After 90 days in the Bahamas Makai is beginning to make the final run up the islands.  After a rainy, windy day the wind turned around and blew out of the south. Gary and Sandy flew in and joined us on our northward journey to say goodbye to our favorite spots.

Off of Musha Cay a ray and barracuda greeted us in the anchorage.

We took our usual snorkel over to David Copperfield’s Mermaid statue.

Roy found a hermit crab to pose on the piano.

The mirror finish of the stainless steel prompted us to break out scrubbers and scrapers.

To all sculptures out there, I would love to see more underwater art.

The view of Makai from inside the cave is like looking through a magic window.

The islands are off limits, posted with private property signs.  Rudder Cay is also patrolled by a dog.  Some reports are that this dog is for security, other reports say it was abandoned.  Either way, this pup has been reported for over a year.  We’ve never seen any people on the island taking care of her and she was very friendly.  So for the two days we were in the area, she enjoyed buckets of water and piles of kibble.

As always, the sunsets are spectacular.

Musha Cay to Staniel Cay is a 20 mile opportunity to catch a Mahi Mahi along the drop off.  The anxiety of the possibility of having to land a Mahi Mahi makes my heart race and keeps me up all night rehearsing the steps.

When Roy yelled “FISH ON” we all assumed our positions and went into action.  The announcement that it was a sailfish and we would release it relaxed me enough to enjoy the fight.  Roy got it right up along the side of Makai and while we were discussing how we would release it, flip flop flap, off it went.

A few minutes later the alert rang out again as the reel went zzzing.  Unfortunately, the fish didn’t take a good enough bite of the balihoo.

Staniel Cay is a chance to pamper ourselves.  We met up with Dream Catcher and snorkeled in Thunderball Grotto.

Everyone had fun swimming in and out of the cave through tunnels.

The sea anemone is like a beautiful flower in a field of sand and sea grass.

Marie came by to pose for photos.

The water was so warm and clear we had fun with everything including the anchor.

Mamma got run over by the anchor.  It was great to have the freedive training so I could relax and stay down longer.

Genny and I cleaned the bottom last week, here’s a picture of Genny’s underwater art.  Oh Boy, the bottom paint doesn’t last long when we’re always on the move. One of this summer’s projects is to haul Makai out of the water and repaint the bottom.

For a treat we all spiffed up on our best clothes and went to the yacht club for dinner.

Local nurse sharks were there to greet us.

The last adventure here is to visit the pigs one last time.

Next stop is Pipe Creek.  The current was ripping by so strong everyone had to hold a line while swimming.  When Topaz got to the end of her line we would pull her in for a rest.

Roy and Ken went Pompano fishing in a beautiful snorkel spot.

With a belly full of fish, we moved into the Exuma Land and Sea Park where everything is protected.

Back to sand bars and snorkeling for the fun of it.

The protected fish grow big and are comfortable about swimming in front of snorkelers.

The strawberry grouper was beautiful and the sergeant majors swarm like butterflies.

Topaz loves to swim.

We haven’t seen many eels, this guy came out for a picture.

Across the way is a sunken airplane.

Genny swam through the fuselage.

When we get home I’ll have to find a painting of a reef.  This a common view while we snorkel.
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Conchs in the park roam freely.

We have a favorite little anchorage near the airplane, but there wasn’t enough room for two boats to anchor, so we rafted up.

Makai and Dream Catcher became a quadrahull side by side schooner.

It was lots of fun, we should have done this sooner.  Moving between the boats to visit and even eating separate yet together was fun.

The end of another great day is signaled by the blowing of the conchs.

Next stop is Wardrick Wells after a long down wind run.

Everyone got cozy with their kindle books and caught up on their reading.

Topaz has taken a liking to laying on Gary.  Either he sits in her spot and she cozies up to him or she finds a few inches of cushion to squish in next to him.

The spinnaker does a great job.  Thanks Rodney for equipping our Leopard 47 with the whomper.

Makai’s new outboard rides on the dinghy nicely while the old motor rests on the outboard mount.

Wardrick Wells was surprisingly busy.  The moorings were full so off to the anchorage  we went.

First a supply launch buzzed past us, then a sea plane took off.

Wardrick Wells is the Exuma Land and Sea Park headquarters and has the most beautiful reefs.

Huge schools of snappers lingered in the trenches.

LOBSTERS, lobsters were everywhere.  They were huge and walking around without fear of being caught and eaten.

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This ray was only about as big as my hand.

The angel fish hide behind sea fans and trigger fish glide by.

We had a glimpse of a sea turtle.

Roy’s favorite Nassau Grouper safely swam in the park protected from fishermen.

This is our last chance for a Mahi Mahi with Gary and Sandy.  We left Wardrick Wells, headed out to the edge of the park and trolled the 20 miles up to Norman’s Cay and Wax Cay cut.  Right there as we were about to turn in toward the anchorage I got internet reception and an email from Scott Aanonson.  He said after talking to fishing friends and hearing their stories, tiring the fish out seemed to be key.  Then all of a sudden  ”FISH ON!”  We all calmed down and took the advice in our email.  Makai was only running on the jib, so we pulled it in and continued along at 2 kts on bare poles for a half hour while Roy tired out Cynthia.  In Georgetown Roy met a fisherman who told him when he lost a fish it was like losing his girlfriend so Roy has started naming the fish.

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This is really a team effort.  There has to be someone to drive, manage the pole, do the gaffing, grab it with a blanket and sit on the fish while someone else fills the gills with vodka.

Cynthia, 48 inches and 17 lbs.

Roy does all the cleaning.

It’s just amazing how big the fillets are.

Now that Roy finally landed a Mahi Mahi, he can jump for joy and relax on the sand bars.

Everyone was equally as relieved after losing the previous fish.

Genny’s new selfie is pictures of her legs and feet.

Topaz is always fun to watch in the water but not much for posing for photos.

So off she swims into the sunset.