Where thou art, that is home.

San San has quickly turned from a 36’ sailing vessel into a home-away-from-home for me. Our floating home delivered us safely through the Bahamas and carried us most recently to the spectacular island of Jamaica.

We sailed south from Georgetown through Elizabeth Island, Thompson Bay, and Long Cay to Great Inagua where we cleared out of customs in preparation for our 60 hour sail to Jamaica. Along the way, we caught fresh conch which we cooked over the bonfire and enjoyed our rum drinks straight from the coconut! We were visited by families of dolphins and caught our first Mahi.

We sailed the Windward Pass between Cuba and Haiti through the Caribbean Sea, taking shifts at the wheel watching for ships on the horizon. We enjoyed a slow and gentle sail arriving in Port Antonio around midnight. It was difficult to sleep as the anticipation of what Jamaica would hold during the daylight mounted.

We spent our first day exploring the open-air market, enjoying fresh pineapple and other local treats. At night we tried our first (and then second) jerk chicken meals. We discovered “festival”, fried breadstick snacks to die for.

A quick cab ride delivered us to Blue Lagoon (like the film) where we swam and swung from a rope swing on a massive mangrove tree. We walked back toward Porti and stopped to eat at Woody’s Low Bridge. Mama Cherry prepared us delicious burgers with plantains and peppers and veggie sandwiches on melt-in-your-mouth rolls. Mama Cherry and Papa Woody were really spectacular souls and Mama Cherry’s cooking is the best we have had on our trip thus far!

Coconuts and Rum!

Serious Tropical Drinks.. all in a days work!

Mahi for Provo! 

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The old prison at Great Inagua. 

113 stairs to the top of the Great Inagua Lighthouse.

Top of the Lighthouse.

Rudi bringing our catch aboard.

Our first morning in Jamaica bright

Jes and I at Blue Lagoon.

Hanging out in the massive mangrove tree.

Enjoying Jumping!

Exploring the Blue Lagoon.

Sign Sign Everywhere a Sign!

Snacking it up!

Can't beat the jerk food and festival!

Starfishes.

Ocean at Blue Lagoon.

A beautiful swim across.

Killer Mangroves!

Regatta Time!

Yesterday marked the first race for the San San crew as we all pulled together to complete the 31st Georgetown Regatta. The race was 18.5 miles in 6-8 foot seas with the wind gusting 15 to 18 knots. GR navigated the course while Jes held down the galley. Gia, although feeling under the weather, competed in competitive sit-ups, push-ups, and conch-blowing. Our friend Wilger directed Rudi and I how to excel as "wench monkeys" and "deck meat". 

The race featured competitions for best dessert under-way, biggest fish caught, and best pictures. We consider ourselves winners for completing the race, even though we finished in last place, smashed out dessert in the head,  and lost the beautiful mahi we hooked along the way! We all had a blast and learned

 a lot just in time for some big crossings as we head toward Jamaica. 

Rudi arriving in Blackpoint

Georgetown 

Monument Hill

Fool on a hill..

Team Bootcamp ready to race!

This would have been delish... really!

Gia blowing the conch horn as we prepared to cross the finish!

Jes reeling in our catch!

Cruising the Exumas

Our stay in Nassau ended on the 17th as we headed out toward Shroud Cay, where we enjoyed a dinner of chili and potatoes cooked over the fire under a blanket of stars. The following day we sailed to Pipe Cay and tied up to a sea wall at the ruins of DeCA Station. This presented a great opportunity for the kitties to bring a few guests aboard..reptiles...

We explored the area by dinghy and snorkeled the Rocky Dundas and Tom's Elkhorn Reef. From Pipe, we headed to Staniel Cay, home of beach pigs! (and goats and chickens) We snorkeled the area including the Thunderball Grotto (made famous by the movie Thunderball). 

Presently, we are enjoying Black Point. This island is home to Lorraine's Cafe and Scorpio's Bar. We will be here through Monday as we wait for Rudi to arrive! 

Snap Shots.

Taking out a little time to study! 

At Waderick Wells, this whale washed up in 1990's .

Exploring a well.

There were tons of amazing shells intact in the Park, a protected area of the Exumas.

Atlantis Resort in Nassau. 

Jess and Gordon relaxing on the lazy river before hitting the slides. 

The top of the mast of San San (thanks for the lift Jes!)