Sunday, September 3, 2006

Another Karaoke/sing-along/jam session aboard Silk Purse. Just like the last one - everyone brought their drinks and a snack and had a good time.


Monday, September 4, 2006

Tropical Depression #6 appears. Warrants watching.


Wednesday, September 6, 2006

TD #6 - now TS Florence and is east of Leeward Islands projected to turn and head north out to sea. Evil eyes are in full force.

Tired of being in port, the skies look good for day sailing. Escape and Angel go for some wind dancing. (trip - 13.4 nm)

Angel is a 30 ft. Bayfield captained solely by Rebecca Burg. Rebecca is an artist and writer for several magazines including Southwinds and Sail.

Saturday, September 9, 2006

With approaching wind bands from TS Florence bringing 20 - 25 knots of wind our way, we motor over to Man-o-War to the mooring. (trip - 6.7 nm)

Secured on the mooring, we jump in the water to cool down our core body temperatures. Having not been able to swim while in the polluted waters of Marsh Harbour, Man-o-War’s Eastern Harbor water is refreshing!

Adding up our miles since leaving the states on April 2nd, 2006 we were surprised by the numbers. To date we have traveled 780.3 nm or 897.3 statute miles.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

With Hurricane Florence on her way to Bermuda, we set sail to Great Guana Cay to meet up with Rebecca on Angel and Bill on Defiant. (trip - 12 nm)

Escape loves it when she gets to sail !!

Monday, September 11, 2006

The Cruiser’s Net remembers and acknowledges the 5th anniversary of the terrorists attacks on the USA.

The storms are now beginning to brew! Tropical Depression #7 - ENE of Leeward Island is expected to follow Hurricane Florence’s track. The sounds of the crashing waves on the Atlantic side of Guana Cay gather our interests. Tom, Rebecca, Bill and I walk across to the beach and are in total awe with the wave activity. HUGE rollers and crashers!!

Huge rollers and the crashing waves from Hurricane Florence.

Bill is in awe and could watch for hours!!

Rebecca and Bill in the Love Shack on Great Guana’s Atlantic beach.

Playing with the land crabs was entertaining.

As we walked the beach, Rebecca and I gathered treasures that had washed ashore (an old buoy, colorful line, crab claws, sea glass, driftwood, etc.). Back onboard Escape, I decided to create an idol from our beached sea treasures to protect our boats from bad weather.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

TD #7 - now Tropical Storm Gordon.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

TS Gordon following Hurricane Florence and Tropical Depression #8 forms off Cape Verde Islands.
Sail back to Marsh Harbour for provisions, water, ice and a mail delivery.
(trip - 9.2 nm)

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Gordon is now a Category 3 Hurricane and east of Bermuda and #8 is Tropical Storm Helene still off the Cape Verde Islands.

Friday, September, 15, 2006

Safe from this set of hurricanes, we weigh anchor and sail to Treasure Cay to meet with Rebecca and Bill. (trip 15.6 nm)

Enjoying the fresh water pool and the land shower with endless running water, we all kick back to relax resort style.

Bill added the finishing touches (teeth - crab claws) to the idol. Rebecca donated a sage soaked wild turkey feather and a buffalo blood bead for enhancing spiritual contact. During cocktails we christen the idol with rum and tonic. We toast to her spirits to keep Escape, Angel & Defiant safe from bad weather.

Toast to Bad Weather Idol

As we walked the beach of Great Guana Cay,
We gathered treasures deposited by the sea.
We glued and gathered more
Until this Idol came to be adored.
So Spirits please enable her the powers to be
For keeping us safe from the demons of weather and sea.
At anchor or afloat - our home is our boat
So may she always protect thee.

We closed the evening with a spaghetti dinner prepared by Chef Tomas. Bon Appetit!!

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Waiting for high tide to be able to leave Treasure Cay, Rebecca brought over an extra Delta anchor for Escape to try on. Tom wants to get another (#3) anchor and wasn’t sure if it would fit on Escape’s anchor roller. Now we know it will fit the roller - no problems!!


Sunday, September 17, 2006

We pulled out of Treasure Cay at 7:45 am with a half tide and anchored just outside for breakfast and wait for Angel & Defiant. In search for the perfect hurricane hiding hole for them, the three boats sail south to Leisure Lee (a series of canals that are well protected). We dinghied through the mangrove outback canals and found some spots that would work. Our exploration felt like an outdoor TV show. We saw 50+ sea turtles, mutton snappers, barracudas, spotted eagle rays, crabs and more. Back aboard with a quick lunch….the race to Marsh Harbour began!! The 1st ADE (Angel, Defiant, Escape) Regatta is born. (trip 18.8 nm)

Defiant wins the 1st ADE Regatta.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Leave Great Guana and off to Marsh Harbour for provisions. (trip - 9.6 nm)



Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Tropical Storm Debbie appeared near Cape Verde Islands.



Thursday, August 24, 2006

TS Debbie has company - Tropical Depression #5 near the Lesser Antilles.


Friday, August 25, 2006

All eyes are watching Tropical Storm Ernesto! On our mooring in the safe surroundings of Eastern Harbor at Man-o-War Cay, we track the path of TS Ernesto. Using the single sideband radio, we listen twice daily to Chris Parker of the Caribbean Weather Net, along with the local cruiser’s net weather (Barometer Bob) and the computer (Weather Underground) we surmise TS Ernesto should only bring us tropical storm winds and rain. With this info we decide to take down the head sail, tie up the main sail good and leave the canvas (dodger and bimini) on.
Saturday, August 26 - Thursday, August 31, 2006
Ernesto was a crazy guy!! A tropical depression - tropical storm - hurricane - tropical storm - tropical depression - tropical storm - and off to North Carolina after passing through the Fla. Keys and Florida.

Ernesto for the Abacos brought winds of 20 - 33 knots and sun. No rain.



Friday, September 1, 2006

WOW!! Time flies - it’s hard to believe we’ve been gone 5 months. Today is the day for the all familiar provisioning trip to Marsh Harbour.

Entering Marsh Harbour is always an adventure - you never know what you’ll find. The catamaran, Boomerang, that burned July 11th was being floated out of the harbour to destinations unknown. We can only hope they find deep enough water so it won’t be a hazard!!

Last night was our 1st encounter with dinghy theft in the Abacos. The new 10 ft. dinghy with a 15 hp outboard to the boat, San San, was stolen from the public dinghy dock.