Century Club: Wally Parolari

Moved Makaira from Redshank around to Monument Beach.  Heard discussion of a fatality the previous evening resulting from a collision between a small fast ferry from Peace and Plenty and an unlighted dinghy.  Somber Discussion. Hiked up the hill to the monument with friends.

Left anchorage at 6:30 to exit Rudder Cut bound for Georgetown.  Wind was NE at 15 in the morning but picked up during the day reaching 20-25 by the time we entered Elizabeth Harbor.  Sailed under genoa alone at 5.6-7kts.  Motored past the ~350 boat floating city and around to the shallow area of Red Shank and anchored in about 7’ at mid tide.

Moved short distance to mooring ball at Cambridge Cay in Exuma Land and Sea Park in gin clear water.  Lots of big rays and a few sharks.  Went ashore and hiked around.

After talking to Chris Parker we left Rock Sound headed for Rudder Cut and Fowl Cay.  CPs initial forecast was for mild sailing then he changed his mind and gave us a much more salty forecast!  Wind built from SSE at 10-15 in the morning to 15-18G25 by mid day. Once we were out of the lee of southern part of Eleuthera, we had a 4-5’ swell rolling in from the NE and choppy wind waves from the SE which made for a pretty rough ride.  We sailed with a single reefed main and ½ the genoa on the rumb line at 7 kts.  As we approached Rudder Cut it got noticeably more windy and very rough!  Made it thru the cut ok and anchored in Fowl Cay with two friends boats and were soon joined by a third friend that saied over from Cat Island to join the group.  Anchorage was pretty rolly for Makaira overnight with swell comming in from the east.