Christmas in the Bahamas!

December 24th to 26th, 2008

Christmas eve on Black Diamond.

Christmas eve on Black Diamond.

We spent 3 days in Nassau waiting for a weather window to cross the sea to the Exumas. We ended up spending Christmas anchored just out side of Parrot Cay Club a restuarant frequented by all the cruisers that are anchored just in the channel between Nassau and Paradise Island.

Kids wrote notes to Santa, and wondered how he would find us.

Kids wrote notes to Santa, and wondered how he would find us.

Santa landed on the deck last night, and climbed down the hatch!

Santa landed on the deck last night, and climbed down the hatch!

They were very excited. The presents did come from the true north!

They were very excited. The presents did come from the true north!

Alex's note to Santa said he wanted an "Airplane with Fire coming out of it!"

Alex’s note to Santa said he wanted an “Airplane with Fire coming out of it!”

Thaoms did not waste any time getting into his gifts.

Thaoms did not waste any time getting into his gifts.

What more than one gift from the Bahama Santa?

What more than one gift from the Bahama Santa?

Not enough sailing on this trip, Thomas needed a model sail boat!

Not enough sailing on this trip, Thomas needed a model sail boat!

So we decided to explore Nassau and the Cruise ship terminals. We did a little grocery shopping, bought some distilled water for the batteries, and a new fire extinguisher to replace the one we used up. We also visited most of the marinas on the main land side of Nassau looking for a possible place to leave Black Diamond for a few months while we head back to Toronto. We found some places charging from 40 cents to 50 cents a foot per day. That would be about $600 US per month, reasonable for the Bahamas. However we did not feel safe leaving it here on the main strip. Anyone can just walk on up to the docks, and Nassau is the only place in the Bahamas that we did not feel 100% safe. We also talk to other cruisers that had their dinghies and motor stolen while they slept on their boats. We brought in our motor and chained our dinghy to Black Diamond every night. In Nassau we also chained it up, if we were to leave it on a town dock while we went shopping. This however is not necessary any where else in the Bahamas. Overall we felt very safe and comfortable everywhere else in the Bahamas and maybe we over reacted on the side of caution in Nassau, but better safe than sorry.

Downtown Nassau, just before Junkanoo Parade.

Downtown Nassau, just before the Junkanoo Parade.

Junkanoo Costume.

Junkanoo Costume.

Cool costume.

Cool costume.

Guitars made of old pop cans.

Guitars made of old pop cans.

Junkanoo is a famous parade that is held throughout much of the Bahamas a few times a year. Usually on Boxing Day and New Years day. The largest Junkanoo festival is held in Nassau. The locals spent a whole year working on and building these costumes and floats. Then they show them off in the parade. The Junkanoo tradition dates back to the days of the slaves according to one gentlemen that we met in Georgetown Exuma. The slaves would often only get one day off a year, either New Years day or Christmas Day. So throughout the year in the evening they would work on costumes that came from their African heritage, and on that one day off, they would celebrate and dance in the streets with their traditional costumes.

s/v Black Diamond

With almost 30,000 Nautical miles of experience and 1,800+ sea days and nights on the water. (1,800 sea days is like 5 years on the water, 365 days a year!) I am an RYA Skipper and ICC International Competent Captain, currently working on my RYA Yacht Master with a Commercial endorsement for a 200 ton vessel. My qualifications include; MED A2 Emergency Safety at Sea, Helicopter Rescue, Life raft deployment and use, Offshore Rescue and Fire Fighting at Sea, etc, STCW Code A-VI/1-3, Canadian Equivalent Marine First Aid and CPR/AED. I am an Open Water Certified diver and completed various CYA & Canadian Power and Sail Squadron certifications which include Power/Sailboat handling, Seamanship Sail, Piloting/charting, CYA Coastal Navigation, GPS Navigation, Extended Offshore Cruising, VHF Radio operation license and a Toronto Harbour License. I am now providing skippered charters and yacht deliveries globally, including crew positions for offshore passages. However, my specialities are the Bahamas, US East Coast, The Great Lakes, Welland Canal, Erie Canal and the Adriatic Sea, Croatia, looking to add Greece. Feel free to contact me at [email protected]

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