The Ragged Islands

The Plan was hatched after months of intermittent research and development. It was simple. Travel to a remote island chain in the Bahamas where self reliance was essential and contact with the outside world minimal. A test of our marine mettle, if you will.

Our charts warn of unsurveyed swaths of ocean floor, covered with slightly submerged coral heads, dark patches of weed and grass, and dangerous bars of exposed rock and marl. Mariners are advised that the positions of all features on the charts are approximate and that VPR (Visual Piloting Rules), including bottom reading skills, good weather and sunlight, apply. Okay, then! Off we go!

We set our course to 271 degrees from Long Island to tackle the wide open passage to the Ragged Islands. Most vessels making this little trip would use the cut at Hog Cay near the southern end of Little Exuma Island. But, being the big bruiser of a boat that we are, we opted for the longer, but deeper, Comer Channel. Captain Bill calculated the tides with practiced precision and planned our arrival at the eastern end of the channel for just before high tide. This is significant because Let's Dance draws 6 feet of water and the charts indicate depths in the Comer from 1.7 to 2 meters at mean low tide. (You will, of course, remember from grade school that 1 meter equals 3.3 feet.)

We traverse the channel successfully -- slowing as the sea floor rises to meet us, and speeding up (a relative term for Let's Dance) as water depths increase. Our trusty depth finder never showed less than 1.3 feet of sea water below our keel. Good news! Soon the first outcroppings of the Raggeds, known locally as the Jumentos Cays, come into view to our port side. "Jumentos" translates to donkey in Spanish, but none were to be seen. We pass by cays with scenic names like "No Bush" and "Little Pear" on one side and "The Driers" on the other. With a notation on the chart that reads "Caution: Rocks, ledges and coral. Strong current, tide, rips and frequent breakers" it is no wonder that The Driers are deserted. Our first stop then in the Ragged Island odyssey is the unexpectedly beautiful and deep anchorage of Water Cay.

The evening was calm and a sleek trimaran in the cove next door proved that at least one other crew shared our fortitude. Morning brought back the age of rock 'n roll as long, offshore swells created an uncomfortable bucking horse motion in the anchorage. We left Water Cay behind and headed further south to Flamingo Cay. A delightful French Canadian family on a tiny little sailboat greeted us upon arrival with an offer of fresh conch and thoughts on local exploration. A narrow beach and spooky low-water cave proved to be the major attractions and we took the self-guided tour. In the late afternoon, a quartet of seasoned sailors bound for Cuba arrived to rest before their final push south. Hmmmm......Small children and seniors.....

A brief rain shower brought a 180 degree rainbow to delight us as we raised the anchor and motored on down to Jamaica Cay where, according to the guidebook, a new resort is planned. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans.....

The story goes that the construction activity surrounding the proposed "resort" was really just a front for drug runners of the 80's and that no guests were ever planned to sun on the beach or wade in the shallows of the bay. Sounds right to us -- this place is a real eyesore! We encountered two more sailboats here, one a monohull with a single hand and the other a cat with a young couple aboard. Once again, they have both gone by morning, and we are left to wonder at the lack of anticipated solitude. Bill took the Love Me tender out fishing and had a great time but caught no fish, so it's off again to parts south.

By Buena Vista Cay, we no longer expected privacy. The preferred anchorage included two more sailboats and "Lady Marie", a fishing craft, and her rough-voiced captain, George. The fishing expeditions in this area of the Bahamas generally consist of a mothership with a flock of small skiffs. The leader tows the small boats to a potentially fertile area and looses them to spread out along the inlets and rocky bars. Each skiff contains two men....one to drive and one to dive with hookah hose for air and net for the catch. They are after lobster, and often go lower than 80 feet in search of their treasure. This is illegal, of course, but the nearest constable is hundreds of miles away. We are offered lobster in trade for cigarettes. They leave empty handed.

Our stay in the Ragged Island Range coincided with the moon waxing to fullness. Every night, each seemingly clearer than the one before, the moon would rise behind a scruffy, rocky cay to the east and cast her light onto the flat bay waters. The sand on the slender beaches appeared to glow in the bright moonlight. Even the dim anchor lights atop the masts of the unwelcome sailboats did little to interfere with our appreciation of the constellation-filled skies.

We spent about a week traversing the shallow waters of the Ragged Island Range. The islands themselves are low and windswept, with stunted bushes and few palms. The biggest surprise, of course, was the number of other boats that we encountered. Our Explorer Chartbook, Exumas and Ragged Islands, specifically says, (and I quote), "There is a palpable sense of remoteness and adventure which draws a few dozen explorers each year." Right. We encountered at least 8 sailboats and heard that another 20 or so were anchored further south at the 'settlement' of Duncantown -- there for the season and ready to party! At this rate we could wake up to find the entire Seventh Fleet in our sights one morning!

So, we turned and pointed our bow back north -- passing "Loaf of Bread" and "Nurse", "Brig" and "Seal Pup" cays on the way. The Plan led to a successful, safe mission for Captain and crew. We felt good about going to the Ragged Islands now, because soon it will be said, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded!"

Let's Dance.....Carol and Bill

Conception Island

A while back, we left the bustle of Georgetown and set our course northeast for Conception Island -- yet another remote, uninhabited bit of real estate, 40 miles further out to sea, its natural wonders protected by the Bahamas National Trust. Six small sailboats were in the broad anchorage when we arrived, and a seventh came in around dusk. The sailors stayed to themselves, but we were visited by a moth of hummingbird proportions who may even now be nesting in the pilothouse.

The next morning brought another 360 water view from the deck of Let's Dance with no sailboats in sight. They have left this amazing bay all to us. Thanks, sailors! Time to survey the surroundings. The 10 feet of water below our keel is calm enough to see the wavy outlines of the sandy bottom quite clearly. Behind us, just off the swim platform, a slinky, loose parade of glass minnows marches back and forth. Also called fry, or bay anchovy, they number in the thousands and reflect the midmorning sun. Fun to watch!

Later in the morning we launched the Love Me Tender. Before the day's exploration, Bill revs up her 25 horses and goes forward and check the snubber line. The snubber is a rope line that attaches to the anchor links, acting as a shock absorber to relieve pressure on the metal chain. We have noticed a little fraying at its juncture with the hull and he wants a closer look. It's nothing that a strip of well-placed duct tape cannot fix and I watch the repair from the bow pulpit. 

 

Suddenly the glass minnows sprint around from the stern and start leaping into the air in front of Bill. Their tiny bodies catch the sun as they are chased in large, glassy sheets from the water by a gang of Blue Runners -- the larger fish making flying, twisting lunges to fill their tummies with the little anchovies. Flying fish are everywhere! It's a wonderful sight and a great adventure for all but the hapless small fry!

We spent the first afternoon trying to explore the island. The charts indicated a narrow channel into the interior mangrove swamps where sea turtles allegedly feed and sleep. At the shallow entrance we quickly bumped the rocky bottom and made the decision to back track -- high tide or not, we were not going to be able to do this even with our 12 inch dinghy draft. So, we found another landing site, full of soft sand and only a slight undertow. We explored for several hours, imagining ourselves castaways on this rock and sand outcropping.

The next morning, Bill decided to do a little bottom cleaning and donned his marine maintenance gear -- wetsuit, hookah hose, buoyancy vest and assorted scrub brushes and scrapers. I fed out the line as he made his way forward along the hull from the swim platform. Suddenly, about half way to the bow, he is eyeball to eyeball with a six foot long, potentially malnourished reef shark! In a blur of flippers and brushes Bill is back on the swim deck. Guess the cleaning can wait.

Days three and four consisted of free time in the mornings and afternoons at leisure as the winds made leaving the shelter of our anchorage inadvisable. Each night we watched the lights of distant cruise ships pass to the south. They are bound for Grand Turk, St. Maartens, Ocho Rios and Curacao. As clearly as we could see their brightly lit decks in the night, the closest point of approach for any was over six miles. They did not interfere with the solitude of our Conception anchorage or the bright lights of the winter nights.

On the morning of day five, Captain Bill announces that today is the day that other boats will arrive to end our solitary idyll. The wind has changed and the seas are calming. Sure enough, by 0900 we catch the AIS of a pleasure craft named Kogo. We watch her approach on the horizon and grow larger and larger until she stops within 1/4 of a mile of us and drops her anchor. She is, according to AIS, our limited intelligence source, 233 feet long with a beam of 39 feet and a 14 foot draft. She also carries an armada of fishing skiffs and assorted other watercraft, a full size sedan on her roof and enough satellite dishes to monitor the space station. Wow!

By the time the lunch dishes have been cleared, three sailboats have also arrived in the bay. And then it starts to get weird. Just when you believe that you have seen it all --- this craft slides silently into the anchorage -- no identification, no visible electronics, no windows. Hmmmmm.

Pirates? Drug dealers? The head of a small Central American cartel? The Rolling Stones? All of the above? We did discover, through constant, blatant eavesdropping on the radio, that the mystery ship and Kogo were traveling together. Body guards, perhaps? Later web searching, when we back in computer range, revealed that Kogo is the 58th largest private ship in the world -- owned by a Formula One racing team owner of Saudi/French ancestry. (Isn't it great what you can glean from the Internet?)

With abundant fine weather forecast, we left Conception to the spy boat et al and headed west to Thompson Bay for a little reconnaissance before the last push to the Raggeds. Now all that's left is to follow the sun!

Let's Dance.....Carol and Bill

The Old Salt

It's a Sunday morning, and we are at anchor in the wide bay of Big Majors Spot, near Staniel Cay in the Exumas. All is quiet aboard Let's Dance. Too quiet. In a boat this size, even if you can't actually see the other crew you can usually hear them. But this morning there is only the gentle slapping of wavelets against the hull and the faint chimes of the rigging of nearby sailboats. No Bill, in other words. So, short on togetherness, I go looking.

 

 

The door to the engine room is open and there he sits, in the natural habitat of the motor sailor. Lost in thought amid dials and hoses and filters and fans. "What's up?," I ask. "Leak in the lift pump." Ah. A tiny dribble of thin, pink fluid is evidence of said leak, but it's not a worry for Bill. He will "wait and watch" to see what develops. Then, if the leak continues, he will assess the situation, weigh the options, think it through and fix it! That simple! Three years of on-the-job training have paid off, and there is (to date) nothing that he can't fix.

And, since it is a Sunday, the clinic is open. Bill exchanges his virtual coveralls for scrubs and snaps on the imaginary latex gloves. Bill is not a doctor, but he plays one on Let's Dance. Without my four weekly allergy shots, I would not be able to roam the salty seas with him so he learned how to administer just the right dosages. The allergy doctor at home looked so hopeful as he asked if Bill had any medical training. Any at all? Sadly, all they taught him in the Army was to jump out of airplanes, but he is a quick study and a natural in the supporting role of Chief Medical Officer.

Naturally, a big part of our daily routine revolves around mealtimes. The galley is well suited for one chef at a time, and is yet another venue to showcase the Captain's talents. For Christmas he bought me a slow cooker -- a Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker!  Apparently not your Wife's Slow Cooker, either. So far he has whipped up a fantastic Tortilla Soup and a Super Bowl Chili that was worthy of at least five first downs.

 

Not only does he cook the meals -- sometimes he catches them first! Unwary mahi mahi cannot resist the colorful variety of lures (in this case a blue and white skirted Carolina rig) that are thrown their way on long, deep, offshore passages. The puny five pounder caught yesterday in 125 feet of water was followed by a sparkling yellow beauty who pushed the 20 pound range. This guy did not want to come aboard and stole the gaff to prove it....although what he planned to do with a rusted old gaff, I have no idea. As you can see, Bill prevailed and dinner was fresh grilled mahi mahi. 

 

The offshore fishing journey led us south to Georgetown and its funky "Chat 'n Chill" bar and restaurant -- home to aging volleyball players, domino divas and beer drinkers of all calibers. We fit right in. The anchorage fills each winter with hundreds of boats, most with sails, full of sailors who come for the season. The nighttime view over the harbor looks a little like Manhattan if you squint at the twinkling anchor lights atop all the swaying masts. Not our usual choice of resting spots, but an interesting cultural phenomena to observe none the less.

We also visited the local grocery to stock up before leaving the main populated grid again. For only $55 we scored a few treasures -- English cucumber, Raisin Bran, Rotel tomatoes, romaine lettuce and a few other must-have items. Food is expensive in the Exumas as it has a long, slow boat ride to get here and we understand that. But the Captain has his limits, and his price point for a half gallon of Hagen Dazs is somewhere south of the $27.50 local asking price. So, no ice cream for us. We have to cut back somewhere!

We are heading east now, on a sparkling winter's day. Deep swells in the inky blue water lift the bow just high enough to provide a satisfying 'plop' as we settle back into the next trough. There are no other boats in view today as we venture further into the great Atlantic to Conception Island - another of the alleged landing sites of Christopher Columbus. He was a very busy and accomplished captain, not unlike my own. A man for all seasons, is Captain Bill -- ace navigator, confident mechanic, creative IT guy, promising photographer, and much, much more. Is there anything, you ask, that this renaissance sailor cannot do? 

 

Well, you might have to discuss his tide chart extrapolation skills with the Love Me Tender. In the meantime,

Let's Dance.....Carol (and The Captain)

The Great Escape

Day to day life aboard Let's Dance is governed by a series of routine chores and rituals designed to assure safe and comfortable passages. We have laminated sheets handy to prompt the correct sequence for the pre-underway check, satellite phone dialing, May Day call procedures, engine room prep, etc.

When underway, the Love Me Tender sits in her own custom made, padded cradle on the upper aft deck. The heavy duty stainless steel davit that lifts her from sea level to this preferred perch keeps her company in transit. She is buckled in with two safety belts so she can't be dislodged by rough seas or rogue waves. For crossings, or especially long passages, she is lovingly cloaked in her own little navy blue sailor suit -- fitted to perfection of sturdy fabric to keep salt and sun from her helm. 

 

Using the davit, or crane, we lift the Love Me Tender from the deck and plop her gently into the sea behind Let's Dance. There, she is ready to provide transport for us to remote island beaches, other boats, town docks or for a casual harbor tour. Between islands, if the route is short, we often let the LMT surf along behind Let's Dance. Bill fashions a harness with a heavy, 3/4 inch line and she bumps and bounces over the waves, following obediently as we motor from anchorage to anchorage. We have a closed circuit TV system on board, and we use it to check on the tender as we travel -- just making sure that all is well in the rearview mirror.

 

After a short 4 hour travel day, we pulled up to the anchorage at Norman's Cay -- a little island infamous for the drug trafficking activity of Carlos Lehder in the 1970s -- and prepared to drop the hook. Three or four boats were already tucked in for the day. From his position on the bow, and mine in the pilothouse, we kept the LMT in sight as we backed down on the anchor line to set the hook securely. The 10 inch yellow float on the line to the tender kept the sturdy black line from being submerged in the process. As we are very practiced, the anchoring process was quick and efficient. Still with our head sets on, Bill and I met at the door to the pilothouse to admire the beautiful water view. We watched as a sadly deflated yellow float drifted off to our starboard.

"That looks just like the float we have", said Bill. Just then the light bulb goes off! Holy cow! I run to the cockpit to check on the Love Me Tender and see immediately that the heavy black tow line is still firmly attached to the rear chock. Whew! So, I peer over the port rail -- nothing. I rush to the starboard side -- nothing. The line from the chock trails limply into the water off the swim platform where it ends. Bill searches from the bow -- nothing! She has escaped while we were anchoring. Bad, bad Love Me Tender!

When did this happen? How long has she been adrift? Is she OK? We were watching, but apparently not closely enough. We search the horizon and, finally, there she is.....bobbing peacefully in the shallows about a half mile away.....the picture of innocence. I panic immediately, of course, and insist that we contact one of the anchored boats (whose dinghy is actually attached to their boat) for assistance in the retrieval. Captain Bill has other ideas and commands that we raise the anchor and go fetch. I'm still freaking out, but he is firm, and, since he is the captain, we do it his way.

Keeping a close watch on the escapee, we raise the anchor in record time and set out to collar the wandering dinghy. Luckily the water is fairly deep surrounding her and we are able to circle her without running aground. Wouldn't that have just been the icing on the cake? I steer Let's Dance carefully around the errant tender as Bill reaches out to grab her with the fully extended boat hook. He is able to latch on to a railing and bring her along side. Boat hook, indeed! She is caught, but not yet secure, so, at Bill's direction, I use the fishing gaff, its sharp hook sheathed, to pull a line from her bow into his waiting hands. We've got her back where she belongs.

Now that she is retied on a much shorter lead, we head back to the anchorage, pulling the humbled Love Me Tender behind us. We settle in for another night of star-filled skies with stories of the attempted escape. Apparently the life line between Let's Dance and the Love Me Tender got caught under the stern of the big boat as we backed up to set the anchor. The razor sharp line cutters, located just in front of the prop, did what they were designed to do -- cut a line. It was just the wrong line, but at least the propeller was not fouled in the mayhem. And, as usual, Bill's cool head and calm disposition saved the day -- that's why he's the captain.

Another lesson learned, perhaps, about towing and lines and floats and setting anchors. The Love Me Tender was shuttled back up into her cradle the next morning for the continuation of the winter 2013 adventure. Maybe if we did not repeatedly leave her high and dry she would be more amenable to following in our wake.

Let's Dance......Carol and Bill

(Not two hours after writing this log: We dinghy in to a little rocky cove on Warderick Wells Cay so we can take a much needed walk to the ocean side of the island. 

 

An hour later we return and, guess what? The keel of the Love Me Tender is sinking into the soft sand. Bill and I join forces and with a lot of grunting and grumbling we are able to push her into water deep enough to let us motor back to Let's Dance. Will we never learn?)

Night Moves

Days in the Bahamas are as perfect as anywhere on earth. The winter brings sun-kissed skies and temperatures in the 70s along with the shorter days. Our passage from Florida was longer this year, however, because we opted to begin the crossing in North Palm Beach rather than the closer Miami starting point from years past. Seventy-eight miles versus sixty-six miles doesn't sound like much of a difference until you factor in a longer stretch in the north-rushing Gulf Stream. Twenty-two miles slogging along at less than 5 knots adds a lot of quality time for the crew of Let's Dance at the trip's outset.

Crossing day began with a 6 am call. We chased the rising sun into the Atlantic and then followed our projected arc with all the precision of a well-seasoned crew. Current, tide, wind and waves -- all factored and computed and charted. Predicted wave heights of 3 to 5 feet with 10 second intervals read 'easy sailing' and we were soon in the thick of the stream. Six and a half knots became five and a half, became four and then less than four. The hours passed, as did breakfast, lunch and dinner. As we continued eastward we watched the sun set behind us over the now invisible Florida coast. Container ships and tankers became scarcer and the Coast Guard ship practicing maneuvers eventually called it a day, too. We were alone.

Captain Bill was due for a much needed break, so I took over at about 1900 hours with instructions to wake him if anything out of the ordinary came up. Anything at all. After dark the pilothouse of Let's Dance becomes a command center worthy of an aircraft carrier. Overhead lights are doused so only the images on the computer screens are visible. Soft red glows emanate from the floorboard courtesy lights should you need to move about the cabin.

Darkness on the open ocean can be mesmerizing and even a little disorienting. I settle in the big captain's chair and begin my solitary watch. Directly in my line of vision there are two Furuno radar screens, monitors for speed, water depth, trip mileage, wind speed and direction and, naturally, our computerized navigation system. From the large Dell computer screen, I can follow our route and check for any other ships in the area who are transmitting their position via AIS. The radar screens are set -- one scanning a range out to three miles and one encompassing an area 8 miles in diameter. (The trick here, of course, is to spot intruders before they get inside our three mile "circle of friendship.")

Did I mention that it is now dark? In the midst of the Atlantic, between Florida and Bimini, there are no lights. None. We have illuminated our running lights so that Let's Dance can be seen by others -- red on our port side and green on the starboard -- standard for all watercraft and a dandy way to tell in which direction a boat is moving when it is pitch dark outside. (Hint: observing both red and green lights on another ship indicates it is coming directly at you and is to be avoided at all costs.) So, I settle into the captain's chair, comfy and ready to catch any unwitting strangers who wander into our radar trap.

Before long a faint blip of orange begins to flicker on the edge of the 8 mile radar screen. I note it and continue to scan the horizon. It grows clearer and soon I can even see small lights in the distance with my naked eye. It must be pretty big if I can see it almost 8 miles away. I watch it carefully, checking the monitors for helpful information. The AIS soon identifies her as the "Paul Oldenfield", a tanker making 12 knots and headed for Savannah! She continues to grow in front of me and I continue to stare at her radar image like I think she would care that we are in her path. When she registers six miles out I go below and wake up Captain Bill. See, I am teachable! He is instantly alert and in the pilothouse with me. He checks the radar, the projected path of the tanker, the calculated "CPA" and "TCPA". (Code for 'closet point of approach' and 'time of CPA.') Given her speed and trajectory (and ours), we will pass within two miles of each other in 23 minutes. That's fast! We continue to watch her to make sure she doesn't try to pull a fast one and change course on us, but she benignly motors north, staying safely in her lane. A good thing for Let's Dance, for sure!

We reached our destination, an anchorage just off the west coast of North Bimini, a few hours later and snuggled in for the night. Our second day was spent crossing the Great Bahama Bank and, as in years past, we anchored in about 20 feet of water in the exact middle of nowhere. Day three found us back at Morgan's Bluff, Andros Island where Bill took the Love MeTender in to clear us through customs. It only took three hours at Willy's Bar, Pool Room and Immigration Service for Bill to score a three month permit to cruise the Bahamas. Good work, Captain Bill! Now we can lower the yellow "Quarantine" flag and hoist the Bahama "Courtesy" flag. We are good to go!

Because of shifting weather patterns, we spend two nights in the anchorage at Morgan's Bluff. The tiny settlement has not fared too well in recent years. There is a long concrete dock in the outer harbor where tankers come in to load on fresh water for the outer islands. Now a few men fish with hand lines off the old dock and a wrecked boat is tied off at one end of it. The sandy shore at the back of the harbor holds two more wrecks that look like they have been there for years. Once again, we are the only boat in the harbor, but the "Ocean Energy", a container ship, came by the second afternoon, bringing supplies to the tiny outpost.

Though Andros appeared to have left progress behind, New Providence (aka Nassau), our next overnight, was bustling. We dropped our hook in about 9 feet of calm, clear water in West Bay, within sight of spiffy Lyford Cay and its funky jungle themed adventure park. What a sight at night -- purple and red and yellow lit palm trees and huts and slides -- everything we seek to avoid on our nautical adventures. There is, indeed, something for everyone in this world!

We're well into day six of the 2013 adventure now and almost to the northernmost Exuma islands -- ready for some fun in the sun -- and hopefully no more (nautical) night moves.

Let's Dance.....Carol and Bill

The Plan

2013 promises to be a year full of challenge and promise. Just two short weeks into the new year, Captain Bill enlisted two of his cousins to crew on the short voyage from Savannah to North Palm Beach. Short if you're driving or flying, that is. By trawler the fun lasts for up to 55 hours, and the guys had a great time. Jim and Dan came aboard full of enthusiasm and energy for the guy trip south. Seas were flat (well, except for that short period of 5 to 6 footers off Jacksonville) and winds were soft as cotton, so their 3 hour shifts flowed seamlessly from one to the next and the time flew by.

The sailors arrived at Old Port Cove Marina after only 53 hours, slightly droopy but with high spirits, to be met at the dock by me, Sarah and Sandra! (The gals flew in and met me while the guys were still in transit.) Our timing was superb, but we played the "faithful little women who wait for their men to come home from the sea" card to the hilt.....the guys loved it and we shared a fantastic seafood supper before ending this much too short cousins' reunion.

Let's Dance was not neglected though, even after the crew departed. Nordhavns from around the globe come to Old Port Cove for care and maintenance between voyages. We entertained a fair number of mechanics, electricians, buffers, divers and polishers during our week in port. We now sport a refurbished alternator and leak-free generator. The stabilizers, those clever fins that help us maintain our balance on choppy seas, endured some much needed maintenance and are ready to go again. After last winter's meltdown, we learned that their well-being is vital to our well-being. A tiny oil leak in the gear box was patched, assuring smooth transitions from forward to reverse. Hoses were checked and valves were tightened and the Lugger engine and Northern Lights generator were deemed A-OK and ready to rumble.

So, as the boat was being prepped and primped and pampered, Bill and I made numerous trips to Costco, Target and Publix -- we have crammed every little nook full of goods and goodies. We could probably feed a boatload of stowaways for a season, but will no doubt be looking for some forgotten necessity within weeks.

Now, to the plan. Since I have been very good, Bill has promised to take me to the Ragged Islands this winter. The typical response to this is, "Where are the Ragged Islands? I've never heard of them." Well, very few people have heard of them or been there because a) they hold up the very southern end of the Bahama chain of islands, b) there is only one small settlement of about 70 rugged individuals and c) there are no services. That means there is no airport, no cell phones, no fuel, medical facilities, hotels or tourists. No Coast Guard, no Sea Tow. There are, we hope, plenty of sun and sand and starry skies and moonlit nights. Shells and fish and sea creatures of all variety await the arrival of Let's Dance and the Love Me Tender.

Tomorrow we instigate step one of The Plan -- we loosen the lines holding Let's Dance captive at the dock in Florida and set sail for the Great Bahama Bank, the Tongue of the Ocean and points south. Along the route we plan to check out a few islands we've not been to before and to revisit some of our favorites.

We are ready for the challenge -- 1,500 gallons of brand new diesel; 27 downloaded books; fresh filters in the water maker; hats, visors and sunscreen galore; a pair of brightly colored 'noodles' for flotation; fishing reels oiled and filled with 50 pound test; fresh fruit and veggies; limes to prevent scurvy; updated navigational software and, most importantly, positive attitudes and inquiring minds.

And, if I'm very, very good, Bill has promised to bring me back from the Ragged Islands this winter. That's the plan.

Let's Dance.....Carol and Bill