Thursday May 29th 2330 All right, every entry prior to this in this log excepting the first, is exactly 1 hour off due to Shelli's watch not faring the Bermuda Triangle crossing as well as we thought. We woke this morning to an orchestra of audio delights. Harmony being sea sick off the starboard bow, the Highbourne Cay Weather report on VHF channel 6, and best of all, the Second Wind will be joining us at Highbourne Cay!!Friday May 30th 1430 Highbourne Cay has to have the most beautiful beach on the planet! Let me back up. Before leaving Allens we went snorkeling, saw a 70 lb black grouper, couple lobster and a 4 foot nurse shark, and several conch, but no dive ladder, of which we lost yesterday. Then we left, made a direct approach navigating through Highbourne rocks. Safely found our anchorage pre-noonish. Dinghied to shore to replenish our fuel supplies, and hit the general store for conch salad items, more soda, and ice cream. After both were accomplished we walked the island and found a beautiful stretch of beach, so beautiful in fact we let our ice cream melt just to go swimming. Charlie and Ron went spearing and got a 40 lb black grouper while Sonny and Lisa invited us over for Lynchburg Lemonade. Thanks guys, Shelli's trashed! Party planned on the Mimi tonight with all boats providing a dish, we're going to make Spaghetti w/ venison sauce, and conch salad. Friday May 30th 1430 I will say dinner was delicious last night, we ate a 40 lb black grouper, spaghetti, and lots of other wonderful dishes that I can't remember. In fact the last thing I solidly remember is playing guitar on the Mimi, and drinking a lot of Jagermeister. Before that however I did manage to throw two fully cooked lobster tails over the side of the boat (we brought them with us frozen (no pouching here!!)) in the midst of a drunken stupor brought on by the Lynchburg Lemonade, thanks again Sonny and Lisa!! We've opted after listening to the Highbourne weather report not to head back until tomorrow. Winds are supposed to shift out of the south by southeast. Got to call someone and let them know before we head for Norman's Cay Friday May 30th 1430 Hello Norman's!!!! We left our Highbourne anchorage around 0900 or 0930, not quite sure. But if was shortly after Ron's missing wallet appeared. Glad to know I wasn't the only one that bad off last night! But we are at an anchorage inside the whale tail of Norman's just east of the pond. We took our opportunity of the prevailing westerly to sail along the eastern coast of Long Cay by Saddle Cay into our anchorage. Perfect condition to do so, the lee of the island blocked the waves while the wind just poured into us, filling our sails and carrying us to almost our hull speed of 6.03. Harmony kept yelling every time I was just about to get the port windows wet. At least her yelling was better than the sound of her being seasick. Charlie has taken the dinghy to find more conch and possibly some hogfish or grouper. Beef Jerky and Cheese Whiz isn't cutting it. |
Thursday May 29th 2330 All the essentials have been provided for. For every soul on board we have the daily rations of 2 gallons of fresh water, 3 cases of beer, and 7 bottles of liquor. Enough beer and liquor to assure us that we're going to be bringing back close to 2 gallons of water per day for each soul on board, and enough prison bologna( i.e. bologna you could possibly eat with a spoon if you must) to keep us in mystery meat for at least 3 days, beef jerky, and cheese whiz. All we need now, is cooperative weather…. which we are not getting at this point. Friday May 30th 1430 After a late start to getting underway, Jageritaville left AUTEC harbor approx. ˝ hour behind Mimi, and Second Wind. By the time we passed the green tripod marker to our starboard, indicating that we indeed were in deep enough water, we made the 45 degree starboard turn to head us 090 due east, where we were are to stay for at least the next 12 hours. Friday May 30th 1430 Just before sun up we lost sight of the Mimi and Second winds running lights. As the sun did come up we were still well in sight of their sails and masts, although it appeared that the vessel off our port was getting bigger. Thought we were gaining on them until the Second Wind radioed informing the other boats that she had lost her drive shaft and was going to have to return back to base Friday May 30th 1430 In changing fuel tanks we only lost ½ kt!!!! So we've opted to leave the motor off for a while to give us a break from the motor drone. Friday May 30th 1430 Captain Morgan makes lousy lighter fluid. As does, Jagermeister, Absinthe, and Jack Daniel's. This is only one of the lessons I learned today. Have slept 7 hours since 0730 Wednesday morn. Mere fatigue doesn't even begin to describe what my mind is going through. Let me try this though. We found our anchorage 1630ish, betwix the Mimi, and some non-descript cabin cruiser between Allens and Leaf Cays . After a triumphant approach to our anchorage, bringing a little bit of the ghetto AUTEC trailer park to the Exumas. Jager Flag flying high, right underneath the Bahamas flag, towels and other miscellany of clothes pinned to the lifelines to dry, yes, we were a sight. Upon trying to start a fire on our trusting Magma off-the-transom mounted grill, it became obvious that the propane wasn't flowing properly. Being the redundantly prepared captain that I am, I brought charcoal, but being the brain dead putz that I am I forgot the lighter fluid. Good thing for us that Charlie is a genius. We got to go ashore and see the lizards on Leaf Cay, Capt Ron of the Mimi demonstrated how bad their eyesight is by accidentally allowing one to latch onto his finger showing that it meant serious business. This was lesson number two. After checking out the Mimi thanks to her owners Jim and Tilly (beautiful boat BTW), Ron came over for shots of Jager. Which is where lesson three comes in, Jager is the only thing I have found that keeps the sleep deprived induced hallucinations at bay. |
Thursday May 29th 2330 We are at our 2nd Norman's Cay anchorage, between the ditched DC3 and the old Marina now. Although closer to the old marina than to the plane, it is still a beautiful view. Had a wonderful time fighting a 5-ft barracuda for our anchorage site. Friday May 30th 1430 Who knew you could engineer a gasoline powered week-wacker engine to a blender?!?! Not us!! But it seems the crazy kids at McDuff's did it, and did it well. After a pitcher of strawberry Daiquiris from the infernal machine, 3 Kaliks, and a cheeseburger, we stumbled back to the Jageritaville, I think we were singing….not sure. Once there, Ron and Christine and Kaya came over for shots of Jagermeister. The most enjoyable aspect of this trip has been the wonderful things I've learned from Ron Sylvester. Lizards bite, if you want to eat at McDuff's you have to radio ahead by 1500, and lastly, it seems that nipples grow back. Love the surfing story! Anyway, it's growing dark, at least I am, so let me finish this, gotta be up at first light to get a couple hours head start on the other boats so they stay in sight for the crossing back. Pray for southeasterlies!! Friday May 30th 1430 So much for
southeasterlies. After a very confused morning, we are about to
get underway. Highbourne weather is predicting westerlies 5-10
with gusts to 25 across squall lines. So be it. Friday May 30th 1430 In sight of AUTEC!!! We did it, now it's time for serious drinking!!!! Friday May 30th 1430 On our mooring safely and soundly at AUTEC!! We have two beers left so we're going to drink them before we go back to land. In reflection, our first crossing on the Jageritaville could've been better planned, but I've always said if you don't learn something every time you go sailing, you're either not very observant, or too arrogant to admit it. Apart from the lessons shared to us by Capt. Ron, I'm thinking next time I'll take more gas cans, more cheese whiz, more variety of music, and definitely not the Sean Paul CD, sorry Charlie.> |
| Tales
From Jageritaville: Exumas 2003 Exerts from Captains Log
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