2009-2010 Caribbean / Bahamas Trip
May Pictures
OK, we promise this is our last fruit/veggie picture. On a boat fresh fruit and veggies are very special thus all the photos of otherwise boring food.
Great full moon on our last night in Georgetown before heading north and home
As we left Georgetown harbor we passed an empty Honeymoon Beach anchorage with no Eleanor M. Our friends from Newburyport, Skip and Cherylle had already left for home
Dotham Cut our preferred cut onto the Banks from Exuma Sound
An architectural statement at Sampson's Cay
We love the Northern Exumas. Shallow, protected waters with beautiful colors
Hawksbill Cay. We were the only boat in a lovely setting.
This guy came by at dinner time and was rewarded with some rye bread.
The next day we were off to Shroud Cay. The navigator was in a cheerful mood
A mangrove channel cuts through Shroud to get to the Sound
Crystal clear water, mangroves, rock and palms. Very interesting terrain
The dinghy driver
The Sound side beach.
In previous years, at high tide, the Sound would breach this spot on the beach and flood into the mangrove channel. Today, sand has built up and blocks the cut.
A nice ending to our day at Shroud
Royal Island, Eleuthera. Our last Bahamian anchorage probably until next fall on the way through.
Our bags are packed and ready to go
As we got underway, I had important reading to do
On our first night out for Beaufort, we finished up our tuna as sushi
Champ back to work
The wind generator is very much looking and acting like it needs to retire.
Day three was picture perfect. Twenty four hours of a 20 knot close reach
Day four sunrise approaching the Gulf Stream
Amy still dressed in her evening wear
I need a shave at some point
Our final approach to Beaufort was a great broad reach. Made up for the bad weather approaching Cape Hatteras that forced our detour into Beaufort.
Channel leading into Beaufort
We spent a couple days at the Morehead City Yacht Basin waiting for a good forecast to head back around Cape Hatteras. We were impressed by this magnificent sports fisher.
The fellow on the cell phone is the fulltime captain for the owners. He gave us a tour of Marlin Fever. An amazing fishing machine. A multi million dollar boat vs. a fish and the fish can still win. Go figure.
Rounding Cape Lookout outside Beaufort for Cape Hatteras
We had almost twelve hours on a downwind leg around Hatteras
Our first extended downwind use of the Monitor and it did a great job
Sunrise after rounding Cape Hatteras
Entering Norfolk Harbor at midnight. AIS made our entry so much easier than it would have been otherwise. Everyone raves about AIS and it is certainly justified.
After a day's rest in Norfolk we headed up the Chesapeake to rendezvous with friends in Annapolis and Baltimore. Cold, rainy and windy on a 20-30 knot reach. We saw 9.2 knots, well maybe we were helped by current a bit....Amy donned her cold weather clothes for the trip.
Weather had improved by the time we got to Reedville, an old fishing community on the Northern Neck in Virginia.
Reedville still has an active Menhaden fleet.
This boat yard had a Maine feel to it.
Another nice day, but no wind. Heading out from Reedville to Solomon's
Chace Anderson's PS 40 hull#8 blowing by Shango during our match race to the Eastern Shore.
We finally were able to keep pace when Windaway sailed in our lee. We hope that Windaway's new sails and our several tons of extra chain and cruising gear were the reason for our comparative slowness and not our sailing skills!
The Coast Guard preparing our anchorage area in front of the Naval Academy for a Blue Angels' practice.
A few hours later it seemed that all Annapolis was out in their boats waiting for the show to begin.
Amazing sights and sounds of precision flying at our mast tops
All six jets zooming in and then flying apart
Screaming over the Academy sports fields
and over our boats in the anchorage
Flying in different sized groups
All right above our heads
Off to Chestertown on the Chester River. Reminded us of the St. John River in New Brunswick. Very bucolic river views.
Some very pretty houses along the way
This was probably our favorite.
As we arrived in Chestertown, the Sultana which we saw in Annapolis was leaving.