Nippers to FLorida!

Unfortunately, our friends Phyllis and Peter didn’t get to sail with us….Pete fell into the water from his boat the evening before we were to leave. A slight slip on a wet gunnel (deck edge) and he went tumbling, catching his right arm as he fell. He WAS able to climb back up the dock ladder, but felt that his arm was broken. Off to the clinic in Marsh Harbor, compliments of the local Rescue Boat, he was well treated, X-rayed, given Swiss drugs, and learned that he has only a severely bruised arm, muscles, etc. Waaay too sore to try to sail with us, they will stay there a few more days and wait for another weather window.

We did leave with friends that we’ve been cruising with the last couple of weeks. Off at high tide to Great Guana Cay, home of the locally infamous Nippers Bar. Every sailing couple we meet asks the same question “have ya been to Nippers?!!??”. So, we went to Nippers. The island of Great Guana is fairly small, about 7 miles long, much more narrow. All 3 boats arrived about the same time, and we took a slip at the Orchard Resort. Beautiful, huh? Looks sort of American resort-ish…

But, the economy has hurt them. Electricity is not everywhere, diesel delivery was cut off a year ago due to unpaid diesel bills, the restaurant isn’t open, and the resort homes sit vacant and unbuilt. But everyone there was nice, helpful, and the slip fees cheap. As soon as we settled in, we walked to the small but well stocked grocery store and began to see a few American brand foods. (imagine a well stocked 7-11) The produce boat had just arrived that day, so we were able to snag lettuce, cheese, and apples. There was a line for milk.

A Georgia man who has a house on the island gave us a ride in his golf cart and a great tour of the island! We heard all of the places to eat, who lives where, and got a ride eventually to Nippers. There is a very exclusive gated community at the north end of the island, summer homes of Cher, Lance Armstrong,  A-Rod, etc.

Nippers is indeed a great island bar. Bright, colorful, sprawling, wide beach on the ocean, good drinks, and a couple of swimming pools (only rules there are no shoes in the pools). So we took off our shoes!

Here are a couple of shots of Nippers, including from the ocean side.

Nippers looks quiet now, but on April 1, the Barefoot Man  http://www.barefootman.com/ comes to town for a concert. The place will rock with over 2000 folks. I’m told it’s not  exactly “family friendly” then…(or on Sunday afternoons, for that matter…) oh, and we had to take the obligatory “drunks on the tractor” picture as we left.

After drinks at Nippers, we freshened up and gathered at Grabbers  Bar for dinner. The other two boats were at slips closest to the restaurant, so we walked over there to meet them. As we headed their way, on the lone golf cart size road, we watched a man ambling down the road, following a rambunctious little boy with a skateboard. Dressed in island garb, he smiled, we spoke, and passed. About 10 seconds later it hit me – Lance Armstrong! No doubt about it. No, we didn’t turn around and ask for an autograph.

We left Great Guana on Friday morning, spent the night at Allens-Pensacola Cay (45 nm), and are now en route to Mangrove Cay for a short night (55nm). We’ll leave around 3 a.m. and head for Ft. Pierce. When you read this, we’ll be back in Florida, as that’s the first time I’ll be able to post!
__________________
WE ARE HERE!   Got up at 2 a.m. for a fairly rocky ride for the first half of the 14 hour trip, nice sailing the last half. The Gulf stream is interesting -- about 10 miles out from the shallow Bahama bank (10 to 20 ft), the water temperature went from 77.8 to 81.1, and out speed over the bottom went from 7 kts to 9 kts, as we entered the current that maxes out at about 3.5 kts. About 12 miles from FL, the reverse happened. The trick is to stay in the Gulf Stream as long as possible -- tricky, as you don't really know where the edges are 'till you cross them. Here is Luke, at our anchorage in Ft. Pierce, taking down our somewhat battered Bahamian courtesy flag in the brisk breeze.  These things always make me sad.  I love being there, and I love being back in the States to see our families and friends, but leaving is always just a little sad.  You never know when you'll return, even with the best of intentions.  But we're back!!!!  See y'all soon!!!