Bimini

1.7.11

We are finally rested up from our journey over. We have explored Bimini a bit and gotten a bit of the local flavor. We ordered fresh baked Bimini bread (sweet bread) right out of someone's kitchen. After walking the beach, we saw an amazing old wreck washed onshore; when the waves came onto the beach they crashed into it spraying upwards of 50 feet in the air. We walked through several old graveyards with headstones dating back to the early 1800s.
But, sadly, we have mostly spent our time here on the boat fixing our macerator. This is the one piece of equipment that you do not want to malfunction while out cruising – this is the thing that expels our black water from the holding tank. In the US every marina has a pump out system, where they literally pump out the black water into large tanks that are emptied weekly. In the Bahamas, they hadn't even heard of a pump out system. There is so much water around them, deep ocean water, that you don't have to go that far to be out in open water where you can discharge your black water yourself. That is, if you have a pump that works. Which we do not. I will spare everyone the gory details and just suffice it to say we have had a really shitty week.
In between working on that and other minor repairs, we met our neighboring sailboat – a kid of about 30 who is actually a Captain for this large 54 foot Hylas sailboat. The owner, Terry, sold some sort of microsoft company and now Mike, the Captain, singlehandedly sails this boat around, meeting Terry in various places around the world. There are only about 5 Hylas boats made every year and each one can be made to specific specs designed by the owner. The boat Terry owns now is a 54 Hylas, year 2009 but Terry has already been eyeing a newer Hylas, this one a 70 foot that is waiting in dry dock until he can sell his current Hylas. Since there are so few of these boats made, Mike has each of the different mechanics on speed dial and can call them anytime he is having a problem and get help from them. Hylas has specialized guys that only work specific parts of Hylas boats, so they are each experts in their division.
We were invited over for drinks and cocktails and given the grand tour – it is straight out of a boat show magazine. Plush interior, suede cushions, 125hp inboard, diesel generator, 3 berths, 2 full baths, washer and dryer, and satellite TV. But to meet Terry and Mike, you wouldn't know it. They are both very down to earth and friendly and have been more than generous towards us. Mike even came over to help Brad with our macerator!
We are all planning on crossing the Grand Bahama Bank tomorrow and will buddy boat across. Brad and I are a bit nervous since we had such a hard time getting the mothership in the inlet. But they have a 7'2” draft on their boat, so if we follow behind them, we shouldn't touch bottom again. We are all geared up and ready to continue over to the east side of the Bahamas where the relaxation can begin!