Tom dedicated part of this morning to running the generator to top off the batteries since we got behind in solar due to the breaker failure two days ago. The next few days may be cloudy and squally so we want to start out with a full charge. Paula fished a bit, (no takers) mended, got canned foods that we will soon need out of deep storage, and caught up on email. We then jumped in Poltergeist to explore the surrounding boundaries of the anchorage which consist of several beaches and much rocky shoreline. One beach is private, for patrons of Fowl Cay Resort, one is the Pig Beach, but two are designated as “cruiser’s beaches.” There was soft white sand on both,  patio chairs on one, a grill and picnic table on the other. There were some trails that led into the interior, lined with stones and punctuated by stone cairns, left by other cruisers. We have seen these almost everywhere we’ve traveled in the Bahamas.

The beaches led into water that was shallow for a long stretch. We saw small sponges, moon jellies, sea fans, grass, tiny minnows, larger snapper and one large gar. Fortunately we did NOT see the large nurse shark, who swims under C Ghost at least once/day. The rocky shoreline was beautiful, and full of tiny plover who fled as soon as you approached. We also investigated the narrow cut between this anchorage and Big Majors East, but didn’t venture too close as the current was too fierce for little Poltergeist.

Once home, Paula baited a squid lure with some raw shrimp in hopes of making her rig doubly attractive and tried again with the casting rod. On her third cast, something large, swift, and silver rocketed out of the grassy area she was casting into, and with one big “jerk” seized the bait, broke the line and fled, taking bait, lure, leader and weight. The line was clearly too light or too old. Paula went in one second from anticipatory elation to mortified disgust with her equipment. She was heard muttering something about “no better than a Barbie fishing rod.”  She then deployed the trolling rod, although this is not the proper setting, but had to take the bait out of the water when the nurse shark showed up. Later she saw a group of likely small Jacks, but they were on a mission and swam straight by C Ghost. Short story? Fish 3, Paula 0.

The afternoon was enlivened by a small sea plane landing in the anchorage and taxiing to Pig Beach, where it disgorged a statuesque brunette in a bikini. We tried as hard as we could with the binoculars but couldn’t tell if she was somebody famous. Then, after about 30 minutes, she re-planed, and the plane took off right down the middle of the anchorage, not 100 yards from C Chost! Next, a supply freighter that we recognized from Nassau, the Legend II, came through, skirting the shallow bar, and tied up to the resort dock to unload supplies. It too left in 30 minutes.

Today we saw many more boats, some familiar, some new, come to the anchorage. Strong NE winds shifting to E are expected beginning at midnight, and gusts are forecast to be up to 35kts. There are now over 50 boats in the anchorage, hoping to take advantage of the NE – E protection. Yesterday, we followed our anchor rode out to our anchor in Poltergeist, and our 78 pound Mantus is buried up to the roll bar, so we think we will be secure. When the wind blows NE – E, there are not boats directly in front of us, and no boats directly behind us for a far distance, which is good, in case of dragging. Despite that, we will be sleeping in the cockpit tonight with the big spotlight at hand, just in case.

Tonight’s dinner was chicken with mushroom sauce redux, sweet potatoes in their jackets, sautéed zucchini (thank you, Pink Pearl), cherry and mixed canned fruit compote, and Johnnycake.