My first sail

[Kimandray]

Here we are in the Bahamas. Was it easy?? Well, no!!!! I have never been on a sailboat before and agreed to come along with the love of my life for the "vacation of a lifetime". I had NO idea that it included staying on the boat, a 41' Charley Morgan, for three days without setting foot on land.... Needless to say, my first three days were not good... Finally we got to Islamorada, Fl and to a marina.. Three rum runners later and I was finally feeling better... Two days later we headed across the Gulf Stream towards Bimini... Oh good Lord.... no one told me that it would be rolly and rolly!!!! We had already had 20 mile an hour winds in the Gulf around the Everglades and Ray told me it wouldn't ever be that bad again.... wrong.... I was madder than a wet hen... to say the least... after seasickness and panic attacks.... Then we got to Gun Cay..... and.... I got to see what cruising and anchoring out really is like.... HEAVEN!!!! The water was beautiful, the beaches were beautiful and my captn.... well... he was lookin mighty good too!!! The next day we went to Bimini... What a great place... we stayed at Weeches Marina... great people and very friendly... We ate the local food and shopped and walked!!! Swimming in the ocean, snorkeling the sandbars and meeting the locals... I was falling in love with sailing and being on a sailboat in the Bahamas.... We left there and headed for Chubb Cay.... They think alot of their marina and won't let you in unless you take a slip... We met a guy on the dock who informed us that we could dock our dinghy up at the fish cleaning hut and go ashore there... We enjoyed snorkeling and walking the "free beach" up from the marina... Unless you have 100 dollars laying around to dock your dinghy, our way seems to be the best... The locals are nice and friendly, however, marina security watches to make sure you don't get too close to their beaches without paying the hundred dollars first... We left there after two days and headed to Nassau... What a great day... The winds were in our face so we couldn't sail, but it was nice to be together... Im getting into the sailing aspect now and really enjoying my time with Ray... I think I was just afraid of the unknown before.... I've figured out that we aren't going to turn over, be boarded by pirates or get eaten by sharks.... Laugh if you will, but I've never done this before...so I didn't know what to expect.... Here we are in Nassau and have met many wonderful people who have been so helpful... Our dock neighbors, who have quit their jobs to sail for two years... they helped change the oil and work on the engine for nothing more than some Captain Morgans spiced rum... what a deal.... We're hoping to hook up with them in the Exumas to do some snorkeling... Im looking forward to sailing now... I love our boat... She is beautiful and my captain and husband, Ray.... has been supportive and wonderful.... We have four more weeks before we have to go back to work... to make money to come again next year...... What an adventure...!!!!!

[camaraderie]

That's the way to do it Kim! Enjoy the Exumas...Try the Abacos next time. Don't miss the Exumas land and sea park or Thunderball Cave at Staniel Cay!!

[sailingdog]

Ahh...another one gets bitten by the sailing bug...