Current Location: N 23 52.360, W 76 14.548
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Dodging a shower en route to Rudder Cut Cay |
We returned to George Town last Wednesday, March 18,
about the same time the Covid-19 pandemic
concerns started surfacing in the Bahamas. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis
put out a statement which sent a panic throughout the cruising community.
The statement was similar to the US guidelines
which essentially shut down communities, workers and social gathering, for the
reason of containing and stopping the spread of the virus.
Of concern to cruisers was that non-essential
travel would not be allowed.
The panic
grew when cruisers started contacting local government agencies and Nassau
authorities for interpretations of the statement then transmitting their gained
information across the cruisers VHF network, channel 68.
Discussion was also had through the cruisers
Facebook page. Of concern was that cruisers would not be able to leave.
Other interpretations revealed that if
cruisers left their current locations they would not be allowed to stop until
they exited Bahamian waters.
At this
time we believe we are free to travel, stop as needed but not participate in
gatherings, as social distancing is required here as well.
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Rudder Cut Cay, Topping out at 7.2 knots |
Marinas are closed, and water supplies are minimal.
We currently have about 110 gallons of water
and are sharing a solar shower bag of about 2 gallons nightly.
The two of us drink about 1 gallon per day,
combined.
We are washing dishes with
salt water.
We have about 40 gallons of
diesel which we are trying to preserve by strictly sailing.
(Today we sailed about 35 miles to Rudder Cut
Cay and motored about 5 miles into and out of the anchorages.) We can carry
fuel in jerry cans from gas stations if needed because gas stations are
essential and remain open; but few islands have gas stations.
The nearest
location for us to refill our water is Black Point Settlement, about 20 miles
to our north.
We have a large supply of
food, mostly canned goods and I’m eyeing a nice reef with fish.
We’re contemplating our return home but we’re
not sure of our fate in the US either.
Marinas are also closed along the way and the Covid-19 is much worse at
home with reports of Florida and Louisiana being hit hard. A trek down the ICW
would put us in both of those states for a number of days.
Further, we can almost isolate ourselves anchored
at uninhabited islands.
We are doing
very well but we miss our family and friends.
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Crossing a cat beating to wind |
Today we sailed to Rudder Cut Cay, as mentioned above,
about 40 miles north of George Town.
We
waited until 1000 to leave George Town in an effort to time our entry into
Rudder Cut with an incoming tide.
Rudder
Cut can be one of the most dangerous cuts onto the Bahamas Banks with an east
wind and outgoing tide.
The seas throughout most of the day were
6-8 feet with winds about 15-18 knots.
Fortunately, we were on a broad reach and a starboard tack, 120 degrees
off the bow.
Though it was pretty rough
it was not as bad as it sounds.
Pura
Vida handled it well though we had quite a sway, on her vertical axis, as she
rolled over and down each swell.
We
arrived at Rudder Cut near 1545, timing the tide perfectly.
Ruth has become quite the “salty” grandma and
has become immune to sea sickness.
Neither of us even considers it a possibility, anymore.
So yes, a person does get used to the
seas.
We were treated on the passage by seeing perhaps 100's of
flying fish in the Exuma Sound. I tried
very hard to take pictures of them but they are more elusive than turtles. At one time I held my camera in hand for an
hour. When I gave up and put it away
they started schooling… or perhaps flocking?
I did make one lame, late effort to capture them on my phone but to no
avail.
Rudder Cut Cay is one of the most beautiful islands we’ve
seen.
The water is crystal clear and the
anchorage is much protected though there is a current.
David Copperfield owns Rudder Cut Cay and 11
surrounding islands and apparently has a nice resort on nearby Musha Cay.
We made a special effort to come to Rudder Cut
Cay with my sister, Carol, in mind.
More
about that, next time.
A little down wind sway:
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