AND ON TO NASSAU........................

A serious attempt was made to repair the main-sail at LUCAYA. We put the sewing machine out on the cabin top, took down the main-sail and proceeded to stitch the tear, but try as we might, there was no way to get the huge bulky sail to slide under the arm of the machine. This heavy-duty sailmaker's sewing machine goes by the trade name of "SAILRITE" but it ended up being absolutely "SAIL-WRONG". By the time we hoisted it, there were still two huge holes in the sail, but at least the leach (the back edge) was together again.
We left the following day in the early morning mist, sliding past a ghost ship of former days (It was even called GHOST, do a double click on the pic) and out into Providence Channel, on our way to the Berry Islands for an overnight stop at Grand Harbour. A rolly anchorage, far from 'Grand' but we slept right through it and then another full day's run to Nassau.

Providence Channel is the main shipping route for global shipping to the ports of Miami and Ft. Lauderdale and there was plenty of shipping to be seen, including cruise ships with all-you-can-eat guests on board. (The food is eaten, not the guests.) We did however have our own share of culinary delights, by catching several beautiful painted mackerals (Cero Mackeral). We also caught a barracuda which was released, and a big one got away with one of our lures. You have to lose some to win some. Our exquiste on-board chef "Laurie" produced sashimi in soy sauce with wasabi, seviche with key lime juice, and grilled mackeral in 'Paul Prudhommes's' Seafood Magic. It's a rough life but someone has to do it.......... Surely nothing tastes better or sweeter than stolen fruit or caught fish.................






I KNOW IT LOOKS THE SAME AS THE ONE ABOVE, BUT IT IS ANOTHER ONE.............just want to make sure that you know that these are not exaggerated fishing stories.....

Glenn on "TREEHOUSE" had left from Grand Hbr, Berry Islands early in the morning, just before sunrise but we passed him eventually under full sail. He had even managed to fix his auto-pilot with "5200", which is a story in itself. Glenn's daughter and friends are due to arrive in two days' time so his 6.5 knots is not for nothing........... He's excited............













Late afternoon sees both of our yachts entering Nassau Harbour for a one week stay to celebrate the New Year, The Junkanoo festival, shopping, and the repair of auto-pilots, sails, other equipment failures and the purchase of that magical elixer, "RICARDO's Mando rum". Now let's get that dinghy in the water...........



MORNING SUNRISE IN NASSAU HARBOUR, BAHAMAS