Back to Nassau

Monday morning at 0910 we got into action. Hooray for the sat phone. Called Lewmar got a lot of information. First decision: repair or replace. The unit is 10 years old. Boat years are like dog years, making this unit functionally over 70. So, we decided to replace it, more expensive but, we hope, a safer long term decision. I was assured that the new one will be like for like, plug and play. That's almost never true but it would be a nice surprise if it were so. When we get back home I'll get the repair parts for the old one and we'll sell it, maybe for enough to pay for shipping and installation.

We called Boat Owners Warehouse first to see what they could do about getting a new windlass to the Bahamas. Sounded iffy. Then we called Defender Ind. They had 5 in stock and getting stuff to the Bahamas is doable for them. The next decision: where to send the package and arrange for help with the installation. Replacing an anchor windlass while at anchor is possible but poses problems and risks. We decided to head back to Nassau for a dock and electricity for tools. We also know an electrician for a previous trip who we may be able to get to help. If the windlass is truly like for like, I think that I could do this myself. But even if so, I might have problems with the weight of the thing and Carol is zero help with this type of project.

So, after all that stuff, we got underway at about 1100 on Monday and headed north without a specific place in mind, simply planning to see how far we could go with the wind and available daylight. We made it to Shroud Cay and moored there, a little over 35 nm. With the dinghy was on the davits, it's awkward using the camp shower. So, I decided to take a shower in the head, which I did, since we would be in Nassau the next day with water freely available but not for free. Carol then decided that if I was showering she was too, finally getting her first shower in a couple of weeks.

On Tuesday we headed out before sunrise, 0615, and arrived back at the Nassau Harbour Club Marina at 1330, having made incredibly good time, over 6.5 knots with the motor alone, there being almost no wind the whole trip of 50 nm. Arriving at the marina she did not want to cook and I did not want to go out. We compromised on pizza, probably the first since we left the states. She ordered so I had to hope that conch did not figure in the toppings.

Had this windlass problem happened a couple of years ago it would probably have rated an 8 on the 1 to 10 boat disaster scale, and that only if it had been stateside. Over in the Bahamas, an easy 11. This trip it's a solid 4, maybe, due to the expense, a 5. I don't know whether that means that we are becoming jaded to problems, enured to them or just more confident and capable. There is a silver lining: on the way south we thought that there were things we wished we had done, places we wished we had gone, and anchorages we wished we had made. Watching what others do with where they anchor is always a learning process; if they can, we can too. Now, we get a second bite at the apple. And, perhaps, we are a little bit behind the crowd now that the FFFFF is past and will get to enjoy the Exumas with a little less boat crowding and people pressure.

We also get to act on new learning. We concluded that out dinghy anchor line is too short; the dinghy anchor is one of the two kinds available stateside, sort of a grappling hook. Here, of course, people use mini Danforth anchors, one of which we will buy. And, most importantly, depending on ones perspective, Carol gets her hair bobbed. Plus,we got to see this moon rise, with pictures not possible on an anchored, moving boat.