20091228 Highborne Cay Exuma Bahamas

20091228 Highborne Cay Exuma Bahamas We left Warderick Wells Cay Exuma Land and Sea Park just after the 9am announcements. There was a large exodus, with 6 yachts headed out. We followed the cresent arc of the moorings, keeping close to the center of the channel. Looking back, we will always remember our two days in the park. The trail to Boo Boo Hill, the beautiful deserted beaches, the colorful coral heads and new good friends met at the bonfire. The wind was mostly on our nose, so we mostly motor sailed. Again, we put out fishing lures from our Cuban yo-yos, but we did not register even a nibble, during the 4 hour trip from Warderick Wells to Highborne Cay. We were lucky to get the last available slip in Highborne Cay. While I set up the electric service and adjust the dock lines, Cathy registered Angel, then went next door to the grocery. As usual in the Bahamas, the store is a mixture of t-shirts, fishing spears, grocery items, beer & sodas. Not a great amount of any one product, just a little of many things. We treated ourselves to cold Diet-Cokes, sitting on the porch in rocking chairs watching boaters, sun bathers and swimmers. We then went back to Angel and fixed Tacos for lunch. For dinner, we have ordered a catered dinner. There was a sign on the dock, “Call Cool Runners on channel 16”. A complete menu for conch, grouper, steak or chicken dinners complete with Bahamian peas and rice, cole slaw or mac & cheese. We called Cool Runners, go to channel 14, then place our order to be delivered at 7:30pm ‘ish. Around 4pm, the good ship Oceanis called Highborne Cay with a Pan Pan. They were taking on water from an unknown source. The radio reception was good for us and we followed the action. Highborne Cay coordinated a nearby fishing boat to go out and pick up the passengers. These were brought back to Highborne Marina, where they met a sea plane called in to take the people back to Nassau. The sea plane landed, pulled up to a swim float just off the beach, and within 10 minutes, after a telephone call and exchange of credit card information, the plant taxied downwind, then roared back into the wind headed west . Another boat from Highborne Cay Marina, equipped with a pump, headed out to assist. We walked out to the end of the docks, where we could see the action with binoculars. In the water under the end of the dock were 10+ sharks waiting for the fishermen to bring in and clean there catch at the station there.

We watched as the pump was delivered, then after a little while, Oceanis motored under her own power into the protected cove, tying up to the fuel dock. An assembly of male “experts” have now assembled on the dock to assist in solving the water intrusion problem aboard Oceanis. We plan to go to check the weather, go to bed early so we can get an early start to Nassau. Cathy & Jim