Hi everyone,
I survived! First time ever speaking into a microphone up on a stage. Thankfully I was up there as part of a group. I wrote about a third of the material. We did a half assed rehearsal a few minutes before showtime. It was, as I mentioned earlier, a spoof of the morning radio net. Here is a little sample of my efforts:
Today's weather synopsis is from Biff (real name Chris) Parker. The mother of all cold fronts has formed in the Yukon Territory and will be entering the Bahamas in 2 days. Negotiations have begun with Justin Trudeau and will result in punitive tariffs if this weather is not diverted to Greenland. Should these negotiations fail the only safe place for your boat will be inside Thunderball Cave. Good luck."
So that's a sample of the foolishness we came up with. It was fun. Crowd of around 250 loved it and I got a bunch of compliments after.
Coconut challenge tomorrow!
Best to all, Charlie
Friday, February 15, 2019
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Foolishness afloat
The weather has actually been downright bad today, although I am sure no one back home will be too upset. We have had a series of ugly squalls with very heavy rain which has resulted in a rash of anchor dragging incidents. The wind switched about 100 degrees, catching boats by surprise and putting several aground. Incidentally, the dragging boats were using all chain rode, from what I could see. No problems at all with White Seal, with her mostly nylon rode. It is like a giant rubber band in high winds and handles the shock of gusts with ease.
So the morning radio net was underway as all heck was breaking loose and boaters were calling in to report the various dragging yachts. That was when we heard the best transmission ever: "the Cat's Ass is dragging!" Yes, some individual has named their catamaran the Cats Ass. And it was dragging. Mary laughed so hard I was afraid she would hurt herself. Some of the boat names are pretty hilarious, attempting to be clever, but often falling a bit short. Another one, worthy of note for poor taste, is the Wet Dream. I mean, really. You've spent 6 figures for a boat and give it a name like that? Come on!
Mary and I have gotten hornswoggled into helping with a skit on the talent show. A Brit named Jillian is doing a spoof of the morning net and it should be fun. Goodness knows there is plenty of material to draw from! I am not too excited about getting up in a stage, but I guess I'll do it. Regatta registration was today but it got wiped out by the rain. Everybody ran to the Chat and Chill (beach bar) to escape the downpour.
Mary has been telling me we should go to Cuba, since we are so close. There are a bunch of folks headed there, mostly Canadians. Easy for them. Not so much for Americans. I would love to go there!
Best to all, Charlie
So the morning radio net was underway as all heck was breaking loose and boaters were calling in to report the various dragging yachts. That was when we heard the best transmission ever: "the Cat's Ass is dragging!" Yes, some individual has named their catamaran the Cats Ass. And it was dragging. Mary laughed so hard I was afraid she would hurt herself. Some of the boat names are pretty hilarious, attempting to be clever, but often falling a bit short. Another one, worthy of note for poor taste, is the Wet Dream. I mean, really. You've spent 6 figures for a boat and give it a name like that? Come on!
Mary and I have gotten hornswoggled into helping with a skit on the talent show. A Brit named Jillian is doing a spoof of the morning net and it should be fun. Goodness knows there is plenty of material to draw from! I am not too excited about getting up in a stage, but I guess I'll do it. Regatta registration was today but it got wiped out by the rain. Everybody ran to the Chat and Chill (beach bar) to escape the downpour.
Mary has been telling me we should go to Cuba, since we are so close. There are a bunch of folks headed there, mostly Canadians. Easy for them. Not so much for Americans. I would love to go there!
Best to all, Charlie
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Sunset
Someone is playing bagpipes not far from here as the sun goes down. Other people are blowing their conch horns as a salute to old sol. Mary has hitched a ride over to Sand Dollar Beach to listen to jazz being played by various cruisers. A busy place, this Georgetown! It was a breezy day, wind in the 20s, and no new arrivals indicates it is probably pretty bumpy out there. For me, this was a nice, quiet reading day. Ironically, I am reading a great book about the Arctic. Go figure!
As I have mentioned before, this place is a real crossroads, and we have met people from all over the world. One thing that is really fun is the cruisers net at 8AM on the VHF radio. A volunteer moderator facilitates the exchange of news and helpful information between the 200 plus boats. She does a fantastic job. In a couple of months most of the boats will be gone, but the community will spring back up next December or thereabouts. Ditto for the Regatta, which I think gets started on Weds. All very exciting!
Best to all, Charlie
As I have mentioned before, this place is a real crossroads, and we have met people from all over the world. One thing that is really fun is the cruisers net at 8AM on the VHF radio. A volunteer moderator facilitates the exchange of news and helpful information between the 200 plus boats. She does a fantastic job. In a couple of months most of the boats will be gone, but the community will spring back up next December or thereabouts. Ditto for the Regatta, which I think gets started on Weds. All very exciting!
Best to all, Charlie
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Bahamas medical care
Hi everyone,
About 2 weeks ago I forgot to put sunscreen on my lips and got a nasty sunburn there. It has been very slow to heal and I was quite worried about it so I decided to go to the clinic here, with no appointment and see if I could get it looked at. I fully expected it would kill the better part of the day and had no idea what it might cost. When I got there I entered into an immaculate ER type setting where I was immediately guided to an intake station and paperwork initiated. A few minutes later that task was out of the way and I was sent in to see a nurse, who performed an array of tests like blood pressure, pulse, temp, etc. Even gave a urine sample although I have no idea why that was needed. Then there was about a ten minute wait while I enjoyed reading a magazine about Regatta. I tell you, sloop sailing is huge down here! Then a doctor came and got me for an exam. He said it appeared to be healing, but he did want to prescribe an antibiotic to be certain. He also gave some advice on topical over the counter products and suggested that I take multivitamins as well. He then escorted me to the clinic pharmacy, located just off the main lobby. The pharmacist took the prescription and urged me to have a seat. There was about a 10 minute wait at the most, and my name was called. The bill for everything was $44.
That was $14 for the antibiotic, and $30 for everything else.
When I think of how much I have paid for medical care, mostly for health insurance, and how little I have actually used, I feel rather ill. This experience has really been quite an eye opener and makes me realise what a financial train wreck US health care is, especially for those on the margins.
Best to all, Charlie
- Mary and I said goodbye to Maggie today and there were tears all around. We will really miss her and hope she has a good trip home.
About 2 weeks ago I forgot to put sunscreen on my lips and got a nasty sunburn there. It has been very slow to heal and I was quite worried about it so I decided to go to the clinic here, with no appointment and see if I could get it looked at. I fully expected it would kill the better part of the day and had no idea what it might cost. When I got there I entered into an immaculate ER type setting where I was immediately guided to an intake station and paperwork initiated. A few minutes later that task was out of the way and I was sent in to see a nurse, who performed an array of tests like blood pressure, pulse, temp, etc. Even gave a urine sample although I have no idea why that was needed. Then there was about a ten minute wait while I enjoyed reading a magazine about Regatta. I tell you, sloop sailing is huge down here! Then a doctor came and got me for an exam. He said it appeared to be healing, but he did want to prescribe an antibiotic to be certain. He also gave some advice on topical over the counter products and suggested that I take multivitamins as well. He then escorted me to the clinic pharmacy, located just off the main lobby. The pharmacist took the prescription and urged me to have a seat. There was about a 10 minute wait at the most, and my name was called. The bill for everything was $44.
That was $14 for the antibiotic, and $30 for everything else.
When I think of how much I have paid for medical care, mostly for health insurance, and how little I have actually used, I feel rather ill. This experience has really been quite an eye opener and makes me realise what a financial train wreck US health care is, especially for those on the margins.
Best to all, Charlie
Monday, February 4, 2019
Georgetown!
Spent last night at Lee Stocking Island, once an important marine research facility, and now an abandoned ghost town. When the funding ran out, everybody just left, leaving large amounts of just about everything behind including toxic waste. We did not go ashore due to having the dinghy lashed down on deck.
Left around 0645 and got out the cut with no problems, flood tide. Hoisted sail and sailed the entire way, right in the cut and down to the area of volleyball beach. This place is a really big crossroads in the cruising world and there are a lot of really serious cruisers here, with some really impressive boats. Enormously exciting sailing through the fleet. We have already run into several folks we know.
Maggie Smith flies out on Wednesday and it is going to be really hard to see her go. She has been an awesome shipmate and unfailingly cheerful no matter the weather or circumstance. Living aboard a small boat for an extended period can be a test that many people fail. Maggie gets an A plus, with distinction. And I am so glad that she and Mary are such great friends!
We are thinking about going into town tonight for rake and scrape music which should be a bunch of fun. Then, tomorrow, we'll take the boat to Stocking Island for Maggie's last day. Then back to the town for her flight home Wednesday.
The sailing today was lovely. Gentle northerly, continuing a spate of fine weather. We are delighted to be here! It seems like there are fewer boats, compared to when we were here 8 years ago, but it is hard to tell. Expect more for the Regatta.
Best to all, Charlie
Left around 0645 and got out the cut with no problems, flood tide. Hoisted sail and sailed the entire way, right in the cut and down to the area of volleyball beach. This place is a really big crossroads in the cruising world and there are a lot of really serious cruisers here, with some really impressive boats. Enormously exciting sailing through the fleet. We have already run into several folks we know.
Maggie Smith flies out on Wednesday and it is going to be really hard to see her go. She has been an awesome shipmate and unfailingly cheerful no matter the weather or circumstance. Living aboard a small boat for an extended period can be a test that many people fail. Maggie gets an A plus, with distinction. And I am so glad that she and Mary are such great friends!
We are thinking about going into town tonight for rake and scrape music which should be a bunch of fun. Then, tomorrow, we'll take the boat to Stocking Island for Maggie's last day. Then back to the town for her flight home Wednesday.
The sailing today was lovely. Gentle northerly, continuing a spate of fine weather. We are delighted to be here! It seems like there are fewer boats, compared to when we were here 8 years ago, but it is hard to tell. Expect more for the Regatta.
Best to all, Charlie
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Races continue
What a party! I got up at 2AM to take care of a little detail and could still hear our friend DJ, (who is an actual DJ), blasting the music. We saw him today and he said he went until 4AM. Back at it around 10 AM. The town has a year round population of about 50 and is very picturesque.
So, the races. These involve Class C sloops which are small, around 17 feet or so. But they have a lot of sail area and in order to keep from capsizing they recruit very large Bahamians who act as a mobile ballasting system. Very exciting to watch in the high winds yesterday. These races are a big deal down here, and might well be described as the national sport. Everybody is on the shore or in boats watching. Folks coming up from Exumas, down from Black Point and other places as well. And this is just a small race, with the big deal coming U in April in Georgetown. Another interesting bit of info is that there can be big cash prizes, so the sailing is aggressive.
Battery going dead again....
Probably head down to Georgetown tomorrow or Monday.
So, the races. These involve Class C sloops which are small, around 17 feet or so. But they have a lot of sail area and in order to keep from capsizing they recruit very large Bahamians who act as a mobile ballasting system. Very exciting to watch in the high winds yesterday. These races are a big deal down here, and might well be described as the national sport. Everybody is on the shore or in boats watching. Folks coming up from Exumas, down from Black Point and other places as well. And this is just a small race, with the big deal coming U in April in Georgetown. Another interesting bit of info is that there can be big cash prizes, so the sailing is aggressive.
Battery going dead again....
Probably head down to Georgetown tomorrow or Monday.
Best to all, Charlie
Friday, February 1, 2019
Racing!
Great fun today! Went into the town this morning and watched a number of the sloops get unloaded from the mailboat and have their masts stepped. Very festive with lots of people, music blasting from our new friend the DJ, and the strong 25 knot winds driving the Ocean waves into the cut. Very dramatic. We went back to the boat for lunch and then rowed to the nearby pavilion to watch the race. It is right next to the airstrip and the occasional taking off and landing of small planes about a hundred feet away added to the sense of general bedlam. Incidentally, the way to the yacht club involves walking along this same runway for about a quarter mile, while keeping a sharp lookout for planes. No evidence whatsoever of any security. Certainly no TSA.
It was announced that due to the high winds there would be only one race, at 3PM. The boats were rigged with smaller sails, and were sailed out to a starting line about a mile out from the beach. They were all lined up at anchor, and with the sails down.
Dead battery, to be continued
It was announced that due to the high winds there would be only one race, at 3PM. The boats were rigged with smaller sails, and were sailed out to a starting line about a mile out from the beach. They were all lined up at anchor, and with the sails down.
Dead battery, to be continued
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)