Back to Nassau

All good things must come to an end, and it was time for us to come home to the U.S.

After leaving the company of Aslan, we made a bee line back to Nassau. 

Our first stop was Allen’s Cay, and along the way Ransom took another look at the auto steering system, determined to get it rigged and functioning for our trip back.

Some zip ties, rubber, hose clamps, and some twine later we were in business!

Hans Otto Schteering!!!

Autopilot interface

Bugs be gone, Otto's on the helm!

We were well aware the system will have some bugs, but we quickly fixed the issues and had our very own jerry rigged autopilot.  We named him Hans Otto Schteering.

We departed Allen’s Cay for Nassau on the 15^th of May.  There was a bit of a debate on whether or not we should try, conditions were not ideal.  The skies were cloudy and sprinkling and the seas were rolling.  We needed sunshine and relatively calm seas so that we could spot approaching reefs on the Yellow Banks.

We decided to give it a go and try and get to Nassau, but a strong gust hit our mainsail and ripped it along the lowest batton.

Fail.

We returned to the anchorage and lowered the main to the first reefing point, reducing our sail area but allowing us to keep using it.

We decided to heed the warning nature sent us and delayed our departure for the following day.

Determined not to waste the day we went to shore and explored Leaf Cay.  We found some ruins, saw tons of iguanas, and found some beautiful shells on the beach.

Coarse grained carbonate conglomerate.  Geology in action!!!!

The next day we departed for Nassau and conditions were much better for the crossing.  We were even able to use Hans Otto Schteering!!

Back in Nassau we reunited with other boaters we’d met along the way.  Saying farewell to those we’ve sailed with for weeks feels a bit like the end of summer camp; exchanging information and promising to keep in tough.  Somehow, though, I feel we will cross paths again, somewhere out there in the great blue.