SV-Baila: Wrapping up the Bahamas

Before getting into the meat of the blog, I need to cathartically relay what I just heard during lunch. While discussing a friend's recent spring break vacation to Hawaii, Isabelle remarked, "Why don't we ever do a big vacation like that?" I just blinked a couple of times as my brain short-circuited.

Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas

With mixed emotions we begin to wrap up our time in the Bahamas as we await favorable weather for crossing back to US waters. These past few weeks in the Abacos have been great, but very different from cruising in the Exumas. After spending nearly two weeks in Hope Town enjoying the company of the great families we met there, we bounced around to various anchorages for a bit until we again met up with dorenavent at Man-O-War Cay. As has been the running theme throughout our time in the Bahamas, we needed to figure our where to hide from an incoming cold front. We found an isolated anchorage that provided decent protection. Below is the forecast screenshot from that day. For our non-boating blog readers, a typical reaction to this kind of forecast might involve vulgar four letter words (hint: not Falk), tightened (or overly-relaxed) sphincter tone, resultant cleaning from this overly-relaxed sphincter tone, and finally some eagle-scout worthy boat preparation. Kidding aside, this was one of those forecasts to be taken more seriously. There's always a margin of error and better to be prepared for worse than predicted conditions. Some of this preparation involves:

making sure the anchor is set really well (diving on the anchor to actually lay eyes, and backing the anchor in hard with the boat in reverse)
ensure that all chafe gear is properly placed (this prevents the anchor bridle lines from chafing on the boat)
having the backup anchor/ground tackle out and ready to go
securing all lines, tying off the furling drum (to prevent the jib from unrolling if an edge catches the wind)
adding a second (or third) tethering line to the dinghy
having the spot light, life jackets, foul weather gear and a change of underwear (refer to above sphincter reference) at the ready in case of a 3am anchor drag

We did fine with the biggest gust around 50kts, but Cape Eleuthera was whacked with 110kt gusts (like a mini hurricane). We consider ourselves pretty lucky.

Avery

Our friends on s/v All In just arrived. They came over to say hi. We will sail with them and dorenavent. They are all so nice. I have to go because Aymeric (from dorenavent) is here for dinner.

🅘🅩🅩🅨 ☺😎😋😊😜🐷🐶🐠🐔🐓
Hi everybody! We are in Green Turtle now and have been buddy-boating with another boat called dorenavent (who I'm sure I have mentioned before) with the little two year old Aymeric -who is so sweet!- and now I'm super excited to babysit when we get back to Swarthmmore!!!! We might cross back to the states on May first, second, third, or fourth. I don't want to leave the Bahamas, but I miss the U.S.

Anna

I would like to formally apologize for my distracted-ness-- Aymeric from doreńavent is currently on Baila, and instead of playing with (one of) the cutest two-year-olds ever, Dad called me over to write my section. As you may (but most likely don't) know, my Thirteenth Birthday is coming up, and like most, this one promises to be unforgettable. As of February, I have been planning ways to celebrate, but it may have been in vain. We do not know when we are crossing, but it is very possible we may be in the middle of the Gulf Stream on May 3rd, on our way to FL or GA. Hey... Wait... "AYMERIC, NO! C'EST POUR ANNA!"

Brad
Ok folks, until next time. Hopefully we'll have news of a smooth crossing back to the US! It's sad to wrap things up here and we will miss these beautiful waters for sure. The people here are friendly and welcoming and we have so enjoyed our several months of living in this amazing place. Thank you Bahamas!

Hope you all are well.

-Falks

Easter egg hunt at the ole' cholera graveyard in Hope Town. People back home should definitely check out their local cholera (or any major infectious disease themed) graveyard for future fun events

Avery and Elliot racing through the streets of Hope Town

Dinner out in Hope Town. Was a bit of culture shock to be back in places with restaurants. We have to really pay attention to the budget again (in the Exumas there wasn't much to spend money on-- was great!).

Yanking the kids on the tube behind the dinghy (Avery's little bobblehead poking up is so entertaining!)

Avery's invention "Robie," a dancing robot created with a great boat toy called brain-flakes

Izzy taking advantage of the biblical rain to do some laundry

Now this is VERY rare: sea toilets (Itakadumpicus maranus) are usually very shy and elusive creatures. It's quite special to photograph one in the wild like this

Most people are familiar with the symbiotic relationship between clownfish and sea anemones. However what many don't know about is the even stronger symbiotic bond between the lionfish and sea toilet

As I was tying up the dinghy at a floating dock I noticed this little guy looking up at me

"Dolphins" by Avery Falk. I know what you're thinking. It looks more like a whale, right?

Actually there were a whole bunch of them hanging out together. A real dolphin party

Our (almost) thirteen going on twenty year old

We have a blue light on our stern arch that attracts critters. It was funny to find many juvenile blue crabs sitting on our dinghy lines one night. We counted twenty three!