Great Harbor
Sunday, 09 April 2017
I hate to admit it, especially after really looking forward
to the hype, but we were a bit disappointed in Great Harbor.
We arrived second, behind Miss Piggy. She was already anchored at Rat Cay, near the
Government Docks when we pulled in.
There were 5 other sailboats anchored outside the main harbor. We could have gone in to Great Harbor Marina,
but decided we didn’t want to spend the money.
So we found a place to drop anchor about 100 yards south of Miss Piggy. Anchoring went easily, and we were sitting in
10 or so feet of water, but for safety sake, I still ran 125’ of chain out, and
felt comfortable with the hook in place.
We were tired, so we just fixed dinner, started the
generator, and watched a movie, then retired from a long day in 3-4’s on the
nose about 2030 (8:30pm).
Monday, 10 April 2017
I was up at 0630, put coffee on, and tuned the Single Side
Band to listen to Chris Parker Weather at 0640.
We were grateful for being in place, as winds and sea-state were going
to be high for the two day crossing to Nassau, on New Providence Island. We had some minor repairs to accomplish, so
we didn’t get off the boat until about 1030.
We drove the dinghy over to Government Docks then on over to the cut
channel into Great Harbor looking for the marina. There were two sailboats anchored inside the channel,
but it looked as though it would be crowded to add any additional boats
there. We found the marina, and tied to
one of the few ladders. The water level
required a 4 foot climb to the docks.
As we were walking down the docks, we had noticed a Crealock
37 from Kemah, Texas (our home port). We
knocked on the boat and the owners came out.
We announced we were from Kemah!
They announced they weren’t, and they were from Austin. They had bought the boat in North Carolina,
and rather than redoing the hull to reflect Austin, they chose to just keep
Kemah. We were disappointed, but immediately, heard someone call, “Jon and Renne’!” It turns out we ran into John and Wendy from
TMCA. We don’t know them well, but they
had attended our presentation on our trip to CUBA a year ago this month. We talked with them for 15 or 20 minutes
getting reacquainted. You JUST NEVER
KNOW where you will find people you know.
We were starting to get hungry, so inquiring on the docks
for someplace to eat, we were given directions to the East side of the cay to
The New Beach Club. We were told it
would be a 15 or so minute walk. It
turned out to be 1-1/2 miles up and down a few hills. We ended up getting a ride in a pickup for
the last 150 yards. Wish it had been
farther!! But we needed the exercise
anyway. So we ordered drinks and lunch,
and left two hours later. No credit
cards are accepted, so we were grateful we had the $53 in our pocket that lunch
cost us. A cheeseburger and three beers
for me, a piece of grilled fish and some veggies and a mixed drink for
Renne’. What an expensive LUNCH!! Renne’ knows no strangers in the world, and
Laura, from the States, gave us a ride back to the marina.
On our run out to the boat, we ran aground, and tore up the
prop to our 15hp Yamaha engine. What
happened to shear pins???? Without them,
when you run aground, you tear up the pressed rubber and bonze core, and you
have to replace the prop!!!
ARGHHHH!! So fortunately, with a
little throttle, we were still able to make some way, so we made it back to the
boat. I just took us a while!
Dinner back aboard JonNe’ was excellent, but the shroud of
what we were going to do on Tuesday to get in to Great Harbor was on my mind.
Tuesday, 11 April 2017
Others were having some issues aboard their boats, and
weather reports showed Wednesday and Thursday the best to make the transit to
Nassau, so we were able to get a dinghy ride in from our friends, Scott, Annie,
and Val. I was hunting a new prop!! So with two hundred in cash in our pockets,
Renne’ and I were off to Great Harbor again.
We had purchased a brand new Uniden Hand Held radio from Amazon before
we left Key West. It was on my belt when
we got to the marina. Same ladder, same
four feet climb, and as I was getting off the dinghy, the radio on my belt got caught in the
painter (line from the dinghy for tie up), and flipped in to 10 feet of
water! Sometimes you wonder when it will
end!!! So we went searching for someone
to recover it. A local store manager,
Elorn, arranged for the diver, and arranged for someone to bring over a used
prop. $20 for Elorn for the favor, $20
to the diver, and $60 for a badly worn, corroded, chipped and bent prop, and
four hours later we were on our way back to the boat!!! Ah the life of cruisers!!!!
On our way back, we had joined Terry and John Hagerty, from
Scimitar, and of course, Scott, Annie, and Val, and decided to return to
Government Dock to find a restaurant they had heard about. What a huge surprise!!! Delicious huge lobster for Renne’ ($15), two
huge pork chops for Jon ($10) and two beers and a mixed drink for Renne, and we
were out of there for a total of $46 including tax and gratuity!! Pretty cool!
But that was all we got to see of Great Harbor!
Pictures when we get to free internet somewhere!!!!!
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