Captain's Log Page 22

Tideline Yacht Sales
17 Lockwood Drive
Charleston, SC 29401

PHONE: 843.813.3711
FAX: 866.467.8840
Email: glen@tidelineyachtsales.com

      After the third day, I got frustrated and decided to make another unplanned stop. This time we came in at San Salvador, Bahamas.

The entrance to the marina that was being built, and where customs required one to go, was not very wide, to say the least. Coupled with the lack of width was a lack of depth. I could only get in at any time other than low tide, which fortunately it was when we arrived. However, there were rollers in the channel coming in, and it was disconcerting to surf in the channel that bordered by limestone walls on a 50 foot boat that weighs over 20 tons. Fortunately we got in without any mishap, but it was not something I would do regularly.

Once we had tied up and cleared in we decided to do some exploring. The island claims to be the first place Columbus stopped when coming to the Americas. For the most part it looks unchanged since then. There is a Club Med at one end of the island, and there was a quaint hotel next to the marina. The marina itself was still under construction, but it served its purpose for us. We decided to go into "town" and see what it consisted of. We found a store that sold the proverbial T shirts, and decided to purchase a few. However, she did not have change, and suggested we go to the bank to get the correct denominations! We walked to the bank, and found out that this was our lucky day. The staff of the bank is flown in from Nassau every Friday. They arrive in time to open at ten in the morning, and close the bank at four. They then return to Nassau. The bank is open once a week for six hours! We took our money and bought the shirts. Although this had been an unplanned stop, it turned out to be fortuitous as the weather turned nasty, and we stayed there for the duration of the bad weather. After three days the weather cleared and we decided to move on. We left without any difficulty in the channel, and picked up sails. Yet again the wind died and we were forced to motor-sail. However, this time we were close to the US, and we had a goal in sight.

We arrived at the entrance to the channel for Charleston in the middle of the day, and came down the channel behind a Coast Guard cutter. After looking at charts, and seeing the Coast Guard, we found our way to the anchorage, opposite the City Marina. It was Memorial Day, and we decided to spoil ourselves and stay on the dock. Since that time Charleston has been our home, and although we have departed on various trips, we have always returned. ... End of Captain's Log