MARCH 1, 2009 “MAN OVERBOARD!”

PICS
*ADMIRAL NANCY ON STERN
*READY TO SNAG MOORING LINE
*BOW TIE-UP AFTER M.O.B. DRILL
*SUMMER BREEZE FROM FLO'S
*FLO’S, FLO’S DOCK, & SUMMER BREEZE
SORRY! WRONG! I MEAN “NAN OVERBOARD!” (details upcoming)
Well, the winds & weather didn’t cooperate for our next planned venture eastward from Nassau to Eleuthera. After six expensive nights at dock in the Nassau Harbor Club marina, we had to make a quick strategical decision to head north for the Berry Islands riding the breezes of yet another clocking coldfront approaching this weekend. We had sorta wasted almost a week in Nassau, after the macerator replacement, waiting for a window opportunity to head east to Eleuthera; however, the strong east winds off of the Atlantic were persistent, giving us no chance to do so. We actually had a fun time playing around Nassau, then a couple of days ago word spread that another norther was about to hit Florida. Come on! Temps in the thirties?!? It’s March already; what’s with that? So, rather that get trapped longer in Nassau paying dockage fees, we decided to forget Eleuthera and to beat the norther to Flo’s on Little Harbor Cay in the Berrys. We payed up, had our last hot chocolate at the Starbucks across the street where we could use their wifi for free, and hauled anchor (pun intended) for Flo’s. We had a very pleasant 40 mile crossing of the deep water yesterday (Satur) riding the big swells coming into the Bahamas directly off of the Atlantic. We anchored behind Cabbage Cay in the Berrys for the night. It would have been nice sailing right on into Flo’s little protected cove upon arrival, however, the entrance channel is too shallow for us except at high tide. We draw four feet; high tide gives us about a foot or so of clearance, so timing is critical. The rest of the time, the channel is only about 2 feet deep. This morning (Sunday), we hailed Chester & Flo on the VHF and Chester talked us in through the meandering channel up into their cove and the small mooring area. That’s when the fun started.
(quote from the Official Ships Log)
“In a superb example of seamanship and unselfishness, while attempting to snag the mooring line with her trusty boathook, Admiral Nancy bravely and without hesitation launched her fully-clothed body off the stern of the good vessel Summer Breeze into the crystal clear, but somewhat shark-infested waters of Flo’s Little Harbor Channel. There’s no personal sacrifice too great for that crewmate of mine!”
What a gal. What an Admiral. What an inspiration to us all!!!!
In retrospect it’s a wonder she didn’t drown, sputtering and laughing, with her mouth open and that big smile on her face as she popped up. Now that’s a new move! We normally, and rather proudly, have this great teamwork procedure for securing a mooring off of the stern rather that grabbing it up on the bow. We’re pretty smooth at it . . . normally. However, Flo’s mooring line turned out to be an unusually large & heavy rope that proved a little unwieldy for both of us. As I’m trying to ease the boat up beside the ball, I hear this big splash behind me. My crew had abandoned ship! Looking back over my shoulder, I see this big grinning face bobbing about ten feet behind the boat; she’s adjusting her glasses and looking for her visor which is only seconds away from sleeping with the fishes. It’s obvious that she’s OK, so I immediately accuse her of “just looking for any excuse to take a hot shower.” She grabs hold of the trailing dinghy while I proceed to spin a donut in the narrow channel in preparation for another try at the mooring. Halfway through the tight 360, I hear this semi-serious yell “Jim, you’re pulling my pants off!” Sure enough, the combination of the fast moving current and boat speed is substantial enough to almost “de-pants” my lovely bride. I couldn’t help but think at this point . . . boy, if Chester & Flo have a video camera going of this fiasco, I’m making popcorn for the showing tonight. Fortunately, I’m able to snag the mooring from the bow like we should have done in the first place. Five minutes later . . . Yep, the Admiral is taking a hot shower.