(see http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/winlink.cgi?KG4EYP for latest position)

The weather's still crummy. More on the principle of the thing than anything else, we went snorkeling on the reefs between Rat Cay and Children's Bay Cay; not much structure, strong current, poor visibility, and no sunshine. I think Steve and Sue think we're lying about the wonderful snorkeling here. (Britt thinks a lousy day snorkeling is better than a good day sitting on the boat and reading. I think that a lousy day snorkeling is a lousy day!)

On the other hand, the clouds and drizzle have made land-based exertion more pleasant. We anchored at Lee Stocking Island and led an expedition up Perry's Peak, the highest peak in the Exuma island chain at a breathtaking 123 ft. We also took a trail across the island and collected coconuts; Britt showed off his "John Elway technique", throwing a fallen nut at a likely cluster of ripe nuts on a tree, warning us that it usually didn't work - and we all had to jump back as the shower of coconuts
came down.

Up until last night, we've been having only light wind, except in squalls. The sailing has been excellent, the seas fairly flat. On the other hand, a few nights ago while at Lee Stocking Island we were slammed by a squall which brought strong winds from the south - the only direction we had no protection from. (And it hit at 2 am, of course!) We bounced around miserably for about an hour, but as soon as the wind died down, the waves did too, and we all went back to sleep.

But last night, shortly after we returned to Windom from a group dinner aboard Asolare, who joined us here at Musha Cay yesterday, the wind started piping up, and it's supposed to get nasty. (No surprise.) It's blowing 25-30 knots out there this morning, whistling in the rigging like Halloween ghosts. By tomorrow we might have 30 knots steady. The flip side is that the strong winds should suppress the squalls, so we at least know what direction we'll be get hit with, but it's still not going to
be a lot of fun trying to get anywhere. And the sky is still cloudy.

At least we're positioned where we can get to Staniel Cay (where Steve and Sue will fly out) without going out into the deep water of Exuma Sound, so we'll be dealing only with banks chop instead of big waves. And the fishing has been improving - Steve reeled in a (whole, un-barracuda-chomped) mackerel yesterday, and Britt speared a mutton snapper during yesterday's snorkeling expedition.

So we'll be edging north slowly, snorkeling, fishing, and island walking as we go. We had been hoping to spend the end of our Bahamas time at the far northern Exumas and the Berry Islands, but the weather has to be more settled to make that fun. On the other hand, we're not going to be able to cross the Gulf Stream and head north unless the weather improves, too. We'll see what happens.
- posted by S/V Windom @ 5/23/2007 [link]