We are on our way to the Exumas after a wonderful layover day in Royal Island. The sun is shining, the temperatures are climbing and we are motor sailing in the mid to high six knot range....all is well on the good ship Celebrian.
We left Marsh Harbour on Thursday afternoon and made our way down to Lynyard Cay. Friday morning we were on our way as the sun rose over the Atlantic ocean. The passage to Eleuthera is about 50 open ocean miles. We had one of our best sails down with speeds in the 7 plus knot range; however we were sailing closer to the wind than normal and were heeling in the 15 plus degree range. I prefer sailing with less heel but we were safe and making great time. With the old yankee sail we would not have been sailing anything as well so it was a good purchase and Celebrian is sailing like she is a young girl again!? First Edition will be impressed when she sees how spry Celebrian has become. We arrived to a Royal Island anchorage with no other cruising boats and that is after sailing down alone. Usually Royal Island is a popular anchorage with upwards to 30 boats but we spent two nights anchored with nary another cruising boat. Maybe everyone wanted a livlier New Year's eve? Afer our boisterous sail down we were both done by 8:30 and didn't even manage to stay awake to what we call sailor's midnight (9:00pm)!?! After a good 10 hour snooze we welcomed the new year by spending a lovely day at rest. We paddled the north end of the anchorage and found a small beach to get on shore. The island is supposed to be part of a huge development of new homes; however it would seem that things are on hold and the only activity we have seen is the odd security person coming and going by small boat. We walked the north part of the island and found an area that was cleared of scrub for a golf course. The first year that we stopped here there was some activity but over the last couple of years development has ceased.
I had my first dip in the sea before showers and I found it a little cool...barely 20 degrees/not quite 70. Here is hoping that the water in The Exumas is warmer? We enjoyed our turkey so much for Christmas dinner that we decided to do it again for New Years and once again we enjoyed a delicious feast of turkey with all the trimmings. It is a little more challenging in the galley with every pot brought into service and keeping an eye on an oven that likes to either go out from time to time or climb higher and higher in temperature but it is all worth it when you have a scrumptious meal to enjoy.
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