2010/2011 Cruise
Friday, April 22, 2011, Day 207 to Tuesday, April 26, 2011, Day 211, Easter Weekend. Due to a strong low pressure area just east of the Abacos, winds are predicted to be 17 to 20 knots from the east to northeast from Friday through Monday. There is a predicted 30 to 50% chance of rain every day. Seas in the Sea of Abaco were predicted to be 3 to 4 feet. While we could ride it out aboard Escapade, there is little chance we will be able to use the dinghy to go ashore. The area is unusually (for us) religious, and, except for restaurants, everything, including grocery stores and shops, will be closed from Good Friday through Easter Monday. Marsh Harbour is well protected. For all of the above reasons, we decided to return to Marsh Harbour to hideout from this storm and maybe have a chance to go ashore to stretch our legs.
The winds were as predicted, and it did rain every day from Saturday through Monday. We busied our selves doing laundry, and getting Escapade ready for the trip back to the US. We had drinks aboard Escapade with Tim & Susan (Whaleback, Saturday), and Kim and Carol (Moon Shadow, Sunday). Later on Sunday we had an Easter feast on Figment with Didi & Barry, Tim & Susan (Whaleback), Claus & Rose, Bill and Marilyn (Luv Cat) and Mike (Valiant). As is customary on boat events, everyone brought something to add to the feast. Didi cooked a huge ham, which was delicious, accompanied by white and sweet potatoes, rice salad, cole slaw, red cabbage, and many other dishes. We brought dessert (Barefoot Contessa’s packaged lemon bars, yummy) to add to the others (rum brownies and red velvet cake). Ken had all three desserts!
Monday: It’s pouring, finally, after very beautiful threatening skies this morning--exactly what the area needs. Since Easter Monday’s a holiday here and we weren’t planning to go in town, what better way to spend the day than in a great storm? 20-30 knot gusts (way above original predictions) make all the boats dance around; we’re waiting for the first one to drag. It’s a great show from the pilot house!
We understand that the waves in the Sea of Abaco are 6 to 8 feet, much higher then predicted. Many boats, that we assume either ignored the forecasts or thought they could ride it out in another anchorage, came streaming into Marsh Harbour.
We had originally planned to leave Marsh Harbour on Tuesday when the weather was predicted to moderate. It didn’t and we remained. Finally, late in the evening the winds began to subside.
Marsh Harbour Hideout
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 
Day 213. The winds began to subside. We needed to make water and Linda wanted to swim, neither of which is well advised in the polluted Marsh Harbour. Marsh Harbour is far cleaner then the Chesapeake, but our standards have changed. Anyway, we left in the morning, traveled around
the corner about three miles outside of Marsh Harbour to Matt Lowes Cay -- really beautiful. Linda tried to snorkel (see above), but the sea was too rough for her to enjoy. We took a dinghy ride and discovered some really nice homes in the area.
Thursday, April 28, 2011, Day 214. 
We made water for three hours in the morning off Matt Lowes Cay. Laurie (Linda’s niece) and Brandy (her beau) are arriving tomorrow, the weather for Saturday does not look pleasant, and we choose to not make water in Marsh Harbour.
We wanted to have dinner in town. Unknowing, we had different expectations and failed to communicate. Linda gave in to a less formal meal than she planned, and here she is enjoying the view from the bar at Curly Tails where we had dinner.
Friday, April 29, 2011, Day 215. 
Laurie and Brandy arrived on schedule. They said that they were looking forward to the Bahamas after 72 straight days of rain in Seattle. As soon as we got back on board Escapade, the skies opened up to one of the worst storms
we’ve seen since Tropical Storm Nicole in the Chesapeake. It was all very dramatic, unlike the drizzly rain in Seattle, and was fun to watch from the boat.
