Bahamas - Ragged Island, Hog Cay, Another Busy Week

More work on the underside of the Hard Top

The aftermath of ‘flipping’ the Hard Top over, - the bracing frame to keep the frame at the correct angle.

The Hard Top, back right side up, we’ve threaded the rope for the ‘Tie Ons’ and Nicholas is glassing the rope to give it further strength and plugging the holes

We were not so pleased with a Charter Cat, Destiny 3, that arrived at Hog Cay, the Owner/Captain Dave stating they were out of Cat Cay, and had been to Hog numerous times. On their departure we found they’d burned their garbage on a bonfire in the food fire-pit, and left a load of tin cans and glass behind. I was not charmed at having to clean up after them.

On a happier note, we had a beautiful Pin Cushion StarFish come in close, exactly where we tie up the dinghy everyday when we come ashore to work on the Hard Top

At low tide it’s in less than1 foot of water. Really special! 

Another amazing sunset

We had a wonderful meet up and get together of long standing South African friends Allan and Marita Whitley of Alleycat and Holli and John of Shiloh. It’s been a year since we saw them last. Also in the photo is new Cruiser friend Larry, a single hander on Restless.

Bahamas - Ragged Island, Hog Cay, Catamaran Anabella goes aground

We met Nautipussy 11 at the Yacht Cub, Alan an ex-Saffer was sporting an awful sore on his leg and they had no Antibiotics aboard. We on Meshugga carry a fairly large medical box, and donated them a course of Oral Antibiotics which would hopefully see them to Georgetown until they could see a Doctor. As reciprocation, we received this awesome package of Boerewors -YUM and thank you!

Most yachts have left and we have settled into a mode of Nicholas working ashore on his Fly Bridge Hard Top and I attending to onboard yacht chores, cleaning, cooking etc, and helping him ashore when there is something I can help with.

Yacht Laundry

I had a spate of frenzied cooking  and made Chicken Liver Pate;

A huge bowl of Bacon Bacon Bacon for Breakfasts

And a Chicken Pie

What a night....

 

Nicholas working on the underside of the Hard Top

On the night of the 19th May at about 2am we heard the US Coast Guard on the radio CH16 VHF speaking to a yacht that had gone aground. Seeing that we heard them we knew it was somewhere near, but being the dead of night there was naught we could do to assist.

Come morning, the 3 yachts in our anchorage picked up anchor and went north -they obviously knew something we did not. Later that day, we found that the Catamaran Anabella had gone aground in Johnson Cay, about 6 miles north of us, in a bay which faces north. No idea what he was doing in that particular bay seeing we had northerly winds.

We later heard the the 3 yachts were trying to pull Anabella off the reef using an anchor and grinding her off with her winches. They, not being willing to use their yachts, we took Meshugga up to Johnson Cay and with our 300HP motors tried to pull her off the reef. We were able to turn her and pull her forward, but insufficiently enough before the tide turned.

All ended well, in that the owner John had arranged for a Salvage company to come pull him off the reef and tow him to Staniel where he could get assistance to repair his motors. John was lucky to have no water ingress or flooding.

Bahamas - Ragged Island, Hog Cay, Stuff Dreams are Made Of

 A picture says a thousand words.

We live on yachts outside of mainstream reality, Our own reality aboard in stunning locations around the world is the Stuff Dreams are Made Of....

Our anchorage taken from inside the Hog Cay Yacht Club

Mystie and Will (Boat Buddies), of SV Billy K

John and Tina of SV Monoceros

Alan and Jean, with photobombing son Zack, of MV Nautipussy 11

Another amazing sunset

Zack capturing that sunset above

All out, camera at the ready to capture that elusive Green Flash

 

No Green Flash, but we got this AMAZING Red Sunset

Tina and me

Dinghies bunched up .... why do they do that.....

John with the setting sun

Next day, back aboard, I am dealing with an infestation of little sugar ants. Having discovered they are nesting in my Herbs, and having tried various methods unsuccessfully, I am now reduced to 24 hour drowning of each potted Herb.

Here you can see my Green Onions being drowned, having done my Chillie Plant and Lemon Grass.

Nicholas is still hard at work on our new Hard Top for our Fly Bridge. Here he is making a frame in wood, as when we ‘flipped’ the Hard Top, to fiberglass the other side, it is a little wobbly, and hence not keeping it’s ‘shape’. Another unplanned delay of which we knew there would be some.

So Devine, we’ve had a family of 6 Tropic Birds arrive and nest a few meters away from Nicholas cave overhang, and we get to see them daily, flying and calling to each other. So Special!

Take Care

Fair Winds

And to all our friends and family around the world,

Get the Vaccine As Soon As You Can, and Wear a Mask

Bahamas - Ragged Island, Hog Cay, Goodbye MV Selah

Our wonderful friends Brad and Johanna, and Timbo on MV Selah, came time for them to leave our anchorage at Hog Cay and continue on their journey with dead-lines to meet with friends flying into Georgetown, Great Exuma. 

A last Farewell Drink aboard Selah, and a big Thank You to Brad and Johanna for the gift of Charcuterie, Cheese and a bottle of Glenmorangie (I shall definitely be raising a toast to you each time I sip a dram).

Early morning, no wind, Bye Bye Selah

Full Moon rising in the east over Hog Cay Yacht Club, as the sun sinking in the west bathes everything in a golden glow....

That night the sky was so bright it was almost like daylight outside, and the moon shon deeply in through our cabin sky hatch

Another perfect day, with sundowners on the beach

With Nicholas working on the new Hard Top for our Fly Bridge, he is no longer Spearfishing, and hence we have no fresh fish...... 

I bought this beautiful Grouper from Raphael, a fisherman from Duncan Town

We welcomed back a friend from December, Doug from Viento and he joined us for good old fashioned home cooked Cottage Pie and Salad, with fresh Fruit Salad and Ice Cream for dessert

Days get hotter and wind lighter. So little wind that the yachts are drifting around, all at different angles, and we are wafting over our anchor which can be clearly seen off our aft back steps

 Another day, and Sundowners with new Cruisiers to our anchorage

Nicholas

Doug and me

Edwardo and Beatrice of SF Indio Velho

Ann and Bernardo of Wishing Whale

Matt and Cathy of MV Outrider

Take Care