Today we were up before daylight, due to our (possibly permanent) hypersensitivity to boat noises. The small clinkings and rope slippage noises that woke us were coming from the sailboat across the pier which was preparing to depart for Florida today. We met the Captain, his wife, and their guest yesterday and found that they had lived in Severna Park, right next door to Pasadena. We came up on deck to see them off and make sure they needed no assistance. They exited the slip neatly and waved goodbye. Since we were up, we decided to take the remainder of the bedding and blankets to the laundry room only to discover that neither of the two washers were functioning, although they’d performed fine yesterday.

Undaunted, Paula undertook to clean the cushion covers on the starboard settees and refresh their Scotch-guarding. This required a bucket, Woolite, a soft scrub brush, sunshine and a breeze. Fortunately, all were available, and the covers dried quickly after being hung on the granny bars and the Hoyt boom. On a boat, any vaguely horizontal surface can become a clothesline.  While the cushion covers dried, Paula made brownies and distributed some to our remaining neighbor, an enigmatic Aussie who we met last time we were here, and who seems to spend most of his days at the marina.

Tommy worked to remove salt from the metal parts of the topsides and remove any surface oxidation. Whenever we sail in waves approaching three feet or more in height, the bow railing, windlass, cabin top grab rails, and lifeline stanchions all become encrusted with salt. If we’re not in a place where it can be rinsed off afterwards (or if we are short on fresh water for that purpose), the salt begins to create rust-like stains on all the metal. The first job today was washing off all the salt. That was followed by using a metal cleaner to get the rust stains off. A lot more to go in the next few days  (featured picture).

Next lunch, a nap, and a game of chess. Tommy won, and Paula didn’t get mad. Tommy has been burning up the computer in his dinghy and engine research – more about this later.

By the afternoon the marina staff managed to resurrect one of the washers, so the bedding got done after all. While Paula waited for the dryer to finish, she had an interesting conversation with the marina manager, who is only 21 years old, and one of the boatyard hands. These young gentlemen were bemoaning their experiences with “Bahamian women” (their phrase). They told Paula that these women want not just a man’s heart, but a substantial portion of his wallet in the form of gifts, dinners, etc. Even then, true love is not assured, as sometimes the gifts are liked better than the man himself. Fresh off a romantic disappointment, the manager asked Paula to show a picture of the single daughter who we said was to visit.  Paula showed them a picture of Margeaux, Glennis, and Olivia together at Margeaux’s wedding shower. They oohed and aahed and said that all the girls were truly beautiful, but after asking their ages, ruefully stated that “we are too young for them”.

The marina was quite busy today, as Friday is the day that week-long charters return to port. We were treated all day to the sight of various boats and their crews making their way back to their slips. The best one was a huge catamaran, apparently with a crew of only two. A woman stood on the bow in bikini and cowboy hat ready to man the lines. The Captain called to her over the hailer in a Texas baritone. His: “Now get that line to starboard first, you hear”, was audible to everyone in the marina. Tommy and Paula use their headsets to communicate, but this Captain clearly uses his to command.

Tommy suggested that we have pizza at the marina restaurant for dinner, so that’s what we did, along with an order of conch fritters. After dinner we took a long tour around the marina, where we admired different ways of setting up one’s boat. We also came across the elusive marina cat. A Scottish fold, more feral than not, she seemed less than welcoming. Paula has left cat treats out for her anyway. As usual, we also saw some interesting boat names and transom treatments.

Tomorrow the winds are forecast for the high teens, gusting to 25kts. The next two days 25kts, gusting to 28-30. We’ll see if Paula can get the port cushions done without anything blowing away.