Thanksgiving with a Mahi

After a final provision stop in Staniel Cay we started out on our 100nm trip to Rum Cay.

As we wound our way out of the precarious Big rock cut abe casually dropped into the conversation that we may encounter 'severe thunder storms', a very tactful moment to bring that up as we exchanged glances, fear flickering in Esme's eyes.

The wind was on our beam, a consistent 15knots. With the swell reducing to half a foot 'Slow Flight' was cruising along in her element.

The Fishing line was out and we had a drill prepared for when we caught our 40pound Mahi, we waited...... suddenly, the line went taught and Pippa was up. Throwing 'the plan' out of the window she dashed around completing everyones 'fish on' jobs in record time, Esme stood poised with the camera as we reeled in our prize. Unfortunately it was only a wee Mahi and we were quite glad the little fishy spat the hook at the last minute and swam off to live another day. We strung our line out once more but with no luck before the sun went down. Pippa was devastated as she had already imagined up the numerous ways in which we would cook it. 

Arriving under cover of darkness. We dropped our anchor near the western shore and waited for daylight. creeping our way through the inky black water aware of the potential coral heads below us. We could hear the waves crashing on the beach but with no lights on the island we could see nothing. After we were happy & secure we napped and waited for dawn. Waking only for the torrential squalls that had been hitting us since midnight.

After a hearty breakfast of peanut butter and jelly on toast we headed in with a view to dock in the Marina (closed in early 2013 but free dockage available to all that wish to enter) with no channel markers We picked our way through the multitude of coral heads in the entrance only to abort half way due to bad light. Our unanimous decision to anchor turned out to be a good one after we were later informed it was a shark infested, mosquito haven.

Spirits renewed we launched the tender and pootled off the shore in search of water, fuel and food. With a population of around 70, Rum Cay was quiet and peaceful. After meeting a friendly local we were directed to the small market hut where we found a few supplies.

Wandering off down the road in search of Wifi we watched as a Land Rover buggy that had just zoomed past make a 20point turn to come back and speak to us (we must have had our damsels in distress faces on) Here we met Tai from New Jersey, who was building a house on the island. He thought we might need a little assistance. After giving us a small tour of the area he took us to his neighbours house which was empty but had forgotten to turn the Internet off. Score!!

That evening we cooked up a storm in the rolling galley. Bean burgers, stuffing, roasted potatoes and the ever precious broccoli curtesy of Freyja. A pavlova made expertly and quite vigorously by Pippa and a truly patriotic table decorated by Esme with crackers, an American flag and themed plates plates we had picked up in Florida. We didn't have a turkey but we celebrated in style. 

Tai had invited us for apres-thanksgiving dinner drinks (or moonshine as the island had run out of alcohol) but the previous night without sleep had taken its toll and we all hit the hay.