One of these is an absolute must....

Our Spectra 150 watermaker has been everything and more to us on this trip. I can't overstate the feeling of independence that this adds to the ride. Knowing that you don't have to go to shore to fill water jugs or water tanks is wonderful.

Now you'll hear from some that it's not worth the effort......too hard to keep clean....have to pickle the system .....takes too much energy....

But I can tell you that these are all minor variables that are far overshadowed by the big plus...WATER and and endless supply of it for boat washing, dishes, showers and of course.....drinking.

We keep our filters clean. Here in the Bahamas where that wate is crystal clear, this is a very easy thing to do. We can go weeks without changing pre filters and when we do, the system was installed...by me..to make this job easily accessible. When we are in not so clean water, the filters do have to be changed more often but that is easily gauged by the water quality.....look at it. On the icw in the middle or some anchorages along the way, the filters have to be changed every other day.

Pickling or putting the system down for extended storage only has to be done if your off the boat for weeks or months.

Energy.....we designed our boat systems around our solar panels. The 300 watts of sun power provided by 4 Solbian Flexible panels gives us enough energy to run the watermaker....oh yes, did I mention that the frig and freezer also run 24/7.

This year we supplemented the solar with a Superwind 350 wind turbine. Wind energy is very easily harvested once you get south of Florida where the trade winds blow pretty much non stop. We have found that the addition of this unit has provided us with a great extra source of battery power. 

In the nutshell.....water=good energy input from sun and wind + a simple and timely filter maintainence.

You won't regret the feeling of independence ....

Happy Easter from Georgetown Exumas....

We arrived a few days ago here in Georgetown and have been settling in enjoying the good company of the Rosners on Antares. Great beach walks, hikes to the other side of the island and evening get togethers for movies and dominos. I was on a roll last night but I'm sure that will take a turn in the opposite direction really soon.

GT is an amazing place. There are multiple safe anchorages here that protect from most directions. West winds are a bit suspect for protection but we have arrived late enough in the season so as to have avoided most of the steady west winds that rolled through here a month or so back. 

Boats, boats and more boats. It's a place where provisioning is very good so people stop here going in all directions to stock up. Some stay for the entire winter.......like a little community. Good services. I was pleasantly surprised ......didn't know how I'd like being around so many others after the solitude we've enjoyed so far but it's been a very enjoyable stay. Likely we will head out on Sunday or Monday towards Long Island.....a compass course of approx 80 deg from here. For that to be a comfortable 30  mile ride, the wind needs to be down around 125 to 130 deg over the bow at least so the we can close to beam reach over. So we'll do the wait and see game. 

Going to watch a junior sailing championship regatta this weekend so that should be a good time...

E,L,L and B

Antares is the red hull just right of center, Iemanja is just to the right and slightly up from her with Georgetown in the background......Sand Dollar Beach.

Yes a wonderful and welcome rain shower as a minor cold front came through on Monday afternoon.

The right pace for sure....

We've left Lee Stocking Cay this morning after 3 or 4 days there...not sure which. Currently running about a mile or so offshore southbound and headed for Georgetown for a bit. It looks like we'll have cold front associated winds for the next 5 days or so which means N-NE-E at fairly brisk speeds. We'll tuck into a nicely protected anchorage with town about 1 mile away so a majo provision is on tap. Looking forward to hooking up with L and L on Antares. They are already there having made good progress earlier in the week.

Our days at LS were filled with watermarking, hiking, feeding Iquanas, reading and just plain chilling. Bette made a pattern for pontoon covers for MJ so she can sew them up while we are in GT. I think I've got winch cleaning on my list of must do's before our next passage.

We were talking this morning about how much we are really enjoying this pace. If the anchorage is good, we stay for days at a time....if not we move on..

Iemanja by herself from Perrys Peak on Lee Stocking

The hike up to Perrys

These guys were very enjoyable to feed...so mellow and calm they were.....I like it.

Bahamian sunset.....Rudder Cut Exumas

As I sat on the rail of Iemanja tonight and celebrated the sunset with the traditional blowing of the conch shell horn...I could not help but to be happy for this moment.. For in the future as time moves forward....I will be able to reflect on this moment as being extremely blessed to be able to have this period in time with Bette my soulmate. The memory will always be with me wherever I am.....

Hello from Black Point Settlement on Great Guana Cay Exumas

A few other pics of our afternoon hike over to Black Point Settlement.....about an hours hike from our terrific anchorage in Little Bay.

Had to pull MJ out dingy way up since the tide was risen and would be up this far by the time we got back in a couple of hours.

This art is the same no matter where you go.....shipbuilding at its finest......

The basket lady....

Cleaning fresh Mahi at the town docks.

Every body gets to eat. Nothing goes to waste.

The hike back to find.......

............MJ now floating and awaiting our arrival...