March 17, 2011.

Happy Saint Patty’s day everyone.

We sailed out of Thompson Bay in the predawn darkness. Departing at 0600 allowed us to get through the Comber Channel before the falling tide bottomed out. We had a day of slow downwind sailing. It took us just over 10 hours to cover the 55 miles to Flamingo Cay.

The next morning we had a few hours to kill while we waited for the tide to turn in our favor. So while Jay & Di did some beach combing Christy & I headed out to do a little hunting. There are 8 Bahamanian fishing boats in the 12 miles between Water and Flamingo Cays. Each one of them tow several small hard skiffs so there's a shitload of pros working the area. That’s pretty much standard procedure for this area but we always get something here so we headed out at 0900.

By 1000 we were headed back to the big boat with 2 Hogfish, 2 Grouper and a lobster. Not too shabby for an old white guy with a spear…..

We raised the hook and sailed out of the anchorage about 30 minutes after Far Niente. We beam reached and then close reached the 30 miles averaging 6 knots. Crossing the stretch of water from Man-o-War Cay to Nurse Cay can issue you an ass kicking but because we had waited for the tide the trip was quite pleasant.

This mornings weather report convinced us that Hog Cay is the place to be for the next few nights. Building winds allowed us to sail out of our anchorage and right into the anchorage at Hog Cay.

After setting the hook Christy & I went hunting while the weather would allow us to. We grabbed a nice 4 ½ pounder and head home in time for the evenings festivities. Its Saint Patty’s Day and begora!, there's cocktails on the beach, I gotta go find something green to wear……..