Bimini, Football and Ships in our Anchorage

Date: Sunday, Jan 12, 2020                          

Comments:  We continue to wait on the weather to make our next passage to Chub Cay or Nassau.  It’s looking like Wednesday is the most likely departure date.  Yesterday, we did more walking in Bimini, though we did have a gentleman tow us around on his rented golf cart.  He was looking for a replacement fuel cap and a spark plug for his outboard.  He apparently dropped the cap in the water and really just needed to gap his plug as it was completely closed.  Hopefully, we helped him as we made his rounds.  We also had conch salad at Stuart’s Conch Salad Stand, which was delicious, and bought bread at Charlie’s Bakery.  We returned to the boat and were visited by Menno and Val from Eyra for sundowners.  They are a wonderful couple, owners of the Lagoon 38 that we were invited aboard on Friday. 

Sunday Surprise

Today was a day of rest, or it was supposed to be.  We relaxed and completed a few minor tasks while awaiting the Texans game. We couldn’t find it on any wifi TV channels so we settled for the radio broadcast.  The Texans were leading 24-0 when everything went crazy for us and apparently them.  I heard Ruth shout, “oh my gosh,” then heard the loud blast of a ship.  I looked to starboard and couldn’t believe I was seeing a ship entering our little anchorage at the end of the Bimini Channel.  After several blasts and some maneuvering he approached maybe 75 feet off our bow, not far from where the anchor was dug in below.  We were not able to hoist the anchor as the ship was almost above it.  We immediately pulled the dinghy onto the davits and prepared to move.  After he docked, we contacted him via VHF for assurance that he was secured in place, then made our move.  When we were above our anchor, pulling it aboard, we were maybe 30 feet from the ship’s stern.  We moved within our anchorage but as far from him as possible as he stated he would be leaving at 0800 Monday morning.  The next thing we heard, the Texans were losing 27-24 and went on to lose pretty badly.  They must have collided with a passing ship. 

Tomorrow, it’s back to town to wash clothes, buy coconut bread, eat conch salad and secure fuel.