Georgetown, Bahamas

Chapter 12.

Homeward bound. Sail back to Luperon from Samana was an absolute delight. For 2 days we have the Trades and seas at our backs and at times the boat is surfing at up to 13 knots. Mark actually catches a fish as we approach Luperon. Believe it or not, this is the first fish we have caught even though we have been trolling lines since leaving Fl. We had hoped to supplement our food stocks with fresh fish. If we had really counted on this, we probably would have starved. Mark cooks it (mackerel) to perfection on the grill and we celebrate our ineptitude as fishermen with our first (and so far only) non-restaurant fish dinner. Spend the following day with 2 of our friends from one of the boats that came to Dominica with us and get everything ready for leaving in the morning.

Leave Luperon about 9 the following morning and 53 hours and 375 miles later arrive (Tues. 9/5) in Georgetown, Great Exuma, Bahamas. Absolutely wonderful sailing. First day, Trades were blowing around 20 mph and we logged about 175 miles with speeds consistently in the 9-10 knot range. This is cookin' for a sailboat not designed as a racer. Caught our 2nd fish as we entered the Bahamas, but as it was a barracuda, no fish dinner tonight. For anyone contemplating this kind of sailing, a large catamaran like Stray Cat is hard to beat since we are sailing 'flat' all the time and the physical fatigue that one finds in a monohull from holding on constantly, doesn't occur. The trip is too short to get on regular sleeping schedules, so we are tired and will spend the night at Georgetown before pushing off in the morning for the next leg to Miami.
Stuart