Sail to Callabash Bay, Long Island

We woke early and listened to the weather.  It was still a go for leaving Georgetown.  We weaved our way thru the long channel on the south end of the harbor.  It’s several miles and you have to veer around shallows in several places so it takes a bit before you’re out in the open water again.  We had a beautiful sail and it was an amazing day … bright and sunny!  As we approached the waypoint (location we were heading to), we started the engine to let it warm up and to charge the batteries a bit before we dropped anchor.  We were about a mile or so out and the engine overheated.  This is the second time this has happened now.  It turns out, when we’re on a good, long sail and healed to port, we get an airlock in the water intake side of the motor.  The motor doesn’t get water flow for cooling so it overheats.  We will monitor when conditions are similar to determine that this is indeed the cause.

Originally, we were going to go up Joe’s Creek on the north-west side of Long Island.  The three boats (us, Megerin and Novia) were discussing the approach/water depth/etc when a fourth boat called us on the radio.  They told us that Joes’s Creek had about 6-7 boats already anchored inside and could “maybe” fit one more.  Hmmm … Joe’s Creek was to be a very protected anchorage and we looked forward to it.  Change of plans … we would all sail the short distance north and anchor in Callabash Bay.  It was just around a tip of land from Joe’s Creek and had a long reef running the length of the bay with only a small opening in the reef at the north and south ends.  We entered from the South and dropped the anchor off a beautiful beach in about 18 feet of water/over sand.  It was an awesome anchorage for the night since the weather was settled and the waves low … BUT … it’s supposed to be a horrible place to be if the seas and winds pick up.  When we were in Georgetown, we heard this story from someone who said he was anchored there when a storm blew thru.  He said he luckily got out into open water to ride out the storm but 3 other boats remained anchored and ended up scuttled on the beach.  URGH!!! Not what I want to hear when it’s the only place for us to stay tonight! No storms please!!!

Ray and Sandy dropped by for a drink.  It was a very cheap round.  Ray brought his own beer and Sandy had partaken in “Happy Hour” not long before at a resort they dinghied up to so declined the offer of a drink.  Larry asked if he could get me anything and although I said I’d have a wine, he was too busy chatting up with Ray about the weather software, etc that he hadn’t heard my answer and he was too busy to drink.  So … drinks for four … $0!  That’s right in our budget!!!

We had a very nice night in Callabash Bay.