John and I spent one week sailing the Exuma Islands two years ago, and had such a good time, we decided to come back for two more weeks this winter. Here’s the start of the blog for this years trip.

We passed through customs at the little airport in Georgetown in no time despite that we might have brought some dairy products in with our frozen fish and snacks. We taxied to the dingy dock and local market where someone was handing out rum drinks and people idled about along the street as sidewalks haven’t been conceived in this village. Despite being a central location, Gaye and Jay were easy to find and welcomed us with open arms.  We loaded the dinghy with all our provisions from the states and local market and headed under the bridge and across to a small cay where Katoomba was tucked away alone and out of sight.  It took two trips.  It was still early in the day– our day started in Maryland at 3:15 am– so we had time to swim off all the travel, pull anchor, and head north on Exuma Sound on a perfect wind from the southeast- a 4 hour sail with 4 foot swells. We anchored up by Rat Cay (one of them) for a late dinner but an early bedtime.

Above: Our home for the next 2 weeks, the 38 ft. Catamaran “Katoomba”.

The hatch above our berth helped funnel an already strong breeze that with the gentle rocking and waves lapping made for a restful night.  The allure of the blue water pulled us in for a morning swim where a few scattered coral and fish were holding on in the current pushing through the cut between the Sound and the Banks.  Jay radioed out to Wind Weaver, a monohull of 1980’s vintage, passing by our anchorage.  Aboard were Dan and Betsy, friends from an anchorage a few weeks ago.

In the afternoon, we dinghied over to a snorkel site on Windsock Cay.  The water is always gin clear but the snorkeling here was subpar with a few exceptions.  The first exception was the huge number of conch.  Many were sizable but we kept the two that had a thick lip, sign of maturity, the ones most likely to have already reproduced.  The second exception was a single, lethally still 3 foot long barracuda.  The third and most fascinating was the dozen or so large 3-4 foot long Southern Stingrays.  We took turns popping off the dingy to follow these graceful giants, whose slow continuous undulations entranced us.

Above: Sally with our hosts, Jay and Gaye Bugenhagen.

Above: Sally brings up the first conch of the trip, which will bring conch fritters tonight.

Above: We met up with Dan and Betsy for happy hour on the beach and a rising full moon.