Day 4 - Bahama Cruising (West Bay - Providence Island)
25:05.3N
77:37.2W
Up
early to haul the anchor (literally as the windlass motor is still to be
repaired!) and a fresh easterly wind to sail across the North-West Providence
Passage back towards Providence Island and closer to Nassau. Water-maker
functioning to top up the water tanks for the next few days and time to take
noon-day sightings with the sextant - Annelise quickly picking up the principals
of "bringing the sun down to the horizon" was able to call "local noon" at 13:11
precisely - however, we elected to stay on Eastern Standard Time and not
adjust the ships clock! Deciding
to drop the hook in West Bay we crept cautiously in past the coral reefs
mid-afternoon - Di and Annelise acting as visual navigators on port and
starboard beams looking for any reef heads - and then to yet another crystal
clear water bay - this time without any sharks! So a swim and snorkel around the
boat to cool off was in order. As the sun set and darkness drew in the
beach hotel turned into a Mayan looking theme beachfront light up by every
colour light possible! Great for taking marks to check we were not dragging the
anchor!! A round or two of cards after dinner on deck finished off the evening
(although no competition points for the winner with the most wooden toothpicks
(not wanting to play with matches on the boat / there is a story in the
Spanish toothpicks for another time....!!). . Phil,
Di and
Annelise |