Day 210, Saturday January 18th 2014

Day 210, Saturday January 18th 2014

View from Regatta Point of anchorage

A lazy morning as last night was horrible.  The swell was coming into the bay and the winds were up to 20 knots.  We had some wind shelter from the point but the waves were wrapping around so we were tossed all night.  It was difficult to sleep and Julie eventually went to the settee in hopes of less movement at the centre of the boat and a quieter spot.  We are also dealing with lots of noise from our mast.  Inside the mast all the ropes and electronics run vertically, and we think when we re-stepped the mast the wiring was not secured properly.  Everytime the boat shifts the wires clang along the inside of the mast and reverberate the sound right beside our heads as the mast runs down to the keel alongside our berth.  Normally not a problem as the boat does not move much at night unless we are doing an overnight sail which is not very often.  Anyways, we are slow to get moving in the morning, and think about our next anchorage.  We decide to stay another night as the winds are scheduled to shift sufficiently that tonight should be okay.

gazebo at Regatta point

At noon there is a fundraiser for the community to raise money for their Easter Regatta, which is a big sailing race they host which is also probably a fundraiser.  Anyways, it is nice to support the community as they are very helpful to us cruisers.  Originally we were going to dinghy over to the site which is Regatta Bay, but the waves are choppy and we don't think we can land there very well.   As we head over a local asks us for a ride as he is just coming in on his power boat which he moors and needs a ride to shore.  Our ride to the docks is dry until we slow down on our approach and start to surf and the bow of the dinghy digs in and a wave enters the bow soaking our passenger and slightly soaking Julie.  Oops, sorry!  He does not care.  Easy going attitudes.  We get safely tied off and head the kms. walk over to the picnic site.  There is supposed to be dinghy races and games, but the weather is very windy and overcast with lots of waves int he bay.  Too bad as the weather typically is wonderful.

Fish dinner with heads on

Lots of cruisers and locals show up for the afternoon and we mingle and chat amongst ourselves. Always knowledge to be gained chatting up fellow sailors.  It is very windy out and Julie's hat flys off her head and lands in the water.  It is too far to reach from the dock and we watch it drift in the waves to the far shore.  Here it is coral and since it is only mid tide it is about a 5 foot drip down to the waterline.  We say good bye to the hat as it is not worth injuring ourselves in its retrieval. 

Food is served around 1:30, and you can choose between fish, chicken, steak or burgers.  We of course choose the local fare.  Had Julie known the heads were still attached, chicken may have been the winning choice.  The fish was excellent tasting but a bit of work, as it had been gutted, but not deboned.  The event starts winding down around 3:00.  No games seems to come out, so we start back to the dinghy.  Our arrival back to the mothership has us being called on the radio by Charboneau which is a boat we had met and interacted with in the Abacos.  I guess Bill had been trying to wave us down as we were dinghying to our mothership, and other boats thought he was in distress, so he also had to make an announcement that everything was fine, as he was calling us on the radio.  It seemed funny at the time.  Bill and Judy also knew Lynn and Ian so we all headed over to say hello.

Windy and last hat siting

By now it is 6:00 and it is time to get our dinner happening and get to bed as we are both exhausted from our lack of sleep the night before.

Cheers
Julie and Dawson