2025-12-28 Haul out, Christmas and moving south

 Sunday was windy, so it was a boat day, doing nothing much.  Monday, we went to town, and got some groceries, and then back to the boat, still quite windy. 

Tuesday was the big day – time to haul out.  Robert from R&B called us around 10:30, and told us to come on in.  It was quite windy with gusts up to 20, so a bit tricky to get to the dock, but all went well, and we got tied up.  By the time we were tied up, and they measured us, and adjusted the platform they use to raise boats, it was close to noon.  They shut down for an hour at noon, so we walked over to the “Snack Vault” and got lunch.  Never been there before, but it was a pretty good lunch of burgers and fries.   We took the food back to the boat to eat, as we wanted to be on the boat for when the yard came back.  

Setting the blocks on the lifting platform before we are hauled

 

The "Snack Vault" - was a decent place for lunch

We finally hauled around 1:00, and the guys got right to work draining the oil on the starboard sail drive, which was milky again already.    Once the shaft and seals were out, they cleaned everything up well, and then waited on Robert to come and do the seal replacement.   They were happy to let us watch, which we did, and they all did a very good job.

Charm up and out of the water. 

The guys taking off the prop and working to remove the shaft 

Kris taking a look at the shaft while it is being cleaned up

R & B boatyard office has nice mural on the front

Once the seals were replaced, Kris added new oil, they lowered us back down, and we headed out.   We were lucky, the tide was going out, and ½ an hour later we would have been stuck overnight waiting on a higher tide to leave.

Wednesday, we sailed the 42 miles over to the Exuma’s.  We had northeast winds, which made for a nice downwind sail, although a bit lumpy.   We anchored somewhere new, at Lobster Cay, and would not do it again, and there is a fair current, and makes it a bit choppy at times, but it was fine for a couple of days. 

Christmas was quiet, as we were anchored by ourselves, which was fine.  Dean made cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and chips and dip for lunch.  And Santa gave us each some candy in our stockings for Christmas.

Yummy

Our Christmas stockings and presents

Friday we headed south, motoring down to Warderick Wells where we got a mooring ball.   Went for a nice walk along the trails, up to BooBoo hill and back.

 

Kris in front of the old whale skeleton at the beach in Warderick Wells Cay

Charm on the mooring at Warderick Wells Cay

At the top of BooBoo Hill, looking at all the boaters memento planks

Beautiful view from the top of the hill, ocean side

Dean crossing the causeway on our walk

Rugged causeway trail on Warderick Wells Cay

Saturday, Kris took the kayak for a nice paddle, and then midday we went for a snorkel.  Saw a few nice Eagle Rays, barracuda and other assorted fishes.

 

Large barracuda showing us his sharp teeth

This little fish was not afraid of us at all

Eagle rays swimming around - very large, around a 5 or 6 foot wingspan

Today we will head south again, motoring as there is no wind, down to Great Guana Cay, planning on making to Georgetown by the 3^rd for Junkanoo.