Rough Seas are Followed by Calm Water (and the reverse)

When you find yourself in the “Out Islands”, where fewer cruisers venture, it provides both a share of anxiety and a feeling of liberation.

 On our return trip to Ragged Island and the Jumentos we were lucky to connect with Different Drummer, My Sharonna and Scooter, all of whom met us down there within a day of our arrival. 

Returning from a morning of diving

In addition to spearing fish, conch has been harvested

The conch must be extracted and skinned-- a group effort

 Because the VHF radio (our main mode of communication) is so quiet down there, we need only  select a non-hailing channel to which to keep the radio tuned, in order to chat with one another.  Normally, a boat is hailed on 16 or some other hailing channel, then after the response, both switch to a clear channel to converse.

  Imagine sitting in your “living room”, absorbed in whatever task may be occupying you, and hearing your friend’s voice suddenly asking a question or making a suggestion.  We all have a communal conversation via radio, sometimes to talk about dinner plans, sometimes just to check in.

 Its quite pleasant and easy-going, and takes some re-adjusting to formally switching channels when we get back to more populated areas.

Another difference in the remote anchorages is when you hear a dinghy passing--  it is most probably coming to your boat.  Company!....

Sunset with friends on the bridge of Independence

On our first northward leg leaving the Jumentos island group to reach the bottom of the Exumas, we had a bit of left over easterly swells and wind chop from the previous 5-6 days of strong NE /E winds.  This put the 4-5 ft seas pretty much on our beam, our least favorite and least comfortable ride.

Once again, imagine sitting in your “living room”, looking out the window at some trees, which quickly become just treetops, then sky and clouds.  Then just as quickly the view is back to the base of the trees and the view just below the window.  The room, in other words, is tilting back and forth so crazily that your not actually “sitting”, but more like wedged into the corner, one foot bracing against the fixed table and your body attempting to stay put as the rocking and rolling continues ceaselessly.

Oh, and add to this, the occasional need to get up, lunging across the rolling floor like a drunken baby to capture a cabinet door that has swung open, threatening to toss its contents out with the pitching of the room.  Oops, there goes the tea kettle, now rolling back and forth on the floor, the sponge container and soap dispenser already having spilled over into the sink. 

Of course that same crazy tossing motion is going on inside you, as the internal organs slosh back and forth against the confines of your body (or not!).  Fun at sea!

Then, finally, you reach safe harbor and in the early darkness of oncoming night drop the anchor, shut down the systems, and fall into the most blessed and well-deserved sleep and dream about your body being absolutely still.

Flat water - our preference!