Scooting to Georgetown — Cupcake Afloat

We bugged out of Black Point and anchored a few miles to the south. Despite the fact that Black Point Settlement is a teeny-tiny place, it felt good to get back to a spot that was remote and uncrowded. We could see the mast lights of a few boats a mile to our north, but that was it for company.

The next day we had a brisk, perfect sail as we headed to Galliot Cut. Cupcake acquitted herself well, scooting along through mostly flat seas at 6.2 knots close hauled with a double reefed main and partially rolled genoa.

We were particularly eager to snorkel and spear at Galliot because Ellen and I have very fond memories of the snorkeling there seven years ago. We were not disappointed. The snorkeling was very varied…deep spots, shallow spots, sand, soft coral, hard coral, lots of fish. We spotted a turtle as soon as we got into the water. And we spotted a lobster shortly after that.

Moss wanted to try her hand at the spearfishing so she got set up to kill the lobster but ended up taking just one shot before nerves set in and she left the hunting to my experienced hands.

In my experienced hands I shot and missed the lobster about six times. Managed to knock off one of its antennae but didn’t get the lobster.

It ended up hiding deep under a coral head so we ultimately gave up. I have no idea what my problem was. Moss is being kind and tells me it’s because the lobster was armored.

About fifteen minutes later, Ellen spotted a lobster at about 20’ deep. She couldn’t dive deep enough to spear it and I couldn’t see the thing until she pointed it out to me. It was the same one I’d been harassing earlier. This time I got it but it took me a couple more shots. Crazy.

Immediately after getting the lobster into the bucket in the dinghy, Ellen swam off and returned with a huge conch.

So it was conch fritters for dinner that night and lobster in coconut curry rice the next. Ellen is a marvel.

We left Galliot for Leaf Cay/Lee Stocking Island and fished the deep water of the Sound but caught nothing. The day was breezy, the seas were a little busy, so we were happy to drop anchor behind Leaf Cay and relax in the protected waters. When we arrived at about 2pm, there were two other boats in the anchorage. But by dinner time they had set off for points unknown. We were left the only boat in sight. After dark, but for some faint skyglow from Black Point, the only light in sight was at Cupcake’s masthead.

Yesterday we motored in flat seas and 10 knots (on the nose) to Georgetown where we immediately reconnected with Jennabird.
Moss found her buddy Jonathan from Vivens Aqua and played at Chat & Chill for a few hours in the afternoon. Today after some AM mathematics Moss went to a LEGO extravaganza aboard Vivens Aqua while Ellen and I enjoyed a wet dinghy ride to town for propane, diesel, gasoline, beer, and groceries.

These kids are having a fine time sorting and organizing the LEGOs. Getting ready for LEGOfest in Georgetown.

On Monday when we were kind of beating through the waves, I felt as if we had somehow lost the momentum of our trip. Possibly I felt like that because we are starting to talk about heading north. It’s also possible I felt that way because it has been a long time since we chose to sail on a day that wasn’t great sailing. In any event, we are enjoying our time in Georgetown as we connect with friends and make new ones we will likely see over the coming weeks and months.

Bruised sky over Monument Beach. That’s what today’s cold front looks like.