Emerald Bay Resort/Marina

Yes, you read correctly.  RESORT and MARINA.  WE set a new record of 31 days on anchor(or morring ball) so we decided to splurge and stop in at a marina on the way to Georgetown.  We had a great sail down from Little Farmer's Cay, abiout 30 miles.  The seas were a little rough on the way out of the cut, but became more tolerable as we got a mile or so off shore into 2-3,000 feet of water(the waves tend to stack up as they approach shore line as the sea floor rises up, so it's usually best to get ouit of the shallower water). 

We turned south and put up the main(our jib is shredding along the luff and needs some repair) to steady the motion and pick up we few knots.  We kept the motor on to make better time, since we only had one sail up and our course was very close to the wind(about 60 deg off the port bow).  I picked aout a few good lures and paid them out on the boat rods hoping to catch some dinner.  A few hours later, we looked back to see Las Sirenas stopped and doing circles.  I hailed them on the VHF and they reported they were fighting a good sized Dorado(Mahi Mahi).  I was jealous, but knew it would be big enough to feed us all.  They tood 20 minutes or so the boat the fish and were back on track to catch up to us.  Shortly after talking to them again to get the whole story and them reminding me of the need to have a gaff ready, I went back to get the gaff out and accessible.  Within minutes, Carryn heard the glorious sound of the reel spooling off line.   Whhhhiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzz,  FISH ON!!  We throttled down and turned the boat broadside so I could fight the fish and reel him in.  200 yards away, a beautiful Dorado lept out of the water like a missle.  He flopped back and forth trying to spit the hook.  I worked him in for about 10 minutes and got him to the side of the boat.  A quick swipe with the gaff and we lifted him aboard.  He was beautiful and powerful, 16 pounds of arguably the best the ocean has to offer.  WE would definitely be eating well for the next week.

Carryn got the boat back on course and I fillet'd the catch. 

We pulled into the marina around 4pm and found a real sweet spot.  The marina is nearly new and very well appointed.  Best I can gather, it was built to cater to high end yachts and sport-fishers but hasn't been able to draw a full house.  Construction was in the final phases when the developers sold it the golf course and the resort to Sandals.  Since then, they have left a portion of the marina complete with docks, but no utilities.  they are therefore offering a pretty cheap rate($1.50 per foot or about $70/nt for SolMate) and I'm all about getting a good deal. 

The best part was that when we pulled in on Monday afternoon, we found our frineds on Star Bound and Winfield Lash had pulled in for a few nights as well.  We all got together on the docks for hugs and catching up.  They had been in Georgetown for the past week and are haeding back up to Staniel Cay.  Jim and Heather on Star Bound offered to host everyone for drinks and Scott and I raised the ante, offering up our fresh catch to make it dinner and drinks.  Everyone spent the next few hours cleanign up their boats and getting hot showers.  We converged on Star Bound at dusk and Scott went to work, grilling the fish that had been soaking in his special marinade. 

We made rice and black beans and everyone brought something.  It was a great night.  Most everyone bailed around 10, but Carryn and I stayed to hang out with Jim and Heather for another couple of hours.  We really enjoyed getting to know them- they have a great story and the most incredible boat(I could dedicate an entire blog to sharing the histroy and majic of Star Bound).

Tuesday, we all got up and made a bee line to the landry room.  It was funny to see the men Jim, Scott and I) all psych'd about doing laundry.  I think Jim washed everything on their boat, including taking the covers off the settees.  WE went to work on some big projects, as well as I helped solder an antenna connection on Jim's boat and helped David on Winfield Lash repair his windlass foot switch. 

The big project that we decided to tackle was to take down the head sail and work on it.  We were thrilled when Marge offered her help and er big SailRite sewing machine to help us.  WE drug the sail up to a big grassy area and went to work on it.  We spent about 4 hours and got it all stitched back up.  We shoud be good to go now. 

Additionally, Marge got her clippers out and we all cornered Bella for a hair cut(Marge was a groomer in her past).  Bella wasn't too keen on it but finally gave in and we got her clipped.  She looks and feels great.  Thanks so much to Marge for all her time and effort. 

Our choice to come to the marina proved to be a very good deal overall. The place is beautiful, has great showers, a luxury clubhouse and FREE LAUNDRY!! WE got our money's worth on the laundry alone. We took long, hot showers(I felt like a bank robber using that much water!), and took advantage of the nice beach at Sandals. We were hoping the waiters would come and offer us cocktails on the beach since Sandals is an all inclusive, but we must have clearly looked like "boat people".

We hated to see Wednesday morning arrive, as we knew  Star Bound  and Winfield Lash  would be sailing on.  Las Sirenas and Sol Mate were enjoying the marina life a bit too much so when the winds piped up around noon, we decided to go one more night in the marina. 

We knocked around, hit the little market and liquor store, and got a few more projects done.  Scott's holding tank(where the poop and pee goes until it can be pumped overboard off shore) had sprung a leak, so we did the unpleasant job of draining and repairing the fitting that was leaking.  We got together for a great dinner- I baked chicken parmesan on ziti w marinar.  It was awesome.  We enjoyed our last night in Emerald Bay Marina. 

So this morning, we are getting things tied down to head out into the deep blue for the 6 mile run to Elizabeth Harbor(GeorgeTown).  I hope to blog again in the next few days, hopefully reporting that GeorgeTown is a fun, interesing and entertaing place(we heard much to the contrary, with complaints of overbearing boaters, activities planned and directed like a cruise ship, and less than ideal anchoring and dingy rides to get across the harbor to GT.  We'll see. 

Until then. please leave us a comment.  We love to hear from you.