Actually, about the anchor

Our stay at Manjack coincided with a series of winter fronts which brought high winds and seas. Without making any excuses about Manjack Harbor, turtle grass, or the limitations of the Bruce anchor; we will admit that on our first night our anchor dragged during some wind gusts. In the dark, the rain, and the howling, we set off to secure the boat. Maria pulled up the anchor 3 times to get a successful set while Vinnie drove around the bay, attempting to avoid the rocky iron shore, other boats, and their anchors. It seems that on land you can live fairly anonymously, but problems on a boat are guaranteed to make you the evening show for everyone else. Bless Bill and Leslie. After our busy night of entertaining they gave us a secure mooring where we have comfortably rocked through the passing storms.

Friends

The tradition of daily beach hikes and trash clean up continue. Again we have undeniable proof that all manufacturing of shoes should stop immediately since every person on the earth can have three of four unmatched pairs of well fitting shoes from the beaches of the Bahamas. Our international exploratory group includes Sasha from Croatia and Australia, Gigi and Lulu from Switzerland (25 years of round the world cruising), and Roger from Australia. Oh, and Maria from Grand Rapids Michigan.

Expert consultation

Fortunately, there are plenty of Grassquits who maintained sobriety and are able to provide free and expert assistance with Internet problems or software issues. Lucky Vinnie.

Bird alcoholism

Unfortunately, the some of the native bird population also demonstrate a poor tolerance of alcohol and a tendency towards substance abuse. Bananaquits are especially susceptible to the effects of Kahlua and became hostile and possessive of "their bottle".

Bird heaven

The bananaquits and grassquits continue to fly in and out of the house, claiming the hanging begonia as their sovereign territory and defending it from invaders. As a conquering army, the birds did not feel any compulsion to maintain basic hygienic measures, making them problematic house guests.

Manjack Plantation and Winery

The yard and flowers are still beautiful and since our visit last year, Bill and Leslie had become chicken herders and bee keepers. The bees seemed to keep better than the chickens are at following even simple directions. Most mornings find Leslie striding across the yard with a cursing chicken under her arm and an agitated and aggressive rooster at her side.

Bill and Leslie

It was wonderful to find that Bill and Leslie were healthy and living well.

Return to Manjack

Unlike the dramatic events of last year, we had an uneventful and calm crossing to the Bahamian Banks. After clearing customs our first stop was Manjack Cay. We had missed the pleasure of Christmas on the island, but it was great to be back and we anchored in the harbor. Securely we hoped...

Boatwork

Some of you have asked about life in the boatyard and all the incomprehensible jobs that we ramble on and on about: transmissions, alternators, regulators, stern tubes, stuffing boxes. Sometimes do you ever wonder if we are just making it up? The work isn't the stuff of photographs, but we can show the setting. Here is Vinnie, getting into position for work and his predestined destination, the motor compartment, aka the dark hole.