Spill The Wine Sailing

Inches Above!   Inches Below! Sailing the Chesapeake this summer heading south What has become our annual trip south was very different this year, for two reasons; first we had a crewmate and second, we decided to take Spill The Wine down parts of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).  Both were new ground for us. We had some illness in the family, and so we were concerned that at some point one or more of us would have to jump off the boat and return home.  Our solution was to start asking around to see if anyone wanted to sail with us to Florida.   We thought an extra crew mate would give us flexibility in the event Barb had to quickly return home.  Finding that extra crew didn't take long. Sam worked throughout the summer on a sight seeing sailboat which occupied the next slip beside ours in Baltimore.  After finishing college in Florida and before returning home to Hong Kong, he decided to get a job on the tour boat for the summer, and as such, we had a nice op

One could say Hurricane Irma missed us by 11 inches This sailboat washed ashore by the marina bedroom's balcony This sailboat was anchored in Rock Harbor, and I suppose technically you can say it still is.... because it's still attached to its anchor, which is still in Rock Harbor!  Its rode (anchor line) stretches across the side of our condo and over the rocks and is currently in the mangroves.  When the water rose, and the anchor dragged, the boat came ashore and deposited itself inches away ... 11 to be exact! Barb has to squeeze to get thru the opening We actually measured!  The boat placed itself exactly 11 inches from the corner of our unit without any evidence of ever hitting the building.  I spoke with the owner who told me it is an 18 ton sailboat; I can't imagine what 18 tons would do bashing up against a building.  So glad we didn't find out! This marina power pedestal was one of the few to survive Val, a former dock maste

Once we left Georgetown in the Exumas, we headed to Emerald Bay again for a few days until some weather passed, and then, perhaps because we had endured our fair share of headwinds, and perhaps Neptune had finally started to feel sorry for us.... everything changed, and not just for the better... the best! It’s true,  "Fair Winds and Following Seas" are the way to go! We sailed from Key Largo to Key West, back to Key Largo... to Nassau, down to Georgetown, back to Nassau, and then to Hilton Head, South Carolina, on one tank of diesel.  The trip from Georgetown to Baltimore, some 1400 nautical miles was some of the most pleasant weather and sailing imaginable...   Thank you Neptune. Spill The Wine flying her spinnaker in the Bahama's Northwest Channel We had just shoved off from Nassau with the intention of sailing thru the night, returning to the United States, when we noticed another sail boat was on the same track.  It wasn't long before we recei

Georgetown & Stocking Island....  Our Southern Most Point! Spill The Wine's crew at the iconic Chat 'N' Chill Bar - Stocking Island Chat 'N' Chilling is apparently what all the sailboats do around here -  I'd guess approximately 150 of them!    We thought there were lots of other boats at Big Majors, but this place is a sailboat mecca!   We were lucky and found an opening in the anchorage somewhat close to the iconic Chat-n-Chill bar which is the heart of Stocking Island and the whole Georgetown experience. On the Beach at Stocking Island Making a grocery run into Georgetown... Here's the parking lot Santana's on Little Exuma Island.... Best food we've had in the Exumas While taking a swim around STW, snapped this pic of the prop at sunset So now, we’ve reached our southernmost point. We’re turning around, heading north, and with some luck, we’ll have the wind to our backs.   We’re 943 nau

Water Angel Barb The light from the holes in the dome inside the grotto lit Barb up just like an angel Michael inside the Cave  The grotto was featured in the James Bond movie Thunderball..... now we're dying to see the film.   We can report diving into the underwater entrance does kinda make you feel like James Bond.

Nurse Sharks Swimming in the Marina Even though they are only nurse sharks, it does make one a little extra careful when getting on and off a boat at Staniel Cay.   It's a little eerie watching the sharks swim around your boat day and night! This Shark seemed to like Spill The Wine Typical Street Sign This was a typical street sign we encountered while exploring the island.  Pretty relaxed place.  The restaurant/bar at the marina is the place to be! St. Luke's Medical Clinic Here's the medical center..... after careful inspection, if I ever need medical attention, this would be my absolute first pick! Out to dinner at the Hill House on nearby Fowl Cay