Bahamas Bound

We are on our way to the Bahamas once again. Since arriving home last March we have struggled with the decision for various reasons. The first reason was the challenging weather we experienced in the Bahamas last year. Frequent cold fronts led us to spend too much time in some protected anchorages while avoiding other favorite islands and anchorages altogether. There were other reasons leading us to question whether to go but the final reason was a strange noise coming from the engine at idle speed. George tried several fixes over the spring and summer but none did the trick. He even tried to get an appointment with the Volvo mechanic in Annapolis who replaced our saildrive gasket a few years ago. After a few  phone calls and promises we would get an appointment, the mechanic ghosted us. Early this fall George found another Volvo mechanic who was much closer to home. This young mechanic actually came onto our boat, heard the noise, and diagnosed it as a bad damper plate. We took Breeze On to a boatyard in Oxford where the mechanic, Mack, replaced the damper plate and a few other parts requested by George. We brought the boat home a few weeks ago in time to get her ready, load the food we need for the winter, and depart early this afternoon. 

 

It is a beautiful, warm fall day with just enough S wind for a nice sail down the Choptank River. Our plan is to anchor near the mouth of the river and take our time going down the Chesapeake. From there we will look for an opportunity to leave the bay and round Cape Hatteras. 

It is a gorgeous day for sailing down the Choptank River. 

George is securing the dinghy as we slowly motor away from our slip and condo. A few of our neighbors waved and wished us well as we left. 

Photo taken by our friend, Wendy, as we pass by Long Wharf Park.