In Marsh Harbour
AJAYA'S CRUISE
Phil & Nikki Hoskins
Wed 10 Feb 2010 15:12
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We are, to coin a phrase, 'between guests' and so
Marsh Harbour has become home since Steve and Sheila left to fly back to chilly
Blighty. Since then nothing too out of the ordinary has happened, although Phil
has now had a hair cut, but this requires very close scrutiny to appreciate
the talents of Nikki's haircutting abilities. However, the
sweepings from the cockpit floor could have made an impressive hairpiece for
someone folically challenged. The only other significant event came last Friday
when we took Ajaya out in 20+ knots of wind over to Great Guana Cay and back
just for the sheer hell of it - and also to empty the waste tank which was
uncomfortably close to becoming full. We sailed the 15 miles there and
back with the log rarely falling below 7 knots, so the old girl can still lift
her skirts and fly when the conditions are right. It was just a pity that on the
way back there was an extremely loud bang and the clew outhaul slider
parted company with the clew fitting leaving us with a small repair to undertake
once the winds have finally calmed down. Fortunately No 2 has already calmed
down, but I was in a whole heap of trouble when the fitting went! She does
not like to hear loud bangs when we are sailing.
The massive storm that has ravaged the east coast
USA bringing chaotic snow conditions to Washington, Maryland and Virginia (all
places we sweltered in last summer) has kept us bucking at anchor in Marsh
for the last 2 days. In fact it's been so lumpy in the anchorage that we've had
calmer days crossing the Atlantic. But not to worry, the Bahamas weather is
rarely the same for too long at this time of the year. The Americans certainly
aren't worried either as it was Superbowl Sunday and just about every
eating and drinking establishment in the islands was showing the big game on
high definition TV on massive 50" plasma screens so that those tight
padded pants that American football players wear can be
appreciated in minute detail.
If American Football doesn't appeal - and we still
don't understand the rules yet, then the game of Pickleball is offered by the
cruising community as a means of reducing some of the excess weight caused by
sitting at anchor for days on end scoffing locally made cakes and buns. We have
yet to take up the challenge of Pickleball (apparently named after a dog if you
'Wiki' it, but this coming Tuesday may see us presenting ourselves for selection
over at Abaco Beach Resort to make complete idiots of ourselves for a couple of
hours. Then if we run out of reading material there is always Buck-a Book, a
local charity that collects money to support the extremely rare wild horses of
the Abaco of which only a few remain. These are thought to be descendants
of the horses native American Indians used, as did the Pony Express according to
a web site we have looked at. Must admit there is a familiarity to the horses
the Apaches were seen to be riding around on in the Wild West. They
were apparently brought over in the 16th century and are of the Spanish Barb
breed.
We are now in Harbour View Marina to give the
boat a clean, deal with a ton of laundry and have a decent shower. Can't be
smelling like polecats for family next Wednesday when we welcome Ray and
Chris.
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