2021 in Review - Ready for 2022!
Thank you for bringing 2021 to an end! When I look at our world in 2021 it is a bit overwhelming. I decided to look for all the good that I could find. Why? Because in my opinion there is just to much negativity, anger.
For Hugh and I we are “living our dream on the Ocean”. We decided at the end of 2020 to take the step and go to the Bahamas. Our choice was Grand Bahama Island, Freeport. We decided against the West End and had reservations at Oceans Edge. Prior to going over to Oceans Edge we were required to do a Customs & Immigration Check-in and that we did at Grand Bahama Yacht Club. We were the fourth boat that they had checked in due to the shut-downs from Covid-19. As we were talking with the HaborMaster, Fabian we heard, “Hey Simplicity “coming from a familiar voice. There was a Greg, the owner of a Regal (power cruiser) who was a slip mate from our adventures in Key West at Stock Island Marina. Fabian asked what are your plans were and we stated we had reservations at Oceans Edge. He assigned a slip and we cleared customs and moved to a free slip. Fabian met us at the slip and we docked, he mentioned that they would love for us to stay and that they would be able to provide “a deal” on slip rates. Well, we never pass up a good deal, so we stayed. I am so glad we did, we spent several months working on my business, working on projects, Hugh making a job change and then by March we were ready to continue our journey. I learned how to SCUBA dive, and now have more than 20 dives.
Phase 1 – GBYC to Great Harbour – two guests aboard Rene and Liesel, a good sail for half the day, and the balance was a motor. Just at dusk we were off, Stirrup Cay and looked for the markers that were not there. We decided to anchor as a storm was bearing down on us, and it was a full-on squall with high winds and pouring rain. The anchor was set as was are alarm. Began preparing dinner, for the tired crew and as we were eating the alarm went off. We jumped up and I turned on the engine and Hugh went forward to raise the anchor. (This was the second issue with setting the “new” anchor). As we looked around the anchorage three of the four boats were dealing with the same issue. We reset and waited to insure that we got a good hold. The next morning we decided to move into a more protected site and verify weather and we had a nasty Northerly coming in, so we brought the anchor up and ventured into Great Harbour Marina. This is a small world, as I backed Simplicity into her slip I noticed the boat in the next slip from Montana, our hailing port is Boise, ID. The women looked familiar but she had a hat and mask on. We got the boat secured and I stepped onto the dock, and I hear “Deb Marlor it’s been a long time”! My old friend and business colleague from years ago in Boise. Wow. We had a whole 10 days in Great Harbour waiting on a weather window. Rene and Liesel, enjoyed the island, exploring and we worked, played and reconnected.
Phase 2 – Nassau, New Providence - decided to anchor in Nassau Harbour and the Windlass failed. So, we decided to pull into The Pointe Marina and see if we could fix the Windlass. Hugh took the Windlass apart, completely, and after much searching through out Nassau, he replaced everything he could do and it still would not work. Decision – replace it. It was original with the boat, therefore it was time for a new one. We began the research on what to replace it with and took all aspects into consideration and the best solution for us was the Maxwell Windlass. Next problem, how do we get it shipped and through customs? Resolved as we found that our friends son was arriving Nassau the following week for a 7 day Charter. Thank you, Dave Sharp Jr.! We were so grateful that he was able fly and bring us this expensive piece of hardware. The last project here was completing installation of our two solar panels and making the casing, and sewing it into the Bimini. Check.
The reason we were worried was because in Freeport we had discovered that being “Yacht in Transit” did not guarantee that your boat parts were not dutied, we had several instances of being charged by the broker and to reverse the cost almost as much and there were no guarantees that you would get the parts in a timely manner.
After weeks in Nassau, three different Marinas our favorites were The Pointe, and Palm Cay! Nothing good to say about Nassau Yacht Haven, with the exception of Wellington one of the other sailors.
Phase 3 – Spanish Wells – great Moorings with Bandit, beautiful little settlement, amazing beaches, anchorages, star gazing, food - The Shipyard, and lovely people.
Phase 4 – Little Harbour – Pete’s Pub – calm, beautiful views, challenging influx of people from the “resort” on Friday night, good food.
Phase 5 – Hopetown – beautiful moorings, waited for high tide to enter, and enjoyed our time there. We took the ferry to Marsh Harbour. Shocking after two years to see the devastation, and they had already done so much. Covid stopped all crews coming into to do humanitarian efforts and delayed further progress.
Phase 6 – Spanish Wells to Current Cut to Hatchett Bay – here we spent two weeks in the Bay, had a couple of nice dinners at the Front Porch, and had a tour guide by the name of Johnny Cleary who took us to the “Glass Window”, The Shipwreck caves, the Sapphire Blue Hole and more.
Phase 7 – Nassau for water and fuel and then on to the Exumas. Allan’s Cay, Highbourne, and Norman’s Cay. We were really getting frustrated with our anchor, it was a new Mantus. We kept having issues with the holding and it like everything in sailing, it will fail at the worst times. We were anchored off Highbourne and we had a night where the “blow” was 35 knots and more. Our anchor failed us. We were up all night, moving, resetting, moving, resetting. At 6:00 a.m. I sent a Message to Wally Moran, asking for help! Wally responded almost immediately, asked for photos and promised he would be on the phone at Corporate to find a solution. Wally, did exactly that! After sorting through the facts, he was able to tell us that the instructions that were sent, were from a prior anchor and do this, then that. It was fixed!
Next stop, Norman’s Cay. Saturday we awoke and wanted to charge the batteries and turned the engine on and the dreaded “warning light” alarm goes off. Something was overheating. After a conversation with our mechanic in Georgia, and many text messages, a new thermostat, new impellars, we finally found the main issue and our 2 year old Heat Exchanger had sprung a leak. Drew guided us to using “underwater epoxy” and coating the Heat Exchanger where it was leaking. We let it dry overnight, and the next morning, it was sealed and held. Back to Nassau for water, then onto the West End – Clifton Bay.
Phase 8 – Andros Island, Great Harbour and back to GBYC
We sailed. No incidents, cautiously checking the Heat Exchanger and engine. We anchored off Great Harbour and the next morning headed back to Grand Bahama Yacht Club. We returned on July 15th.
The next decision was: are we going back to the United States or??? We made the decision to put Simplicity on the “hard” at Bradford Marine and fly to the country of Panama. We found a great Airbnb in Nueva Gargona and a month in Bocas del Torro, on Careneros Island. Two very different parts of the country, beautiful, affordable, great weather, the Pacific Ocean on one side the Caribbean on the other. I loved the community of Bocas del Toro. I loved the amenities of the beautiful 22nd floor condo and miles of white and black beaches in Gorgona. Groceries were cheap, very easy to navigate the culture. Then we went to Casco Viejo for a few nights lots of photos and loved the regentrification projects happening in this part of Panama City. Last, but not least was our trip to the Panama Canal. It is amazing. Every American should visit and see this it truly is the 8th wonder of the world.
Phase 9 Back to the Bahamas and time to put our time and effort into boat projects to ready Simplicity for 2022. We left Bradford Marine on the November 12th, heading back to GBYC, we were welcomed “home” by Fabian. Kelly Marlor came for a ten day visit. For me, (Debbi) I had a great year, with my business, doing it exactly the way I love living my life on the sea. My clients are amazing and so many are ready to step forward and take the leap to “their Ocean Dream”. Hugh had a great year becoming more more valuable on the boat. He installed Lithium batteries, and a new Sea Water Pro Water Maker. We left GBYC on December 24th, heading South to the Exumas. We stopped in the Berry Islands for a couple of nights, then on to Nassau, and onward. I am so grateful for this year 2021, it was amazing
The New Year
2022 – Warderick Wells, Exuma Park is where we slept in the New Year. We have sailed, motored a lot, snorkeled where & when we can. Hugh is starting a new job, in mid-January as a remote employee for a company who has no issues with living a life fully and completely. It is really hard to say it is more beautiful here but it is breathtaking, the colors of the water, the islands are brilliant and beautiful. Today, we are sitting out a front, as we are about 35 miles from Georgetown.
We have written our goals for 2022, I have written my revised Vision Statement, and on the business side just putting everything in place for this year.
To You & Your Dream
Capt. Deb & Capt Hugh
S/V Simplicity