Crew Out, Weather In

Sunday, February was a sad day. Our able crew were jumping ship and heading back to Connecticut.

The main event of the morning was moving Django to a more sheltered dockside spot, since a front was descending on the Bahamas. Our new neighbours from the 67-foot gin palace Hanco, Sandy and John, assisted and invited us for drinks “whenever”. WW spent a lovely time fussing over the starboard engine with the local mechanic Alvin. The engine has shown a tendency to not start. We’d like that fixed.

Whit, Frisha and I took a walk around Victoria Pond, laid in a few more provisions and did more laundry. After lunch, we walked up the pier and said goodbye to our wonderful crew outside the Exuma Docking Services office. I was particularly sad to see them go since they’d done the lion’s share of the sailorly work while I just kept them fed. I think I’ll be expected to cleat a line or let go the jib halyard or something now they are gone.

We returned, sad and lonely without our messmates. I was at my desk (read: salon table) working on blog business when WW popped his head in to say Sandy and John had hailed him and invited us over. We had a very pleasant drink with them on their floating hotel…marble kitchen with dishwasher, washer and dryer, shower and full bathtub, air-conditioned master berth, two tenders, two kayaks, wide screen TV, sewing room, potted plants, short-haired Persian cat (shaved), etc. Gorgeous. But not really sailing.

We joined them and another couple, Brian and BJ, at the Peace and Plenty Inn for dinner. A good time was had by all. Then we went back to our boats to cast another concerned eye over our mooring arrangements. The blow was to start soon. We crept nervously to our berth to await whatever Nature had in store for us.