Allure was launched again 2 weeks ago but between boat work, weather and helping other cruisers.....just finally getting "underway" today. Heading to Marsh Harbour from Green Turtle Cay.....will see if The Whale has settled down enough to pass S
Not many pics as only really starting out today
http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4593.0
Really like that cream colored hull with white top side.
Have a safe passage.
skip.
Thanks Skip. Get a lot of compliments....the cream and burgandy seem to go well together.
Finally more "on the move" cruising. The "Jib Room" here in Marsh Harbour has weds night ribs and Sat. night steaks. Awesome food, "rake and scrape" music after complete with limbo. Fun night....lots of cruisers and best of all....I'm only slightly hung over :-)
Pics and updates http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4593.0
Left Marsh Harbour and sailed to Hope Town Elbow Cay. Favourable wind to anchor out front and save mooring ball fees "inside". I love this place!! A group of us split on golf cart rentals and did a "teenie tiny tavern tour" yesterday. Doubt any of us have laughed as much in a while. Big night tonight.....bingo at "Capt. Jack's" :-)
pics :
http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4593.0
Thanks for the update/pics Frank!
Looks like you know how to live!
C.C.
Nice sail to Lynyard Cay yesterday
Off to Little harbour shortly
BEAUTIFUL water!!!
pics http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4593.0
High winds the last few days and looks like right through to Sunday so I took a mooring ball in Black Sound, Green Turtle Cay. Black sound is a short walk to the funky lil hamlet of New Plymouth.
Posted a few picture updates as well as a battery/solar system update at
http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4593.msg51180#new
Hoping to get back moving next week
The winds finally settled, sun came out and temps went up so a few boats took a slow sail up to manjack to walk the beachs .
Simply beautiful day!!! Made the cool n windy ones worthwhile.
A couple of the girls even got to play with a stingray
Later...we all gathered for a pork chop grill and drinks at sundown
pics:
http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4593.0
This winter has been multiple fronts that have made the passage S difficult with very short weather windows.
We've put the Exumas on "hold"
After leaving Little Harbour at the S end of the Abacos, we've been working our way N.
Currently at Allens Pensacola Cay and will sail to Grand Cay tomorrow.
I haven't been to Double Breated Cays or Walkers Cay since 2004 so it will be fun to visit again.
The stop at Grand Cay will be a 1st for me so I'm looking forward to checking it out.
Should be a nice broad reach all the way tomorrow and sun!!
Updates: http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4593.0
The girls found this beach combing today
Basket ball sized....thick "skin"....leather like...the IPad actually co operated
Once peeled back...inside is a pinkish, flesh like 'thing'
Looks and feels like an "organ" of sorts.... too wierd...
anyone ever seen one or know what it is?
Several of us have been cruising for many years and are stumped
PS...the IPad actually co-operated and let me attach the pic!
(http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4593.0;attach=6351;image)
http://www.spongeguide.org/index.php
Its hard to tell from just the photo and brief description, but the website above has a key to Caribbean sponges (Phylum Porifera), and that's my guess. Click on the button on the right. Keep in mind, it may be a decayed specimen of a deep-water species, washed up on the beach, so it may have little resemblance to the living animal, and it may not be familiar to beachcombers or snorkelers. Good luck.
It also might be a colonial ascidian, a form of tiny sea squirt that comes in clumps of many individuals. Does it have a holdfast or attachment? Is it grainy or gritty in internal structure, or does it have a multicellular appearance to it? Does it have internal channels and passages, or is it a solid mass of tissue. Does it have anything that looks like differentiated internal organs? Or is it a solid mass of tissue? Did it appear fresh, or decomposed? Some of these critters look very different when they start to rot, compared to the appearance when fresh or alive.
It reminds me a bit of the N. Pacific Gumboot Chiton, although that is a mollusc (even if it certainly doesn't look like one).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumboot_chiton
I know what it is... it's a gumball. It probably came off of one of those container ships bound for Texas where things tend to be larger.
Yeah. But remember the old bumper sticker:
"Once you've seen California, every place else looks like Texas."
Saw something like it in an old Steve McQueen movie.
C.C.
That is so KooL! We just purchased a Com Pac 19 and are moving from Texas to Florida and can't wait to start sailing the Keys and Bahamas. We will be following your adventure and taking notes. All the very best.
OK.....the "egg" mystery....
It was too weird....
Thick leather like skin you could peel back, totally detached from the "sack" inside. The sack was pink and had an outer, semi transparent "skin" on it. You could push in on the inner sack and it was soft....but not too soft.
It all looked and felt too wierd.
We took it to other boaters, several have been cruising for many years. No one knew what it was. Jokes of sea monster eggs and alien beings kept keeping into the conversation.
After a day of curiosity and looking on the net, we were no further ahead..
An autopsy was performed.....
This is what a Water Mellon looks like after being in sea water for a while :o
Must have fallen off a cruise ship and washed up ashore....
Mystery solved. ;D
PS......the 19 would be awesome over here. The shallow draft would allow you to tuck into so many places when fronts move through. You'd have a hoot!
Awesome beach day today complete with a momma Ray and lil one...
http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4593.0
The Ray's from yesterday
(http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4593.0;attach=6379;image)
(http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4593.0;attach=6375;image)
I almost saw a ray yesterday.... a ray of sun, that is.
However, it clouded over quickly, and no rays were seen.
Do you think you can send some of the sun rays up north?
:)
The adventure continues...
Just got through 2 high wind days at anchor and headed back SE again.
Some good shots and updates :
http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4593.0
Some a bit embarrassing.....
(http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4593.0;attach=6402;image)finally a friend took some "under sail" pics of Allure
Had just left Allens Pensacola (back ground) and sailing to Manjack
Making 4.8 to mid 5's on a close reach
(http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4593.0;attach=6407;image)
Currently back at Allens-Pensacola Cay. Several friends leaving from here early week to head back over to Florida. Always a bit sad doing the good byes. It's been awesome sunset after awesome sunset lately. I'll be heading back S on Monday.
(http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4593.0;attach=6417;image)
"Allure" at anchor tonight.
It's been almost 3 months aboard and loving it. The 27 is a great cruiser for the Bahamas! Very happy with Allure, probably even happier than last year. It truly is a good design for shallow water cruising like the Florida Keys or anywhere in the Bahamas.
It's been a great winter of island hopping. Still 4 weeks to haul out.
Updates:
http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4593.0
I have to say, as anyone who's been "out there" will confirm....it is the people you meet that make it truly special!!
Sailed back to Green turtle this morning. Was pleasantly greeted as a "local" by the staff at my fave lil 5 stool breakfast place.
Went to Sun Downers for happy hour (my favorite lil ratty bar) was greeted and hugged by the owners and several regulars.
Got a cart ride to "Pine Apples" to see the local singer play n sing. Endless people stopped at the table to catch up.
There truly IS a sense of community out here!
Cruisers do unite and support each other.
Strong friendships are formed.
All unique characters .... all good people...
The common bond of "cruising" does unite!
Money, job status, size of boat etc means nothing.....
What matters is you are there to have fun, share experiences and help each other when needed.
If you can....do an extended cruise
You will not want to leave.....
Last day "floating"...
Haul out tomorrow at 9am.
A bit depressed, but it has been an awesome winter. Allure has taken me from literally one end of the Abacos to the other stopping at almost every point in between.
I'm actually looking forward to being home, feeding the deer and yard work.
There is something about "home"...
In late June my ole trailersailing buddy Rick will meet me at Lake Champlain.
Will be fun to explore it on our little cat boats for 9 days.
I'm sitting here, looking out from the town dock over the Sea of Abaco, the sleepy little hamlet of New Plymouth behind me, thinking how different both the view and "life" will be shortly.
I guess that's what makes it so special Upon returning.....
Back home
Life sure was simpler on the boat....
Allure is stripped, waxed, oil changed, bottom painted etc and ready to go on my return.
The 27 truly is a great cruiser! Just a few days short of 4mths aboard and still love the boat.
The Abacos are SO attainable for any east coaster. If Ya can.....get over there. Even a 19 would do fine!
A few random pics from last winter
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