The Bahamas

On our starboard, about four miles away, the lighthouse of Great Inagua is clearly visible. If you zoom in on the chart, you will notice a big salt lake, Lake Rosa. Quite a few of disused salt lakes with channels that were dug leading to the sea. Earlier years this was a salt mine, and a few of the old structures are still visible.

On our port side, the eastern tip of Cuba is fifty miles away, and not visible from where we are during the day. Tonight we might see some of the lights of Cuba looming in the distance. Our good weather is holding well as expected and mostly blowing around fifteen knots from the east, and running between seven and eight knots. Last night, and for tonight, we lower the gennaker and furl out the genoa. We loose quite a bit of speed, but also no risk of blowing the gennaker out. We are not in a race, and are making satisfactory progress. This morning at two Thomas and myself raised the gennaker again as I was on watch and could drop the gennaker in a flash if required.

I have been to Cuba before, waiting out some headwinds. It was a fascinating experience, seeing all these old nineteen fifty model cars. Lots of horsecarts with a poop bag tied under their tail. The pace of life in general is also very slow, and people are eeking out a living. Another spectacular failure for socialism. They are also very proud people, and I found them endearing.

In two days or so we will be rounding the Bahama banks, slip into the Gulf Stream, and aim our bows for Fort Lauderdale. We expect to arrive there over the weekend, and looking much forward to a few days on land. Mainly for internet, which makes it easier to stay in touch with our loved ones, friends, business partners, and social media. In the not too distant future we will hopefully have Star-Link up and running, and we will have fast internet available on boats anywhere in the world. It will certainly change many of us live and make a living.

Don and Jane became the proud grandparents of a girl in the early hours of the morning. Big congratulations to them. They have been at sea for a long time, and missing their children, and life on land, dearly. In their seventies, I have highest respect for their tenacity and perseverance. Life at sea is challenging at times, both physically and mentally. The rewards are endless though. You get a chance to get ultra close to nature, and learn to appreciate both the small and big things in life.

Wishing you fab day, and will touch base again tomorrow.

Paul

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