UNDERWAY - off a cell tower and Ricks phone

Monday 2.19.2018   West End to Mangrove Cay, Bahamas

It was a windy, sunny day.  Gusts to 30knots.  We pulled anchor about 8am and motored out into the Atlantic, up the west coast in about 150 ft of water.  Rick dropped a couple of lures over the side and caught three barracuda on our 40ml transit.  (we went over Barracuda Shoals. Seriously, that’s the name on the charts.)  We released them all.  Now we are anchored just off Mangrove Cay in 9ft of crystal clear water.  Rick has volunteered to cook dinner and I am working on the Blog.  There are five other boats anchored nearby.  (3 when we arrived and more probably arriving later.)  The plan is to sail tomorrow up to Carters Caye and anchor for the night.  It’s said to be an ‘old military installation.’  Abandoned and from a USA missile tracking station.

We prepared everything to SAIL today but instead motored directly – ‘read’ directly – into the wind.  With a very strong wind of 30+ knots we preferred to motor than turn her on her side.  Plus we knew that we would arrive before dark without having to hurry.

So now I can relax, enjoy a beautiful Happy Hour before dinner.   

I hope your anchor holds wherever you are.

-          -Peg Leg Pirate Skip

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Tue 2.20 

Another Great Day.   Mangrove Cay-Carter Cay

      We motored into the wind all day.  (still a motor boat and not a sailboat)  Now we are anchored at Carter Cay a 40ml transit today.  Left our anchorage at 7:30 and motored across the Little Bahama Bank averaging 4-5knts across 15 ft deep water arriving and setting the anchor by 3p.  Rick is going to do some fishing here while I work on the blog.  Today was fairly uneventful.  I caught a good size Baracuda.  We saw one (1) other boat all day.  It was headed in the same direction but about 4 miles off our starboard and went somewhere else.  Last night there were 5 other ‘boats’ anchored with us and then a mega yacht pulled in about dark.  He had his tender towed behind.  He was probably about 100’ long plus a 24’ tender.  (his dinghy was half the size of my boat)  When he put on his anchor light, he had a second light on his dinghy.  I’m not jealous.  I cant afford: his diesel bill, his crew in pretty costumes. His dinghy.  (heck, any of his bills)  Plus, my view is better down closer to the water!  

       Rick put out a single fishing line today and i caught about a 3’ Baracuda.  (It was pretty big and I say it had dentures)  I  caught it because Rick was working the helm at the time and I got to catch it.  Sometimes it just be’s that way.

      Tonight for dinner we are having the two grouper fillets our waitress gave us in Ft. Lauderdale.  (At Jimbo’s)  Plus the second half of the massive Grouper fillet that guy tossed me back in West End at the marina 2 days ago.  Fish plus brussels sprouts, cabbage, salad and kale.  Yum!  I get to pick out the movie tonight and am leaning toward a Western.  Something old (like me) with a lot of excitement to hopefully keep me awake!  Tomorrow we are planning to move to Crab Cay or nearby about a 40 mile motor sail.  That will leave us about another 35 miles to cross before Rick flies home on the 27^th. 

-         - Peg Leg Pirate Skip

    Wed. 2.21

      We left our anchorage about 7:30 and are motoring toward Spanish Cay for the night.  it's 10:27 and Rick got a cell signal, so i am posting underway.  It's a brisk wind from the East and seas about 4 feet.  We 'hope' to be anchored by 3pm?  Hope you are enjoying your day back in the world.   -Skip