Super Bowl Sunday (Feb 7).   The weather was a little to rough for us to take the dingy to the Long Island Breeze so at 3:30 Michael from Long Island Breeze picked up Finelion, Night Hawk and Sapphire to go into the restaurant and help prepare for the Super Bowl.   We arranged tables, moved TV’s and made sure the Rum Punch was palatable.  Moving the TV was the biggest job, it had to be moved from the upstairs living quarters to the main floor where the restaurant is located.   It was not one of the newer flat screen TV’s so if you remember those TV’s are very heavy.  It all worked out just fine getting to the restaurant but getting back up to the living quarters there was a clunk...we all just held out breath but for the most part it turned out okay. 

Steve was in charge of the betting board, he rounded up enough people to bet that we had two boards.  Of course between the three boats we had to spend a bit more money that we anticipated to complete the second board.  It all paid off for Fine Lion as I won the first quarter and the pay out was $20.  I was happy I got back ¼ of what we put in to the pot.  The ending score was perfect for me, I won both boards because I had the same numbers on both board (not fixed as I was not able to pick my numbers) so I won $180 for the final score.  “Who dat”.  Plus, I wanted the Saints to win so it was a grand evening.  I am committed to buying the next round of drinks.  “No problem Mon”

The weather is a little odd right now.  It is in a trend; two mellow nice days and than at least one very raunchy day with high wind, than two nice days and than another bad day.  We will be staying in Long Island for at least another week.    

Feb 11 (Thursday) we celebrated Kathy’s (Sapphire) Birthday on Fine Lion with Night Hawk (Barry and Susan).  We BBQ'd, had Mac-n-cheese, Caesar Salad and corn fritters for dinner and Cake with Klondike bars for desert.  Fun was had by all. 

Friday was internet, laundry, and preparation day for the front coming through.  Steve had to splice some line for the snubber.  The snubber we have been using for the last seven years was fraying and it needed to be fixed.  They turned out pretty good for his first time splicing.

The front ended up not being much of anything.  We have become used to the 25-30 knot winds with squalls up to 35 knots.  This last front was not nearly as bad as they said it would be, fine with me.

Sat. Feb 13 the big event for the day was the First Annual Long Island Mutton Festival.  The weather was still a cold (okay maybe not cold but chilly) and blowing 18-20 knots so we took the dingy to the beach closet to where we were anchored and we hitch hiked to the festival.  Getting a ride to anywhere you want to go on Long Island is pretty easy.  The people are so nice plus there is only one main road on the whole island so it is not at all unusual for a women with her children and dog in the car to pick you up. The Festival had all kinds of Lamb, goats, two Wild Boars and a lot of Roosters on display.   Plus, like most festivals there were stands with arts and crafts as well as food.  I took a few pictures of the arts and crafts on display but I am sure the pictures will not do them justice.  One gentleman took shells and made the most incredible and detailed table displays.  Very talented.  The weaving that the women do is just as amazing to me. 

There was a demonstration on how to clean and cook Lion Fish.  If you are unaware, Lion Fish are not indigenous to the Bahamas though they are taking over the Bahamas.  What the Lion Fish do is eat the baby fish of every species.  The only predator the Lion Fish have is the human.  The Lion Fish have these very poisonous spines on their fins so no other fish can eat them.  It was an interesting demonstration and hopefully people will be able to get rid of at least some of the Lion Fish.  They are supposed to be very good to eat.   Fortunately, the Lion Fish is not a fast swimming fish so it would be easy to spear them.  It is not unusual for people to spear them and just take them off the spear and let them go back into the water so now maybe people will be able to spear them and actually eat them rather than just kill them.

There were a few bands that were playing at the festival we got to hear one band play and we also got to see an elderly women dance.  The lady was dressed up out on the dance floor cane and all.  We should all take some lessons from her ambition and realize we only get one chance at this and we better make the best of it.   

The wind did not let up so we had to leave before it got dark.   We hitch hiked back to the beach.  First Steve and I got picked up in a small SUV vehicle (four seater) than we came across three other cruisers so we picked them up, then we came across two other cruisers and we picked them up.  I rode behind the rear seat with two other men.  We were packed in but it was fun.  We ended up passing Mike, Kathy, Susan and Barry walking, they never did get a ride.  Bummer!

Tuesday, Feb 16 we left Thompson Bay Long Island and fished our way over to Rum Cay.  The weather was not exactly as predicted.  It was a bit like being in a washing machine.  The seas were very jumbled.  We were not successful fishing and it is a good thing because I am unsure how we would have gotten a fish aboard because the waves were 8-10 feet and we were bumping around all over the place.    Sapphire had way to much sail out and had a rough ride and Night Hawk (Susan and Barry) took a knock down.   We were all very glad to get to Rum Cay.

Rum Cay is a very interesting Cay, there are coral heads every where.   You do not want to get too far off course or else you are in trouble.   On Feb 18 we watched the sail boat Second Wind (French Canadian) leave the anchorage, turn around come back towards shore (not anywhere near the anchorage) sails up turn back around and head back out as if he was leaving.  He did not get very far.  We watched him take his boat right up on a coral reef.   He was single handing, he originally was over heating and I believe this is why he came back to shore the first time than he went back out (duh) sails up.  From what I gathered speaking to this man he realized while he was checking the engine (while in close to shore) that something was wrong with a belt on the engine so while sailing he decided to go check it.  Did I say he was single handing?  Did I say he does not have auto pilot?  I wonder who was driving the boat while he was checking the engine.  Oh yeah, silly me it was the wind which decided to take his boat right into a beautiful coral reef.  The rudder broke off and he had a hollow keel so he was taking on water right now.  The boat sank within an hour.   Steve, Mike, and Barry went to help him get his personal belongings off his boat.  I will never understand why he let this happen.  First of all if you do not have autopilot and no one is manning the wheel how could you ever leave the wheel?  Why did he not throw out his anchor when he decided to go check the belt?  It is all very difficult for me to understand.  When I spoke to the owner I still never got any answers.  Call me crazy, but I just do not get it.

We met some very nice people on Rum Cay at Kay’s Bar.  Delores is the owner of Kay’s and she is such a nice lady, she gave us some history about the island and is very proud to be a resident of Rum Cay.  Rum Cay has 62 residents (that is including the children).  We also met Helen, Pauline and Ginny on the motor vessel Mary Claire.  We all sat at the bar and talked while Delores served us Conk Fritters on the house.   That evening Steve I went to Mary Claire for cocktails.  It was a very nice evening.  It is a 96’ Mega Yacht.

Finally on Friday Feb 19 the weather was nice enough for Steve to get in the water and do some hunting.  The coral reefs are amazing and you really have to watch out when you are in the dingy because the reefs come right up to the surface of the water.  So our routine is Steve gets in the water and hunts while I stay in the dingy and try to follow him, staying close to him in case he spears some thing so we can get it in the dingy quick.  We do this to avoid a barracuda or a shark deciding they want what is on the end of his spear.  No one shoots anything without first looking around for anything that may want something to eat and to look to see where I am in the dingy.  Most places it is easy for me to stay close to Steve but in Rum Cay the coral is so close to the surface of the water it becomes a real challenge dodging in and out of coral heads.  No worries Steve only got conch.

We left Rum Cay Saturday Feb 20 and fished our way back to Long Island to Callabash Bay.  Once again no fish.  We did hook to Barracuda but they do not count as fish they just count as trouble, they are very difficult to get off the hook.   They have those nice sharp teeth just dying to take a little bite out of your fingers.  Mike (Sapphire) caught a 47 inch Mahi.

In Callabash Bay we had dinner at Cape Santa Maria Resort with Susan and Barry.  It was a very nice dinner and a treat for all of us.  They had table cloths on the tables.  It has been a while since we have eaten at a restaurant with cloth napkins and a table cloth. 

Sunday Feb 21 the weather was great a nice sunny day.  We have not had a sunny day for close to a week, no real complaints at least it is not snowing.  Steve and Barry got fish and lobster.  We all had dinner on Fine Lion.  As I have said before it is very rare to get a dinner on shore anywhere that is as good as a dinner we can have aboard.   Susan made a Lobster augratin over rice, Steve made sautéed fish, I made Conch Salad and Barry ate.  Barry does not cook.  He is a very good spear fisherman.  Good thing since he did not help make anything for dinner.

Monday Feb 22 we weighed anchor at Callabash Bay and dropped the anchor in Georgetown around noon.   Fished on our trip today but again no luck.  Bummer.

As this is being published, Kim is in Colorado for a birthday celebration for her mother, Betty.  It's a surpise which is why the update was delayed.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETTY !!

Our current position is Lat N23 30.536 Lon W075 45.634  on Great Exuma Island

Till next time,

Steve and Kim