We left our mooring ball yesterday morning and motored the seven miles through the Devil’s Backbone to Harbour Island. The three-foot seas from the N made for a bumpy ride but all was going well until we got to the most narrow part of the passage. George told me there were two boats approaching from behind. Since I was focused on my driving I didn’t look behind and I just stayed on course, thinking I had the right of way. The large motor yachts behind us slowed down and we carried on. Just after we passed through the narrow part someone hailed us on the radio. George answered and thought he heard the person on the first boat, Timber, say that if we had been in Fort Lauderdale we would have been fined for cutting in front of a boat being driven in a channel by a pilot.* Yes, there was a pilot on board Timber (the pilot’s boat was being towed), but I had already been in the channel since we left Spanish Wells three and a half miles back. I didn’t cut in front of anyone. Since they were traveling faster than we were they apparently expected me to notice them approaching from behind and move over to let them pass. After making that comment about the fine, the person on the radio did ask us to move to starboard, which I did. I also slowed down and Timber—as well as the large motor yacht behind them—passed. I was quite annoyed by the whole exchange. I also found it hard to believe it was the local pilot who was on the radio. The pilot we used last year, Neil, was exceptionally polite. The pilot we encountered last year on the supply ship was also very polite. My best guess is that it was the boat captain—who is probably from Fort Lauderdale—feeling entitled and annoyed that his boat had to slow down for a small sailboat. Ok, gripe session is over.
We are actually happy to be here. Our anchorage at Man Island is lovely, with an interesting cave in front of us and beautiful beaches to our right and left.
We explored the beach on the northern end of the island yesterday. It had the softest sand we have ever attempted to walk in.
Today we explored the beach at the southern end and, with difficulty, found the trail to the other side of the island.
Although we have several large motor yachts around us, none are very close. The occasional jet ski comes buzzing by, but it isn’t too bad. (Breeze On is the second boat from the right and the farthest away in this photo.)
Before we left the boat today George changed Breeze On’s fuel filters. We had noticed for the past month or so that the engine sounded rough when idling, especially in reverse. George spoke with Arnold, a friend from home who is an expert on diesel engines, and Arnold suggested changing the filters. We had thought the problem might be the fuel injectors, but since changing the fuel filters is a much easier job, we hoped that would fix the problem. It did. Yay!
*Pilots are captains who are familiar with the local waters and can guide boats through tricky areas.
Comments
Post a Comment