Mangrove Cay to Great Sale Cay

Day 11: Fri March 6, 2015

Another great day of sailing.  We started with a great breakfast of bacon and cheese omelet.  The boat was fairly clean so we got underway at a decent time.

We were in a wide open area so we raised the main sail and sailed off the anchor without using the engine.  Janine was at the helm.  As soon as the anchor was off of the bottom, the boat began to back.  She swung the tiller to the starboard side and the boat rounded onto a port tack.  She did a 270 degree turn, jibed the main and headed east.  I unfurled and set the jib and we were off on an easterly course.  I placed a waypoint in the entrance to a large cove on Great Sale Cay, slaved the autopilot to the chartplotter and we were off.  The breeze was moderate and we clipped along on a beam reach at about 6.8 to 6 knots on a light chop sea.  It was an ideal ride.

The computer in the chart plotter calculated that we would arrive at our destination at approximately 12:00 but as the trip continued, the winds began to lighten and swing around to the west and our speed faded.  At one point, a large front of clouds to the south appeared to be building into a thunderstorm that was moving toward us. I would rather be on the anchor in a cove than encounter a storm on the open water. I started the motor and we motor sailed at 6 knots.  As it turned out, the storm dissipated and after about 10 minutes, I shut down the motor.

The winds continued to drop so I used to whisker pole to hold the jib out on the

Wungout sailing downwind

starboard side of the boat and we sailed “wing and wing” or “wung out” for the rests of the trip to Great Sale Cay.

As we approached our anchorage, I was on the bow watching for coral heads while Janine piloted the boat.  I bought a set of “Bluetooth” technology head sets that are basically a live mike that we can use when one of us is by the motor and the other is on the bow.  They really work slick.  It eliminated the yelling and miscommunication that happened when we were pulling up to a dock or trying to drop the anchor.  We had noticed a dark cloud moving from behind us and just as we were nearing our destination we were hit with a heavy rain storm.  I finally had Janine cut the engine and I dropped the anchor right where we were so that we could allow the rain to wash the slime from our bodies.  Through the headset, I could hear Janine rejoicing in having fresh water running through her hair.  I went back, peeled of my wet clothes, grabbed a bar of soap and proceeded to lather up.  There was another boat about 100 yards

Steve pulling watch in light air

away so Janine made me retain my skivvies. 

The shower lasted about 10 minutes but what a glorious 10 it was.  I pulled the anchor and we proceeded deep into the shallow waters of the cove where there were no waves and we would be protected from rocking for the night.  Our next chore was to deal with all of the wet stuff.  By the time the rain had hit, we had furled the jib and dropped the main sail.  I had not put the cover on the main at the outset of the rain shower so it had collected quite a bit of water in its folds.  We got out our sun shower and collected about a gallon of fresh water out of the folds to be used later.  Fresh water is a valuable resource on the boat and we don’t waste it with showers.  We cleanse ourselves in the old sponge bath fashion between rain showers.

We had arrived at Great Sale Cay at around 2:00 so we had time to make up a batch of tortillas.  We got out our handy press, fired up the grill and produced 10 fresh tortillas.  We separated them with wax paper and we will see how they turn out over the next several days. 



Bratwurst potatoes and wine

We dined on hors d ours {sp?} of kipper snacks on crackers and a glass of Merlot.  The main course consisted of bratwursts and garlic mashed potatoes.  After dinner, I cooked a blob carrot cake with cream cheese icing. 

We ended the evening with a rousing game of dominos at which Janine thoroughly trounced me.  And then bed!