S/V Sea Breeze

Bitter sweet return to Cat. Pompey had passed away, but his memory lives on at Duke’s Conch Stand.

March 24-29, 2026

We woke up Tuesday morning, March 24th, to more super glassy water all day. When there is no wind overnight the boat wonders around. In this case our anchor was right beside the boat and we were pointed in the opposite direction. Water is about 9 feet deep.

Nancy paddleboarded 2 miles to the Glass Window Bridge. I chased along in the dinghy. Here she is cutting between two rocks.

Originally there was a natural bridge over this opening. But it collapsed in the 1950’s. Winslow Homer painted a picture in 1885 of the natural bridge. This area gets battered by hurricanes. A year earlier an American tourist was washed off the rocks and swept out to see during a bad storm. On either side of the bridge are ready made barricades to close the bridge during bad storms.

I did give Nancy a short tow back towards the boat. But she dropped the tow line and paddled the majority of the way back.

At anchor off of Muttonfish Point.

Enjoying a swim around the boat.

We really love this secluded anchorage. But the glass calm days this year really brings out the charm.

We both witnessed the green flash this evening, shortly after this photo was taken.

Corn beef hash and eggs for breakfast, my favorite! This is the start of Wednesday the 25th. After breakfast we pulled anchor and headed south to Alabaster Bay, Eleuthera.

This leg is about 16 miles, as usual heading south east it is into the predominate wind. We were able to sail most of the way there while towing the dinghy.

The entrance to Hatchet Bay, not as blind as Great Harbor Cay. But the fast ferry comes through here without a heads up radio call. And it is a wide boat! People either love or hate Hatchet Bay. We find the water murky and the holding poor. The settlement was pretty basic.

We anchored off of Alabaster Bay. Nancy paddled from our boat about a mile and a half north up the coast beside Governors Harbor Airport.

During her paddle she saw a young Manta Ray in very shallow water. We have never seen one in The Bahamas before.

Here is Nancy on Thursday the 26th, having her morning coffee with a rainbow behind her. We were anchored off of Alabaster Bay for two nights. Each night we had light showers come overhead. Which means I am usually the first one up, as I sleep under an open hatch. So I scramble around closing hatches first, then portholes.

On Thursday the 26th we went walk-about. After beaching our dinghy we took different roads to the beach at the abandoned US Naval base. From there we traveled south for a mile to “The Deck” restaurant.

When we beach the dinghy, we pull it up high on the beach using an inflatable fender underneath. It is an old Egyptian trick for building pyramids, or so they say. Keeps the dinghy safe.

Nancy can’t resist a swing from a tree. This is where we popped out onto the beach.

This beach is well known for its pink look. Which is caused by single cell microscopic coral insects, known as Foraminifera.

This interesting brach bar has all sorts of eclectic art work made out of refuse found on the beach. This post is adorned with shoes and nets.

Here I am adding my hat to the post with hardhats. We have always been amazed at how many hardhats we find on beaches in The Bahamas.

This is “The Deck”, a very quirky beach bar run by the “Conch Nazi”. That is what we call him. A white Bahamian from Nassau who’s ancestors are Loyalists on his mothers side and English settlers on his father’s side.

We did not have reservations, but we talked him into cooking one hamburger that the two of us would split. Plus 3 Kalik beers to wash it down. Total bill was $60 with a tip.

We walked back the same beach because it is cooler than walking on the roads without any wind or shade. Here Nancy is walking up hill on a huge concrete rain water catchment for the SOSUS Base.

Nancy doing her thing.

We left after breakfast the next day, heading south to Ten Bay. Plan is to sit out an upcoming storm.

As I was heading into Ten Bay with half a dozen boats all ready there. I decided to veer to the left and check out a secluded anchorage very near some cliffs. It is perfect. Great sand in 10 feet of water and we are protected by winds. It allowed me to practice padddleboarding several times a day.

This was an evening shot of reflected pink clouds to our north.

Nancy pulling her paddleboard up on shore to check for shell, near Ten Bay.

Nancy is trying to teach herself how to weave a basket like the one on the seat next to her. Just making it up as she goes.

She ran out of palm fronds so we went to Ten Bay where she cut several more.

These are Sea Grape Snails.

Wednesday 18 - Monday the 23, 2026

We were weathered in for 4 days with winds in excess of 20 mph. We were tucked up in the lee of Royal Island. Albert and Mary on “Timeless”, made it to the anchorage around 2200 the evening we crossed from the Berries. It started blowing that night and continued. So it was good they crossed the bar when they did. It was a New Moon with zero moonlight and with overcast skies no star light either. With a puckered tail end, Albert motored through the small cut between Egg Island and Little Egg Island. Luckily he had a cookie crumb trail from the year before. As a said the next day, “ Had to believe in technology.”

Above is a photo of Nancy and I playing Rumikub. As usual she beat me 2 out of 3. So we had a few down days of cleaning the boat, playing games, and doing social media stuff. We hardly felt stymied on the boat. Just chilled out. Nancy finally got in a shore line paddle.

I had made water for 4 hours and we had a lull in the wind. Nancy paddled to shore.

This is the 45 ft. Cabo Rico that was in Great Harbour Cay Marina next to us on clearing into The Bahamas. Steve and Karen invited us over for “Sun Downers”, which is cocktails. Since Nancy had been drooling for three days over this boat we accepted the invitation. Great conversation over drinks.

Mornings were chilly, at 71 degrees. The wind was the chilling factor. Afternoon baths in the sea were diffidently chilly. Nancy with her cup of coffee in the bean bag chair.

“S&S” for dinner, Salmon and Salad. Note the fleece jacket. Yes I know friends in New York have snow on the ground. But it is a bit chilly when the winds blow here.

Winds eased up a little on Saturday the 21st of March. Nancy paddle boarded to shore. I fired up the dinghy and chased her to shore.

There was a wreck near shore I wanted to document and put on NoForeignLand. After I did that, Nancy and I moved to the west end of the island, and a small beach there.

At the eastern end of this small sandy area were six King Conch. Nancy was able to see two large Bonefish working the sandy area. Just a couple of small starfish and Queen Conch.

Yes I have shorts on, they just happen to be similar in color to my tan.

When we did the “Sun Downers” on Anglefish they mentioned finding a Squid on deck that day. Otherwise I would not have figured out what this stain on my hull was. Turns out we were “Inked” that night by probably two squid. Luckily with finding it fresh and recent waxing of the hull. It came off with a couple of swipes of a sponge.

Sunset in the bean bag listening to an audio book.

Blink and you miss it. The way our boat is set up, we spend a lot of time in the cockpit. So views like this are usual.

There are six boats here, with several leaving for the Abaco’s or Berry Islands. This is the preferred anchorage for the jump. Glass calm with two dolphins approaching the sailboat Anglefish behind us.

While motoring 5 miles across the shallow sound, I could see an interesting feature on Google Earth. So I used Google Maps to home in on it. The depth was 15 feet and the surface was basically smooth.

It certainly seems to be a wreck, with either concrete blocks or ballast densely packed.

Nancy pretending to be a ships figurehead.

We dinghied to Pilchers Creek. This ship was washed up on the shore during a Hurricane.

We anchored our dinghy at a small beach at The Bluff Settlement. Then did a quick 1 hour walk around the settlement.

We talked to a few locals. The most engaging was a twenty something guy. He was born in The Bahamas to Haitian parents. After I walked away, Nancy said, “Did you see the ankle bracelet?” Sure enough he was wearing an ankle bracelet that was flashing. That reinforces our opinion of Eleuthera. It is just not as safe as the Family Out Islands further South.

Nancy bought two large red onions in town. We were told to talk to “Tippy” about getting some crawfish. We talked to Tippy’s wife. Tippy was out in the boat.

From The Bluff we returned to our boat and proceeded west for our nights anchorage. We sailed at a super slow rate of 2.7 kts, enjoying every minute. Winds were going to be light all night, so we anchored two yards from shore. Above Nancy is celebrating another beautiful day in The Bahamas by blowing the Helmet Conch shell.

Nancy waving at the local crawfishermen heading out for the day. Morning temperatures are 68 degrees.

We timed our passage through Current Cut to have a following current. Nancy was seeing whirlpools sucking air from the surface and being pulled 6 feet below. We picked up a 2.5 kts. current. We towed our dinghy 10 miles to our next anchorage.

After pulling anchor that morning Nancy started making Scones. They came out of the oven in the middle of Current Cut. Delicious!

We pulled in just before noon.

Nancy got to go paddleboarding twice the first day. I made fresh water for a little over 2 hours.

Our dinghy appears to be levitating.

Nancy swimming laps around the boat for exercise. Water is coolish for a couple of minutes, till you get used to it.

I had tenderized two conch for our dinner. I sit on the transom with a cutting board on my lap. Then I pound the heck out of the conch. Nancy butterflies the thick foot making it easier. Here we a sitting down to Cracked Conch and Salad. Well worth the effort to make dinner.

February 2026.

February we got serious about preparing Sea Breeze for our fifth season cruising The Bahamas. We had the bottom cleaned professionally for the first time ever. The diver earned every penny he charged. Water was cool and visibility was a foot.

Nancy and I took our sailboat out for one night to Rodriquez Key. Then in to the marina the next morning. Four days later after a new bottom paint job and changing a o-ring seal in the sink seacock. We sailed back home. Our engine hobbs has 1,989.4 hours on it. We will probably put 200-250 hours on over the next 3 months.

With a delay getting our Starlink up we lost of weather window to crossing to The Bahamas. While upset at the time, it kept us from getting to The Bahamas and have mechanical issues there.

While anchored out, we realized that oil was leaking out of the windless. So I had to pull the windless out of the bow and repair it. Luckily since we were still in the states. We could fly repair kits overnighted to our house. Since the windless probably hadn’t been removed, cleaned and regreased. This took three times more time than it should’ve.

While anchored out we used the dinghy to drop Nancy at the marina. On the way back to the boat the dinghy engine died. Long story short. I would pull the engine off at the house two days. After pulling off the carburetor off six times to clean out water in the fuel. I could pull, clean and replace the carburetor in minutes.

March 12 we sailed from Tavernier Key to South Riding Rock, leaving at 0430. We motored to the reef with descent moon light.

It was a 70 mile run to South Riding Rock, arriving there 30 minutes before sunset at 1900. From there we continued till 2300 anchoring another 20 miles on to the bank. We offset 2 miles south and turned every light on the outside of the boat on. Didn’t want to be rammed in the middle of the night. Gentle breeze 6 inch waves.

We awoke before sunrise with a front bering down on us from the north. The Keys were getting chilled down in the 60’s with rain. We just got rain.

Holding my coffee mug with my “HOLD -FAST” sailing gloves.

My foul weather gear looks better than it is. There is little water proofing left. Sitting in the rain drinking coffee, soaked to the bone.

55 mile day, dodging rain showers first hour then great weather for rest of the day. Headed to Great Harbour Cay to check in with Customs.

Cheese, crackers and wine appetizers off of Cistern Cay, Berry Islands.

We anchored out the first night near Cistern Cay. By 1100 on Saturday we were tied up in Great Harbour Cay Marina. One of the few places stay at a marina in The Bahamas. We cleared in to Customs and Immigration. The Customs guy was the same as last year. Nice guy.

Only one bike was available that actually had air in both tires. This couple doubled up to ride to the beach.

Nancy made Cracked Chicken for dinner.

Sunday, Nancy walked 3 miles round trip to Bullocks Harbour for three bottles of Ricardo Coconut Rum. Meanwhile, I rigged a shade over the boat to help our air conditioning cool the boat. In marinas there is just not enough air to cool the boat. With shore power connected we use our air conditioning. The boat was a cool 74 degrees.

Another view of the sun shade draped over the boom.

This is Trameco from Nicholls Town Andros. He is the dock hand at the marina. When not tying up boats and cleaning up the marina, he weaves baskets. I watched him weave this basket, which he finished late in the day.

I had put in an order for a bag of frozen conch. The owner of this little conch salad stand let me act like I worked there. He ran to his friends house and brought back a small back of frozen conch for $35.

While splitting a Club Sandwich on shore we started talking to this guy. One thing led to another and we found out “Cash” was from one of our favorite islands, Rum Cay. While discussing Rum, we realized he was on the cover of the book I had bought there last year.

Cash is the middle kid, JJ is on the right. I had JJ sign the book last year. We love connecting the dots with people and their relatives on different islands.

Trameco finished his basket, so we bought it for $70. Now we have a memento of Great Harbour and will think of Trameco when we see it.

Here we posed for Trameco. He has a Face Book page Tramecos Artisan Baskets.

Early Monday morning we left the marina for our favorite secluded beach at Ambergris Cay. Unfortunately winds were not favorable for the second year in a row. So we anchored at Market Fish Cays for the second year in a row.

Nancy making conch salad for dinner.

Conch salad is great. While talking with another sailor at 2000, we both decided to leave early the next morning for Eleuthera.

It would be a 50 mile open water crossing for us. It would be a bit bumpy for the first couple of hours and then the winds would die at noon. This is a photo taken while leaving the anchorage at day break. Nancy was caught by the two rays shooting out from the cloud.

Harnesses are on and we are teathered to the boat.

It rained the first half of the day anchored behind Royal Island. Nancy doing what she does best, cooked up another great meal. This is a Dutch Apple Baby.

Barraquito, drink of La Gomera, Canaries.

Madeira, Spain

Funchal, Madeira

Camara De Lobos, Funchal

Las palmas Gran Canaria

Puerto de las Nieves.

La Ceria, January 3, 2026

Port of Los Marmoles.

La Ceria.

Los Volcanos Natural Park.

Bomba Volcanica

Las Palmas, Grand Canaria, Jan. 1, 2026

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Dec. 30, 2025

“Wind Star” at dock in Tenerife.

Had to kill time before boarding the boat, walked into town.

Interesting balcony.

Church

roots.

Port of Tenerife.

Check in 2 pm.

Our cabin on the lowest deck.

Shower to the right.

Lower deck companionway.

Drinking and driving….No!

The Nunery.

Loved all the reinforced corners in old town. Which are made of wood.

Dec. 27, 2025

Dec. 26.

This is a famous tapas bar, La Casa Del Abuelo. Their claim to fame is the garlic shrimp. You stand at a small table, you can throw the shrimp shells in a gutter at the foot of the bar. In the background is the vent over the small kitchen where the shrimp is cooked.

Killing time with some drinks outdoors. Next stop is the Flamenco dance show.

This is the wall outside of the Flamenco show. Earnest and Ava Gardner were frequent visitors.

Lots of passionate foot stomping, and sweating during the show. Good show with two women and a man, all dancing to the live band sitting down behind them.

The next day we walked east to the large botanical gardens, Parque de El Retiro.

There is shallow lake in the park where people rent small boats and row around. Plays have been performed on the lake.

Beautiful sea themed bronze sculptures.

Walking out of the park this was in the middle of a roundabout. Puerta de Alcala is a 5 arched triumphal gateway.

Large beautiful building on the edge of old Madrid.

We toured the Naval Museum which was free. It was so well done I gave them a donation on the way out.

A favorite hang out of Earnest Hemingway. Here the waiters wear black ties and white shirts.

This tapas was in Plaza de Santa Ana.

We were searching for a famous bar dedicated to bull fighters. I believe there are two. This was an interesting bar with many gruesome photos of bulls goring the bull fighters.

Nancy posing with “The Street Sweeper.”

Fried calamari tapas. Note the trough at the base of the old bar. That is where people would throw their shells.

Here is the tourist “Tapa Tapa, Bar de Tapas.”

Nancy wondering through a weekend flea market.

Would have loved to have bought this sled with stones embedded in the bottom. In Funchal you can take a trip down the mountain on sleds like this.

We left on Dec. 24, arriving early Christmas Day in a light drizzle and cool temperatures. Took the Metro from the airport to our AirB&B. Stayed there 5 days then flew to the Canaries.

Each day we walked between 5-7 miles around old town Madrid. Christmas day many shops were closed. But we started finding our way around town.

This was open and quite eclectic.

We found that the carved lamb leg was everywhere. So much so that stuffed toys resembling it are sold around town. It is amazing how thin they slice it. You can see how it is secured in place.

Nancy is observing the illegal street vendors with their displays. Fancy purse knock offs are laid out on white sheets. Ropes are connected to the four corners. They can quickly grab the whole thing up and run from police when needed.

Old Madrid has plazas and squares every couple of blocks. The bigger ones had Christmas markets on them. There were as many locals as tourists checking them out.

There are several bronze statues in town. Here is a street sweeper who people take their photos of.

Tapas of olives with wine and vermut ( vermouth) at Espana Cani.

Murals of ornate tiles are common inside and outside the Tapas Bars. PS, if “Tapas” is in the name it is a tourist Tapas bar. We saw one bar named “Tapas Tapas Bar.”

Christmas lights over the streets of old Madrid. No two streets were alike.

Nights were chilly, so the fireplace in the Air B&B was great to come home to.

Actually it was a tv channel but it was nice.

Two room apartment with a small kitchen. We only made coffee there and kept some beer cold in the frig.

We were to

d when we checked in don’t open the door for “ANYBODY, NOT EVEN THE POLICE.” The lock was serious. You had to twist the key three full turns to unlock the three different deadbolts that went into the jam.

The biggest square Plaza Mayor and Christmas market, was 5 minute walk.

We met are walking guide in that square the next day. He was from Denver, Colorado.

The very famous tourist Mercado (Market). Very beautiful but expensive.

This restaurant was just down the street from the oldest restaurant continuously run in the world. The Botin restaurant opened its doors in 1725. Lines were outrageous.

More ornate tiles, this one with peacocks.

One of the very ornate churches we visited.

Our guide stopped at the door of the Monastery of Corpus Christi where the Sisters sold sugar cookies. You can see a white piece of paper stuck on the door saying the convent was closed for a week during Christmas. Normally you could walk inside. Ring a bell, and talk but not see a Sister on the other side of a turntable. You could order a bag of cookies. She would tell you how much money to put in the turntable. She would spin it around, collect the money and put your bag of cookies in the same turntable.

This ally way is called “Calle Del Codo”. Which means street of the elbow, since there is a crook in the short street. Note the typical street lamp. These were all over old Madrid.

This was the oldest plaza in Madrid. Plaza de la Villa.