Great Inagua-Naples

We had a great weather window to sail home. Adam caught a nice mahi just offshore of Marathon after leaving the Cay Sal Bank to starboard that morning. An uneventful passage was unfolding from the keys to naples when we lost Casey off the bowsprit chain and we were able practice our man overboard procedures!

"Star of the Sea" really performed well on this voyage, with minimal repairs she will be ready to head south again in Nov. Thanks again to all those who made this voyage possible especially those who have been praying for our health and safety! We are offering sponsorships for the children at the orphanage in Old Bight. All money collected will be used to buy food for the children's home. "Star of the Sea" will be taking another load to Old Bight in Nov. and we will be working with G&G shipping to send food items every couple months, please contact me to donate or if you would like additional information. Bob Nichols 239-248-0647

July 24-July 29

With the storm gone we made plans to leave. I spent an afternoon learning more about the unique place that Great Inagua is with Capt. Fawkes as my guide. Our friend Alfred "Junior" Moss from Cat Island helped out in getting Customs to release the Kids Against Hunger food that is in their warehouse. I've decided to sail back to Florida at this time and Customs will hold the Estero UMC food in their warehouse until I return at the end of hurricane season (Nov.) After dodging a tropical storm and another on the way, safety concerns of vessel and crew have to be a priority in my planning. We set sail on a beautiful morning with a good weather forecast for the next 4 days!

July 20-July 24

We arrived early in the morning after a long night of 10-12ft seas and high winds. After clearing customs in Mathew Town we anchored and went and checked on the 7 tons of food that was being held by customs. Returning to the boat our weather router informed us that a tropical wave was headed our way and we needed to seek shelter immediately. I was fortunate to meet Captain Stephen Fawkes, marine superintendent for Morton Salt and Mayor of Mathew Town. He had recently installed a 10,000 lb. anchor and mooring ball in Man O War Bay and we were welcome to use it. The following morning we put out our storm gear and rode out the storm when it arrived the following day.

July 18-July 20

A very windy ride across the Cacois Bank where we anchored up for the night at the Ambergris Cays. Leaving in the morning in 30 kts of wind made for an exciting reef crossing at the Fish Cays. I timed our arrival at Cap Haitien for 8 a.m. as we wanted to offload and leave by noon. The holding ground is notoriously bad in the harbor and the trade winds really come up hard in the early afternoon. I was able to contact the two ministries that we had supplies for and after going thru the crazy game of trying to clear customs into a corrupt country with no one in charge, we offloaded art supplies for Hosean Ministries and food for Mission Restoration du North. I have no pictures of the offload as me pulling a camera out would not have gone over well with the people of the port. It was a very long and stressful day and was capped off by the wind and seas building to very strong levels as we sailed to Great Inagua.

July 14-July 18

We are spending a couple days here in the Turks and Cacois waiting for weather before pushing on to Cap Haitien. While here I looked up old friends and made new ones. Bob, our host and the owner at the South Side Marina really made us feel at home for the two days we spent there. He has a beautiful facility and will handle a 7ft. draft at high tide. We also tried out a failed marina project that is an excellent hurricane hole if you're in this part of the world, email me for the coordinates!

fish frenzy at thunderball cave

Here's a quick video taken in Thunderball Cave, Staniel Cay Exuma. No fish were harmed in the making of this video!

Sunken schooner at Farmer's Cay

July 8th-July14

We were all blessed during our short stay on Cat Island, the Moss family treated us with special local food and really made us feel at home! The Children at the Old Bight Mission Home are precious and very special. If you know of anyone looking to adopt a child please mention the kids at Old Bight! Upon leaving Cat Island we motorsailed to make easting for a couple days and then passed north of San Salvador, Crooked Island/Acklins, Samana, and the Plana's coming in on the south coast of Mayguana. High seas and a minor rigging problem sent us in at West Caicos and anchored up in Sapodilla Bay Providenciales where we cleared customs and renewed old friendships. Rigging problems are fixed and we are now waiting weather to cross to Cap Haitian where we will offload art supplies for the Hoesan ministries and deliver 27 boxes of food to Pastor Andre of Mission Restoration du North. We are encountering some customs issues for the 7 ton load of food for RMI ministries, please keep that in your prayers! Crew is doing well and taking a much needed day off! Blessings to all. We miss you uncle dave!