Hawksbill to Staniel Cay - Exumas

We arrived in Staniel by about 3.30pm having motored for the last three hours. We skipped dinner (well, really we ran out of provsions!!) the night before so after anchoring right on the beach we made a beeline for the yacht club.

Allans Cay to Hawksbill Cay

We where trying to get to Staniel Cay but as we where beating upwind it was taking us longer than we anticipated - trimarrans don't go upwind to well, so we decided to anchor overnight as Hawksbill Cay.

This beach was completely empty except for a huge private luxury yacht that had set up a sunset dinner for thier guests - they didn't invite us over, maybe 'cause we hadn't had a shower for 4 days!

Nassau to Allans Cay - Exuma

Allans - Highbourne Cay in the Exumas was our first stop out from Nassau and is very famous for the Iguanas that live on this small cay. As soon as you take your dinghy to the beach they come running looking for something to eat - they really like bananas!

We anchored right on the beach for the first time with a stern anchor to stop us swinging when the tide would change overnight.

Key Largo to Bimini (Photos)

On the dock at Sally and Pauls house in Key Largo (Pennekamp ) getting Aria ready for crossing the Gulf Stream, from Key Largo to Bimini.

Paul is on the left, and gave us a spark plug wrench - thanks!! We haven't needed to use it yet but it is nice to have in our tool bag.

The view out to "The Elbow" over the reef and towards the Gulf Stream from Paul and Sally's dock where we where staging.

Our first view of North Bimini, about 2 miles from the south-west

Late Spring Cruise to the Bahamas

With the end of the ski season our summer sailing adventures begin the same as last year, with a extended cruise on a Corsair 31, Aria. We intend leave from Key Largo and then cross the Gulf Stream to Bimini, taking 6 weeks to cruise down through the Bahamas, including New Providence, The Exumas, Eluthra, Long Island and The Abacos, then returning to Florida at the end of May.
The Corsair 31 really is not a cruising boat, they only carry about 14 gallons of water have no refridgeration and little storage space - but they are fast, can be great for getting distance under the center board, and is a perfect boat for the Bahamas becuse with the dagger board up the only need 18 inches of water, which means you can take them right up to the beach and walk ashore!!

To give you and idea of what sailing on a Corsair can be like, here are some video's

Thin Wolf slide show - 2008 Baja HaHa

White rim moab 09