Crooked Islands, Bahamas

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Monday, June, 19, 2006, 08:44 UTC
Crooked Islands Bahamas

Stuart:Hi Folks,
Several of you probably thought I had fallen off the end of the flat earth. Not true! Mark (Pomerenke, captain and owner of Stray Cat) and I actually left West Palm Beach on June 7 and had a delightful sail across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas. We arrived to find winds right on the nose so sat and bobbed on the shallow Bahamas Banks for 2 days. Finally pushed on to Nassau where we spent a day getting groceries and boat things. Then moved on to nearby Rose Island where we met up with 2 of Mark's former students and good friends, Jan and Wes who live on a catamaran there. Spent 3 days hanging at this lovely spot doing boat work (mostly by Mark, snorkeling and 'hanging out'. Decided we really needed to get south to avoid the hurricanes (purpose of trip) so left next morning. Wind on the nose, really lumpy seas. Back to Nassau for a few more boat things then Rose Island for another night. Did manage to make it out the next day and worked south finally arriving at Georgetown on Great Exuma Island. Georgetown is the last metropolis in the southern Bahamas. By metropolis, I mean a small grocery store, 2 liquor stores, a bank, 2 small hotels (although a number of resorts now exist nearby and several new ones are being built), an outdoor t-shirt and souvenir stand, couple of small restaurants and a few various other shops. Truly typical Bahamas, but very different from the world we live in. Usually 3-400 boats here in the winter, but now you can count the number left on your fingers and toes. Everyone is running from the potential hurricanes. Spent the night anchored here, topped off with gas and odds and ends the next day and headed south. Have now entered the Atlantic and since there is no place to 'park' at night are continuing south. Have now reached Atkins Island, one of the most southern of the Bahamas and are anchored in a cove surrounded on 3 sides by white beaches with no people. Tomorrow we push off for the Turks and Caicos, our last stop before the Dominican Republic. Will continue with more of a description of what we are doing when I next get a chance. Hope this finds you all well.

Stuart