Marooned in paradise

The third cold front in a week is still with us. The last one has been the 'mother (or father) of cold fronts', with gale force winds and high temperatures only in the low sixties. However, we feel very lucky that we have been safely tucked in at our dock at lovely Sampson Cay Marina. The marina has been full for a week now with all boats 'sticking', and many boats on the waiting list. There's a good group of stranded sailors here - and there are also some very nice powerboaters! We've had some good get-togethers either at the restaurant or the gazebo. Bill and I do our daily walk to the south beach which looks out over Fowl Cay. It is usually sheltered from the prevailing west and northwesterly winds and one day it was actually warm enough to snorkel! We have nurse sharks and rays swimming under our boat (that's why we don't swim right here!) and there's always lots going on. We've taken some dinghy rides to Staniel Cay and to Pipe Creek and Compass Cay, and come across other sailors we've met at other ports-of-call en route. Staniel Cay is an interesting settlement consisting of both local and vacation properties, a beach bar/restaurant called the Yacht Club, and three grocery stores - the Pink Store, the Blue Store and the Isles General Store. These stores get mobbed when the freighter arrives with fresh provisions! There is also an airport on the Cay. We took a look at the Thunderball Grotto in Staniel Cay harbour, featured in an early James Bond film, but it was a little cool to get in the water and swim into it. (When other sailing friends mentioned bringing their wet suits on their Bahamas trip we laughed at the thought - but now we don't!)
Tomorrow will be 'moving on day' for us and the majority of boats that have been stuck on anchors, mooring balls or at ports during the past week or so. We will move south about 18 miles to Little Farmers' Cay together with Sue and Bruce on 'Andiamo'. We've already booked our moorings with 'Ocean Cabins'. Then, on Saturday, we'll make the final run south in Exuma Sound to Georgetown. The Georgetown Regatta is in full swing, so we are looking forward to getting into the swing of all the activities that take place at this time. We have been given a four, or maybe even five day weather window (no winds above 20 knots and even some blessed easterlies!) - such a luxury ....and a relief!