Quick Update

Hellooooo !

Since we collected Gerda in Nassau, we have sailed to some of of the most wonderful places.
The day we were to meet up with Gerda, we woke to find the current had swung us around, the tide had gone out, and we were laying on our side. MMMMmmmm
and we still had to sail the 35 miles to Nassau from Allans Cay. So we were going to be late. We got to see the Allans Cay Iguanas again while we were waiting. (Had to just be cool about our boat laying on its side. You know this is how we anchor. Don' have to worry about the anchor dragging, do it all the time ). The Iguanas if I have not told you, Only live HERE on this tiny dried out spit of land. They are real curious creatures, and if you sit still will come to investigate up close. Eat berries and lettuce, very Nice!
Finally when the tide lifted us almost enough, with the help of some friendly sailors coming past in their dingy. With them pulling on one of the halyards while we gave full power, engine and full sails, and Alex and James digging round the keel with salad spoons, we managed to move off the sand bar and head for Nassau. My Poor little engine ran the whole day. We dropped anchor at 19:15 in Nassau, went ashore and set off to find the Airport. Gerda had been waiting for the last 2 hours. Lucky I had sent a email to warn her of our predicament. I had planned to just walk the 2 miles to the airport, which got many a raised eyebrow. It turned out that the Airport I was heading for closed down about 5 years ago. I got a taxi the 12 miles and found my wife :)She was happy not to have to walk back to the boat.
She had a huge bag (Just like Father Christmas, Full of wonderfull goodies, ...Fanbelts, Smarties, Undies, Iced ZOO cookies, XBox Games ...."Very Cool stuff")
The Peppermint Crisp box was however a little light. The Customs officials took a bribe to allow her in on a one way ticket.

After 3 nights in Nassau we sailed across to Eleuthera for a few great days. One night was very exciting. We were hanging on to the anchor while a thunderstorm raged. Lucky I threw out an extra anchor when the storm started. The wind switched 180 deg and was blowing 35 to 40 Kts straight onto the beach off which we anchored. Real close. Could have been a mess. A real beautiful beach. Salt Kettle Beach. Here there is a cliff to jump off, ans rope swings out of a cave which you have to swim into and then climb up to get to the hole from where you swing. Great place to play.

From Eleuthera we sailed up to The Great Abaco's. About 50 NM. All anchorages very protected from the ocean by the barrier islands. Quite busy in comparison to the southern Bahamas. We have stopped at Sandy Cay (FANTASTIC snorkling ), Man O War Cay, Great Guana Cay (Party Island, at Nippers, Green Turtle (super busy spot, there was a regatta on the go while we were there, Manjack, Allans Pensacola (very cool, and we got to hang a sign on the "Signing Tree"), Moraine, Big Carters (where we got stuck REAL WELL. Left a 100m long scar on a sand bar, then had to wait for high tide (again). When we had 0.2m clear at 02:00 we moved to where we would not end up on our side at the next low tide). Then on to Double Breasted Cay, and today Grand Cay.
Tomorrow we will get ourselves to Walker Cay for a couple of nights, hope to get in some diving before heading across to USA

What a Great Great Place (photo's when we get to USA ...OK )
Rob