Rum Cay, Bahamas
23.38.425N
74.50.553W

We left Conception Island at 9:15 am and motorsailed to Rum Cay anchoring about 1:30pm. Although there were rain clouds all around us, we never were rained on. The winds were between 4 - 8 kts, enough to hold the jib open but not enough to sail with.

We met up with Rick & Connie off Calaloo who left the same time as we did from Georgetown but went to Long Island instead of Conception Island as a transit point. Doc-No-More came in a couple of hours later. When we went into town to explore, Doc-No-More came by to pick us up in their dinghy and we headed to the government dock to off load. At first we were going to take the dinghy up onto the beach, but some kids on the dock encouraged Roger to tie to the dock near some steps. Roger wasn't happy with the way the dinghy was riding and was trying to throw out a stern anchor to adjust the position while Elaine and I took off looking for a restaurant to have dinner. I guess while we weren't looking, the guys decided to revert back to the original plan and anchored on the beach.

In approaching this harbor, the charts had warned not to anchor in the mail boat channel. Unfortunately, just where that channel was located was anybody's guess, so we all watched when the mail boat arrived. It took the same zig-zag route we had entered on and passed behind all of our boats then tied up to the dock exactly where those kids had suggested we leave the dinghy. They must have bust a gut thinking that they were going to see a snow bird's dinghy get smooshed by that mail boat. Kids are kids no matter where you go.

Later on, when the six of us (Roger & Elaine, Rick & Connie, and Dale and I) went for dinner at the Ocean View, Dale hung out several extra lights, besides the anchor light and all of our little solar lights, just to make sure we were well lit should the mail boat decide to leave after dark.

The big conversation at dinner was the weather. A front is due to pass through Saturday or Sunday. So the dilemma is, do we want to spend the next 4 or 5 days here or try to make the 20 hour passage to Mayaguana before the front passes through. The only thing of interest in the town that we've found so far were some stone carvings. There is a very talented stone mason here that is taking the local limestone and carving sculptures with it and placing them throughout the marina area, the area around his mother's home and some of the streets between the two. We didn't meet him, but we did meet his mother. Another item of interest here was an area of spear fishing but with unsettled weather approaching, Dale said that he probably wouldn't be doing any spear fishing anyway.

Mayaguana is another uncertainty. It does offer some protection but nothing better, or worse, than here. It's an overnight trip there if we don't stop in Samana. We'd all like to sail this leg. The predicted winds are between 15-20 kts with an unknown factor in the possible squalls of the front. Calaloo is taking off tomorrow come hell or high water. Doc-No-More is more inclined to wait until Monday or Tuesday after the front passes through. Dale and I are leaning towards taking off tomorrow as well, just not at the crack of dawn since we don't want have to stand off for long periods of time waiting for good sun to enter into the harbor.

So tonight, we go to bed not knowing just exactly what we're going to do. We'll get up tomorrow and listen to the various weather forecasts and go from there. I guess this is where the adventure really does become the adventure.