The Berry's to Nassau

12 April, 2017

We departed Great Harbor after waiting out the weather.  We headed southwest on the Great Bahama Bank for the Northwest Channel leading into the Tongue of the Ocean.  We continue to fight the Northeasterly winds at 20+ kts.  Once enroute, as the winds were on our stern, we set the jib and stays’l and actually ran with the wind Wing-on-Wing!  Wow!  We were running downwind at 6.2kts.  Wing-on-Wing is when the jib is one one side of the bow, and the stays’l is on the other.  Neither of us has ever experienced the speed nor the length of time we were able to sail in this capacity.  It was pretty awesome to say the least!

As morning clocked into early afternoon, we made the turn through the Northwest Channel.  The seas were becoming very lumpy as we moved from 20 foot depths to 1,000+feet.  I would have expected the period between waves to have lengthened as we got deeper, but that never happened. 

It was just a constant banging into the waves.  It was not a comfortable ride.

An hour after passing through the Northwest Channel, the fuel filter clogged, and the engine shut down.  We set the jib to maintain any speed.  I am quite comfortable changing this filter, but chose to change the fuel tank feeding the engine.  There are two valves for each of the three fuel tanks.  One is the fuel feed to the fuel filter and on to both the engine and the generator.  The second valve is for the return fuel line.  Diesels do not burn all of the fuel fed to them, so the excess fuel is returned to the same fuel tank.  I chose the port tank to replace the center tank, but the return valve handle had frozen in place, and could not be moved by hand.  Actually the handle was so corroded, the handle actually bent when I tried to move it.  I have known these return valves needed to be changed, but I wasn’t going to attempt it any time soon.  With both the starboard and center tanks available, I figured I would just let the port one rest.   So I chose the use the starboard tank, and we were off again under power and sail.

We arrived at Chubb Cay at about 1600 (4:00pm).  Hurricane Matthew last year took out the marina there, and still has not been repaired.  The only structure for the marina operating is the fueling dock.  We anchored outside the marina and just to the east of the channel going into the marina.  It took 7-8 attempts before we were able to get a moderately stable anchorage.  Miss Piggy ventured to the other side of the island, and ran up Frazier Hog Cay and took a mooring ball.  Flynnigan’s Wake followed them, but was limping in because of an engine issue.  They had also broken a chain plate on the port side. Sailing for them was not an option.  They arrived just as dark came, and Bill and Harriet (Miss Piggy) met them in the dinghy to assist tying onto the mooring ball.

13 April, 2017

We weighed anchor at 0710, winds were 16kts, but the forecast was for an increase in wind speed.  When we set the mains’l, we took in a reef and shortened the sail to prevent overpowering the boat.  We were glad that occurred.  We were met with 3-5’ seas all of the way into Nassau.  I threw out a green and white lure, simulating a mahi, however, in three hours we didn’t chatch anything.  John and Terry caught two mahi, so we changed to a frozen ballyhoo, and within the hour, landed a 42” Mahi.  What a beautiful fish!  I fileted the fish on the deck.  It is a narrow area, and consequently, I could not do the finest job.  But that is my excuse, and I am sticking to it!!

We arrived at Nassau Harbor Club Marina and having made reservations for the five boats, we docked in slips assigned to us.  We were fortunate to find a marina that could take all of us.  This is a pretty busy place.  As there was weather continuing to build, we all wanted to be in safe and sound.

So we will be here until after Easter, so come down to the docks while we are hear and share some “Dark and Stormy’s”.  In the meantime, we hope you are doing well!!