Eleuthera crazy weather

A word about the chart snap shots
Boat is pink, North is top and you can tap on it to make it easier to see 

As you have seen when living on a boat we spend a lot of time moving so that we can be comfortable in extreme weather. Such is the case at Governors harbor where we anchored in the north east corner in anticipation of NE winds coming Saturday.

First we enjoyed a night of food, fluid and shenanigans at the Friday fish fry. It is good when you are traveling places and there are people you know because it makes the festive atmosphere more enjoyable.

We watched as our new friends enjoy the festivities. The mostly gringo crowd thinned out by nine and the Bahamian’s kept going into the night. Grilled fish and chicken with a rum punch or beer were very good. A DJ that’s engaging and lots of smiles made a successful night. The next day the wind picked up from the south to north and as the anchor turned 180 we were dragging. In harder packed or soft grassy bottoms a rotating anchor can come free. The reset was successful and we stayed put for 2 more nights.

Later Saturday afternoon I went to the grocery store for milk. From our calm anchorage to the beach  the waves became big enough to surf the dinghy into the beach and I had them crashing over the bow on the way back. I was soaked and had 6 inches off water in the dinghy. 

Things settled down Sunday so after online church we went on an outing to the ocean side pink beach and then out to dinner. We had been here twice before and saw a lot of new development on the way. It is nice to see good projects providing jobs and improvements that seem overdue.

On Monday we followed two of the boats to Hachet Bay which is an protected harbor 7 miles north.

 A boat anchored in hatchet

We had avoided this anchorage because stories of dragging anchors and theft. I wanted to go in and experience the place in case I needed a well protected refuge some day. We set the anchor and it held but feeling too close to another boat we pulled up and tried 2 more times. The water was dirty or murky so picking a sandy spot rather than grass or seeing if it was set well was impossible. We told our friends to go explore as we were taking our time setting and a half hour later to the joy of my crew I pulled up our sliding anchor

The new spot was definitely better 

and went another 7 miles north to a secure beautiful spot where we stayed for 3 nights.

At that location we could leave the boat (knowing it would be there upon returning) and explore. The first day we snorkeled with Leslie and Gary from sv Happy Together then hosted them on our boat for dinner. They had passed on Hatchet Bay because other boat friends had said not to go there.

Near the snorkel area was a swing that made a good photo stop. It was a very nice day and night.

Gary salutes the sunset 

Wednesday morning we said goodbye to Gary and Leslie as they began their trip back to the states. 

 

Brace

Smash

Repeat 

Glass window bridge separates the Atlantic from the Eleuthera bank 

We went off to the glass window bridge and the queens
 baths.

Since the experience is affected by tides each time we go it’s a little bit different.

Thursday morning we sailed up to Current Cut and going though the fourth time was as exciting as the first as we rode the tidal flow at over 10 knots.

This ferry boat just goes back-and-forth across the cut. Note the water rushing by

We anchored less than a mile up and went into the little settlement of Current to get food. The very small variety store had ham and eggs but no milk. Canned milk is we not our favorite but it works. Our afternoon was spent sitting on the beach and snorkeling.we have to remind ourselves to take advantage of these opportunities.

I spent Friday morning making a new batch of English muffins. We had a big lunch of eggs, potatoes, bacon  and fresh muffins.

We were keeping an eye on a big storm that was slowly making its way to us and from 6 to 8 this monster thunder and rain storm came right over us then reversed back over. The flat sea with offshore winds became a 0 visibility, 4’ seas from the unprotected north, thunder and lightning with howling winds topping 35. The half a dozen boats around us tossing about with waves breaking over their bows. We heard many reports of boats being struck by lightning that fried all electronics and engines. The good news is that it didn’t come in the middle of the night and by 10 pm the wind and waters returned to a good sleeping state.

The harder it would rain the more the seas would get knocked down. 

The next morning we are off to the Abacos.