. BYW...hot tea and rum is great on a cool day ;)
Back home. Returned to 'no snow' and reports of a great winter .
A few notes on the past few months in the Abacos:
The ole folks said last winter was the worst in many many years
A new front every 2 1/2 days on average
only had shorts on 3 times
poison wood isn't fun
locals, once they know you are kind and giving
foul language is rare...even with young men
saltwater spray in the mornin keeps ya damp all day
oil lamps are great
the people ya meet are greater
charter boats offer the best entertainment....if not anchored near you
Manjack is a wonderful island that seems to attract adventurers. At one bonfire there was Lulu and Gigi-circumnavigaters,the young french couple that sailed in from France, Lancy and Emily-Lancy crossed the Atlantic 3 times and raced a "Great Dane 28" in the Ostar against Hasler, Annie and Neville- 2 atlantic crossings, and others who built boats etc. I love to sit and listen. Just ask the odd question and add rum....the stories flow.
We worked on the cottage and didn't get out to cruise much. I miss it.The good news is it is near done and next season will offer much more time to play. We haven't been up to Walkers Cay in 6 yrs or down to lil Harbour in 3 or so. Next year we will
Great 'trip report', Frank. :) Sounds like even greater conversations.
Quote
The ole folks said last winter was the worst in many many years
Same here! Had an eight day stretch where they even shut off the dock water. No particular hardship, that - but prior to this year, the longest stretch was 3 days in the last 5+ winters.
A new front every 2 1/2 days on average
We got 'em a couple days before you did, and colder! ;D When did you first arrive down there this year? Did it get a bit worse after that, or was the front timing the same the whole time you were there?
only had shorts on 3 times
Closer I came to wearing shorts this winter was my Spiderman undies. ;D Belowdecks and after hours, of course.
poison wood isn't fun
Don't imagine it would be! :o
Not a lot of those Great Dane's around that I know of, but they're a nice lookin' boat, to my eyes.
Question: Now who around here wouldn't give their eyeteeth to be able to say:
"Yeah, I raced in the OSTAR against Blondie..." ???
(I'm looking, and I don't see any hands waving out there...) :D
-------------------
Doing my best to take
Katie and come sit there next to you and the missus, this coming year. :)
I just checked my notes....it wasn't Blondie...it was Chicester that was in the same race. (co-founder). He was on "Gypsy Moth" and could not finish. Lancy finished 26th out of 55 starters (many did not finish)
He had just sailed from Europe the year before but had a buddy along. To qualify, you needed 500 miles 'solo' offshore, so he sailed back alone to race.
CJ...if you make it to Manjack any time soon...Lulu and Gigi are in the Halberg Rassey ketch out front, Lancy and Emily in a power boat anchored in the shallows up the creek out back and "Jazz" out front is the young French couple. Annie and Neville are back home now too. Anytime spent with Lulu or Lancy will be very enjoyable.
Capt K....I went down around Nov. 8th to Dec 16th ....GREAT, calm, warm. I returned Jan 6th and WOW...what a difference a few weeks made. It simply never seemed to let up. Mostly NW...usually NE and way lighter with less of it.
PS...you in Spyderman undies is NOT a good visual :o
Quote from: Frank on March 24, 2010, 06:30:11 PM
locals, once they know you are kind and giving
the people ya meet are greater
charter boats offer the best entertainment....if not anchored near you
Frank, thought of you this morning when I read an article in a mag that contained the following quote:
"...you never have to leave your yacht to enjoy your charter."
Kind of hard to get to know the locals and meet those great people this way. ::)
(Of course, this was a fully crewed 124 ft motoryacht, so it was more of a cruise-ship setting that what we think of as a charter).
I'll take the small-boat (so ya WANT to get off the thing) lifestyle over the floating luxury neighborhood any day... shoot, their tender was bigger than our boat!
Quote from: Frank on March 24, 2010, 06:30:11 PM
locals, once they know you are kind and giving
I always appreciate hearing you say so Frank.
Rose and I found this to be the case most everywhere we went. I simply can not recall the
negative experiences others report. We went looking for friends and found them EVERYWHERE.
Craig... I showed up in town on my birthday. You know how expensive food is there. Two places had cakes made (one had 2 cakes) with "happy birthday Frank" on them and trays of food prepared. I was embaressed by their generosity. Locals have often gone out of their way for us, lending tools,boats or a hand when possible. "Nassau" in my opinion is not "the real Bahamas" and is so tourist oriented that it could be a mini Vegas. Once in the "out islands"...the real Bahamas....you get to experience what its really like. There is good and bad all over but I have never had anything stolen in all our times there and truly love the people. Glad you found the same.
If anyones just killing time...check out you tube..."Billy Currington" (singer)...song "people are crazy". It was filmed at Green Turtle cay. Fun for me to watch as I've sat on the same walls and know the streets. The one shot where he's sitting on a wall is where I sit at times to get wifi from a locals house.
When does the hurricane season start?
What is a an appropriate hurricane season strategy? Head north? Stay there and find a hole if the hurricane comes?
Basically its from june till november. The last 3 in the Abacos were in late sept or october. Stategy....mangrove lined hurricane holes ;D There are a few.