2024 Bahamas: Rokers Point Settlement

 22 March 2024

Depart: Monument anchorage 9:05

Arrive: Emerald Bay Marina, Rokers Point Settlement 10:45

Distance: ~ 12 nm

Conditions: Winds picking up as storms approach

We were both up before the sun today.

Sunrise near Georgetown, Bahamas

Before departing the anchorage this morning, Clark listened to the Chris Parker weather report, and then we listened to the Georgetown boaters' net. All discussions revolved around the predicted, upcoming stormy weather.

Our path this morning took us out into the Atlantic Ocean where we rode 6' rollers on our way to the marina. Clark aimed for a point beyond our destination with the chart plotter to keep us out of shallow water. For a portion of the trip the chart shows more than 150 feet of water under us. 

As we traveled, Clark pointed out that the clouds were "lowering and thickening". 

The marina check-out / check-in time is 11:00. We arrived at 10:45 and had to "station keep" while they located the dockmaster and provided us with a slip assignment. Poor Clark was fighting hard to keep the boat from getting away from him. The strong winds in the skinny space with the design of our boat made for difficult boat handling. 

We waited over 30 minutes for the information on where to tie up. While Clark struggled with boat controls, I had plenty of time to take pictures while I waited to learn if it would be a port or starboard tie.

Skinny entrance to marina from ocean

Nice home near marina

Boats in the marina - many more power boats here
than in the anchorages

Main marina building - white / blue

When we finally did get our slip assignment, we were given one with no power and no water! We expected the no power as we were told that was likely when we reserved a spot. No water at the slip was disappointing! We soon found out why they had no power at this particular slip!

Clark couldn't "resist" pulling out his meter and checking the pedestal. He got permission first to flip the breaker. He reported back to me that the pedestal was "dead"!

We took our time choosing and placing our lines in preparation for the upcoming weather. We have learned the hard way that it is no fun to adjust them in pouring rain.  After we were happy with lines, Clark registered at the office. We poked our head into the Captain's Lounge for a look-see before heading back to the boat.

Quaint!

After lunch Clark decided to get gas for the dinghy. We have used it a lot more than usual as our means of local transportation. He asked the dockmaster about water at the fuel dock. He said it would be better to do it in our slip. We would need to tap into the neighbor's metered reading. He said he would take a reading for them, fill us up, then take a reading for our total, then hook them back up again.

Water meter at neighboring dock.

After that, we decided to go for a walk. Clark wanted to go look at the ocean. It was a surprisingly long and strenuous walk against the wind, but eventually we got there. I saw a path up a hill where we could get a view. Clark thought it might be someone's driveway, but I went up anyway and he followed. No one chased us away.

Views of the ocean

Looking back, away from the ocean, I was shocked to see a long stretch of grass like you would see on a golf course. How, in this terrain with a lack of natural fresh water, did they put that in and maintain it?

Beautifully manicured lawn

Lawn stretches across several houses

As we walked along the road for a better view of the ocean, we could look back and see the nearest edge of the marina.

The waves on the ocean were impressive but not as wild as might have been.

We could see the waves in the narrow channel we followed to get into the marina earlier.

Nature's beauty

As we looked out over the ocean, Clark noticed an S/V catamaran, not sailing, heading towards Georgetown. He was fighting nature all the way.

After returning to the marina from our walk, we checked the laundry room for activity. Finding it full of people with lots of wash to be done, we decided that we would wait until after dinner and try again when it might be less busy. A woman who keeps her boat here sounded disgusted that so many people were in the marina using the washers and dryers. I guess she likes having them all to herself. 

We asked at the marina about a restaurant, and they told us to cross the golf course to the restaurant across the way. We decided to continue our walk and go look for the restaurant.

To get onto the golf course property, Clark had us climb over a wall. The wall was only two-foot high, but it looked like a monstrous hurdle to me. I made Clark come back and help me over the wall. I did not want to jump down and fall on my face or sit down and get my good pants dirty.

The golf course had the same lush, green grass as those houses we saw earlier. Interestingly, this golf course had lots, and I mean lots, of sand traps. They must have been the easiest part of this golf course to build.

The restaurant, 23 degrees North, was located within a nice resort. The sign said, "Visitors Welcome", so we walked on in. The beach was empty except for the many lounge chairs set up and ready for use.

We checked out the menu. It was still only about 4:15 or so, and the menu said dinner was served only after 6:00. We decided to come back after 6:00, so Clark could get the meal he wanted. On the way back to the boat, I made Clark help me climb over that wall again. He still thinks he is 25 and I should be too.

When we did come back to the restaurant at 6:00, after spending some time on the boat, we were told "reservations are required". We lamented that had we only known we could have made a reservation when we were there earlier. She told us we could come back at 8:15. Then,  perhaps feeling sorry for us, said we could sit at the bar to eat if we preferred.

We opted for the bar seats, but before we could order, the hostess came and got us and moved us to a table for two. From there we had a great view of the rest of the outdoor restaurant as well as the kids playing basketball in the pool. Clark estimated the restaurant had about 12 tables total.

Hostess at table next to ours

Our waitress was named Antonique - a pretty and unusual name. She was extremely pleasant and efficient.

Bit windy for the pool, but kids are durable

After dinner, we checked the laundry room as we walked back to the boat to find the dryers still in use, but the washers available. We quickly grabbed the laundry from the boat and took advantage before someone else jumped in line. 

I did not feel comfortable leaving my laundry while it washed, and I did not feel comfortable sitting in the near total darkness without Clark there with me. So, I told him he had to help me with the laundry. That meant he had to stay and watch me do it. As I threw clothes in the washer, I could hear Clark striking up conversations with every person that walked by (and he says he is an introvert).

As the folks before us waited for the dryer, we chatted with them and found out we had, not one but, two mutual acquaintances.  They are on the boat "O' Cay" - a Fleming similar to our friend Steve. We had a laugh because it seems everyone knows Steve! They met Steve at a Fleming rendezvous. The wife worked in marine science and was at one time stationed with our friend, Dave Johnson, years ago. She thought Dave would not remember her as she was a grad student at the time.

We had fun watching the dryers as they seemed to offer random times for completion. Started at nearly the same times, one dryer showed 37 minutes to complete while its twin said 57 minutes. When I came in at the 35 minute mark, the first dryer said it still had 16 minutes to go and the other said 22. I came back 15 minutes later and the first dryer showed 15 minutes to go. At that point, I checked both dryers and found the clothes damp in each, so we went back outside to wait another 15 minutes. Checking back a while later it still said 15 minutes. It seemed like we would be at the laundry for the rest of the night. 

While I was waiting for the dryers to finish, the husband of the person, who had been complaining about others in the marina using the laundry equipment, came in to start washers going with their laundry. I felt lucky we got ours going before they showed up. I had joked earlier about doing our laundry at 2:00 a.m. Perhaps that could have been a reality!

Finally, the dryer that had said 15 minutes for the past 45 showed 5 minutes to go. After waiting 5 minutes for it to stop showing 1 minute more, I yanked the door open and rescued my clothes! 5 minutes after that, the other dryer completed its cycle. 

We boarded the boat with the folded laundry, stowed it, and immediately climbed into bed. By then it was 10:00, and we were done in.  In light of upcoming windy weather, I hoped for a sound sleep.