We departed Bimini at 8:45, motoring North to North Rock and bearing east for an easy and fantastic sail in North winds of 13-15 knots, doing over 5 knots boat speed. Chiheb kept quoting SOG - I guess it sounded more impressive.
I filed our float plan with Norm and Jason, letting them know there would be no cellular connection for a while.
The autopilot started making the nose, so we minimized its use.
We anchored in the middle of the ocean around Mackie Shoal. It was a lovely evening, but the night was very rocky, and we didn't sleep much. The cockpit light was left in the cockpit and fell, rolling onto the floor, forcing Chiheb to get up and retrieve the broken light.
The next morning, we weighed anchor at 8:30 and had another wonderful 8-hour sail to Chub Cay.
We regained cellular connection as we approached Chub Cay, and I reported our position to Norm, Jason, and Marie.
Chiheb intensely argued again with me about how much scope to put out. It was very nasty - no respect for the captain's decision to put out 75 feet of rode in 8 feet of water at low tide. This time, we were pretty heated. I've just completed 100 days, mostly single-handed, over 20 years as Captain. Chiheb has lots of courses, but I don't think he has ever captained anything but a Tanzer 22 on Lake St. Louis, which he rented or sailed in the Caribbean with a captain, and yet he knows better.
He has Sail Canada intermediate sailing, and he should have known his position as CREW.
He said he would never sail with me again. I'm not sure if I would ever invite him again.
There was free Wi-Fi from the Chub Cay Club, but it was very marginal.
Friday morning, I got up at 8 and opened the wheel pilot to find it dirty, but the belt looked good. However, one of the plastic tabs holding the tensioner mechanism had broken. I epoxied and reassembled it, then drained the engine sump and tightened and WD40ed the inline auto reset fuse on the engine panel, hoping to prevent further engine starting issues.
We agreed to stay at Chub Cay for another night since there wasn't much to do in Nassau, and the winds would be better on Saturday. Chiheb wanted to swim in the green Bahamian waters
I cleaned the water line and the bottom of BELLUM
Quiet Friday at Chub Cay
Saturday morning, we departed with one reef with 18 knots of wind abeam. It soon declined to below 15 knots broad from the port. Easy run.
Entered Nassau Harbour just before 3 PM. Got permission from Harbour Patrol to enter the harbour. Fueled and 20 Gallons of water at Rubes at Harbour Central. Nassau Harbour was a little tense for me.
We anchored and dinghyed ashore, but didn't go ashore since it was late and we weren't willing to pay $20 for the dinghy dock.
On Sunday, we toured the city and then went our separate ways.
I took the 12 B bus to the Airport to check it out for Natalia's arrival.
I spent Monday cleaning and tidying the boat, studying Exuma navigation and opening up the autopilot wheel again. The epoxy did not hold up. Will need to retest on the way to the Exumas.
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