Magnolia arrived in George Town just before a good size “blow” and so we dropped the hook to give us good protection against the expected strong westerly’s.
As you can see, we dropped the hook in the “Kidd Cove” anchorage just outside Lake Victoria. Though not obvious, there is a bridge, more like a tunnel, boat entrance into Lake Victoria. There are dinghy docks inside for the Grocery Store, the gas station and a couple other local businesses. The grocery store docks provides free Reverse Osmosis water which is terrific.
I am not sure there is really any well water anywhere in the Bahamas. A good number of the residences have cisterns where rain water is collected. The other option is RO Water which is converted sea water. Most places in the Bahamas we have to pay .30 to .40 cents a gallon for water. Magnolia carries 135 in her tank plus we keep 25 gallons in jugs for emergencies. Magnolia also carries 115 gallons of diesel fuel in her tank plus another 12 in jugs.
We last took on fuel and water in Nassau when we arrived in the Bahamas last month. We average 5.9 gallons of water per day and .85 gallons of diesel when the engine is running. The generator uses .35 – .60 gallons of diesel per hour as well. That means this day I am hauling 95 gallons of water and another 36 gallons of diesel fuel. Whenever possible we keep the tanks topped particularly when we are outside the USA. Essentially this gives Magnolia a range of over 700 miles and her crew 3 three weeks before we start to stink! BTW, we also generate all our own electricity with generator and solar panels. We use on average 134.6 amp/hrs a day (12 volts) Right now our split is about 60%-40% (Generator-Solar) but as the days get longer that will continue to move towards solar. Under the category of “Carbon Footprint,” we really don’t leave one.
After the immediate need to get things topped up, then it was time to take the Admiral to a nice dinner ashore!
Over-night, as forecast the front blew in bringing a few showers and lots of wind. Keep in mind at this same time, Boston was getting buried so not feeling too bad.
Of course, with all this wind, and all these boats there are going to be bad things happening. Boats dragging anchor, sometimes into each other. Tangled anchors chains it happens.
Every person on a boat knows that some-days you watch the show and some-days you are the show. The couple below were the show this day. The are in their 80s and have circumnavigated (sailed around the world) a COUPLE of times. Yet they got an anchor chain around their prop. No fewer than 10 dinghies went to their assistance and got it sorted out. In an usually kind gesture they invited all who helped out for a drinks and appetizers a few days later.
Listening to their years of adventures was more than worth the price of admission. Can you imagine sailing a boat through the Suez Canal? This couple has!! Amazing!
Tuesday 10 February – 14:00 The next front is actually here today and I had to take a break from writing about the last storm to go and help get a big catamaran separated from a trawler who got there anchors tangled. Its blowing in the high 20s and gusting to 35 but sunny. Going to be a long night until this wind and sea lay down!