PASSAGE to the BAHAMAS: First Leg

[Will post pics when connection allows.]

Some miscommunication with the local authorities delayed our departure from Puerto Bahia Marina in Samaná,  DR by two hours.  It was a Monday morning and when they finally showed up for work they were full of smiles and cordial apologies.  We kept our last necessary interaction with them curt, yet polite because we just want to get going.

With the wind and waves on Exit Strategy's nose, it took four hours to motor out of the bay and up around the point of Cabo Samaná.   Near the point we encountered one fisherman after another whose small motor boats bobbed into and out of view in the 7-9 foot ocean swells.  It is inconceivable  the conditions those men toil through on most fays of the week.  We spotted a couple of humpback whales that surfaced without acrobatics within sixty feet of our boat.

[BTW- Our electronic charts indicate that there is a MARINA at Cabo Samaná.  We saw an extraordinarily rough, rocky coast with huge breaking waves there- NOT a likely spot for a marina facility. But we could imagine a boat GRAVEYARD at that location.]

Since the motor was running, Danny turned on the water maker to replenish our fresh water supply.  Sailing conditions were perfect once we clear the turbulent seas around Cabo Samaná,  so the engine and water maker were shut down.  We cruised comfortably averaging around seven knots with a single reef in the main. That night we sailed under a full moon making our watches quite pleasant.

The next morning I woke to that magnificent aroma of freshly brewed coffee and another sunny day in paradise. In hopes of offering the "Catch of the Day" on our dinner menu, I set out a fishing rod.  An hour or so later after no action (from fish) it was time to change the lure.  When I attempted to rinse the salt water from the  first lure at the sink, no water came out of the tap.  I checked the water tank monitor and it read "0%" full.  Regretfully,  I informed the Captain.

He went straight to the hot water tank locker and found a broken whale fitting.  (Yes, that's what the Captain says those plumbing connections are called.) To make a long rant short and socially acceptable, he said, " I was waiting for one of those to wear out!"

My immediate thought was, Why don't you just schedule  changes on those connections to avoid flooding the bilge with 55 gallons of good water!!!

Fortunately,  the Captain keeps a huge supply of whale fittings in all shapes that are suitable for Exit Strategy's needs. He set about the repair task and, as luck would have it, a short while later the wind died.  The engine and the water maker were fired up again.

That afternoon we anchored off of Big Sand Cay (aptly named as there is nothing else there) in the Turks and Caicos to rest for the night.   We ate supper- without any "Catch of the Day"- AFTER thoroughly sopping and sucking up most of the water from the bilge.  I timidly made the suggestion to put this plumbing item on the maintenance schedule.  (Time will tell. )

We're SO glad this didn't happen when guests were on board.  It doesn't bode well when landlubbers see water under the floor boards.