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Date: 05 Mar 2012 14:45:23
Title: 24 08N 075 31W Cat Island
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We are tied up safely at Cat Island Marina. (Hawk's Nest) Even though all
our charts said there was a 6 foot LW controlling depth the marina people
assured us there was at least 7 feet. When the depth of our keel exceeds
the depth of the water we are surly aground. That's about 6.5 feet for us
without all this cursing gear on board. Our depth sounder has been sporadic
at best . I called in on the VHF one last time before entering the channel.
Another American boater called us afterward and assured he was able to get
his sail boat in fine.

Easy side to tie up. Lots of major league fishing boats in here. The
Autocrafter's fishing boat pulled in next to us and unloaded half a ton of
Mahi, gruper, snapper, and Wahoo. Matt was on the dock taking pictures.
Another page in our saltwater fishing education... wonder what this one is?
Do we eat it or will he eat us?

The marina people made a big deal out of us not having a cursing permit.
Our 2008 Bahamas pilot book said Cat Cay, Hawks nest marina was a port of
entry. But the marina said it was not. The customs guy came down to the
boat after it got real late on a Sunday night and proceed to ask $300 cash
for a cursing permit even after I explained we were just ducking in to avoid
the storm for a day or two and $75 for his overtime visit. I ended having
to go to the marina office/bar to put it on my credit card... the marina guy
only asked for an additional 5% cut... after that. The nearest ATM is 20
miles up a dirt road from here and the customs guy was only willing to drive
me to the marina. As we departed company the customs guy assured me it was
better to be tied up in the marina than to be out in what was coming. I
smiled and shook the hand of a master... I had been worked over fair and
square.


Bill is out trying to rent a car to avoid the $95 taxi ride to the airport.
He can't afford the time to wait for better weather and needs to return to
Michigan for a road commission meeting. Matt and I can use the car for the
rest of the 24 hours and do some looking around with it after that. I've
got to say they really understaind the concept of market pricing here in the
Bahamas... Greece could learn a few things here.

We are now trying to plot our course for Jacksonville from here. Go through
the coral head infested shallows of the Bahamas or sail outside the Islands
as we were doing before. Indecision may or may not be my problem... more
later.

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