UPDATE May 3, 2000

MAY 8TH
4 CREEK CRUISE
NEUSE RIVER
BENTLEY

MAY 20, 5:30 PM, ORIENTAL WILDLIFE RAMP
DISTRESS SIGNALING DEVICES AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
NOTES Bring your own outdated signaling devices or use Coast Guard Auxiliary devices. Bring your own fire extinguisher or use one provided by SCOO. Discharged extinguishers can be taken by SCOO for recharging if they are identified with owner's name and telephone number. Owners are responsible for picking up their extinguisher and paying for recharging.

Bahamas 2000 Cruise Report from Bill and Mary White

BAHAMAS 2000
October 24,1999 April 11,2000

The day dawned bright and COLD, and our great adventure was about to begin. Glory [Dave & Sandy Netting], Now Voyager [Alan & Lynn Chaikin] and Zephaniah [Bill & Mary White], departed Oriental for The Bahamas.

Along the way we stopped at interesting ports of call, and took in many tourist attractions, Georgetown, Charleston, Savannah, Cumberland Island, St, Augustine, and The Kennedy Space Center. We also met Wind Melody [Dick & Donna Manion] at several stops along the way Having made this trip last year they were able to guide us to some of the best restaurants as well. We also encountered some BUMPS and fuel problems but nothing to hamper our enthusiasm for the trip.

After a weeks wait in Miami, a weather window arrived. The Gulf crossing was fairly calm and we were all in Chub Cay by December 11,1999. After waiting a few days for '~weather" we went to Nassau to re provision. Why this was necessary we were not sure since all of our water lines were still well beneath the surface of the water. After we had done the tourist thing and were ready to head out to the Exumas, the weather was again in control of our destiny.

Several days later we arrived at Normans Cay, the former headquarters of a major drug cartel in the 70s and 80s. The only reminder of that era is the half submerged airplane that was shot down during the final days of the drug lords. It was at this point that Now Voyager decided they preferred cruising in areas that provided a few more amenities than the out islands. They returned to Florida after having an exciting Millennium celebration in Nassau and have spent the winter cruising to interesting places along the ICW.

Glory and Zephaniah worked our way down the Exuma Chain and arrived in George Town, Great Exuma just before the New Year. There were about 150 boats scattered in four different anchorages. We anchored at Hamburger Beach off Stocking Island. This is across the harbor from George Town and the trip to town is a long and wet dingy ride. The beaches on Stocking Island are some of the most beautiful we have ever seen with glistening white sand and the water is a sparkling aqua blue.

We spent about five weeks at George Town and then began our trip north. We stopped at many places we had missed on the way south as well as some we just had to return to. One return stop was The Bahamas Land and Sea Park. The park is maintained by a ranger and his wife. They and their two children are the only permanent residents. There are no facilities at all and you may not take anything from the island shells or fish, nor may you leave any trash.

At the highest elevation on the island, Boo Boo Hill, there is what appears to be a pile of junk. This is however, a compilation of mementos left by the visiting cruisers. Sandy made a beautiful wooden plaque with the names of our three boats and the date.
Thanks to her creativity there is a very wonderful testimony to our visit to the park.

The park is truly a pristine paradise, and you are encouraged to volunteer your time. Dave and Sandy replaced bolts in the supporting posts of the rangers station, Bill and a new cruising friend from Canada repaired some electrical wiring and designed metal hurricane supports for the roof The island had sustained winds from Hurricane Floyd of 170 mph! Mary had the most challenging work, babysitting the newest addition to the warden's family, a darling three months old boy.

The beauty of the islands is beyond description and every day provided new wonders, whether we were exploring beaches and finding a shell that was different from all the others we had collected, or snorkeling and having vividly colored fish swim by you, or just reveling in another extraordinary sun set, the life of a cruiser is GREAT. You cannot be in the Exumas very long before you realize that the natives of the area are perhaps one of the friendliest groups of people you will ever meet.

While cruising you are very dependant on the weather, and the goodness of other sailors as well as the natives. We discovered that this is a very close and concerned community, not because every one knows you, but because each person understands that your need today may very well be there's tomorrow. As a result help is always available, regardless of the situation. Everything from a fuel cleaning system to a brace for some bruised ribs can be supplied as a result of a simple radio request or a chance conversation on the beach. There is a wealth of knowledge out there and people are more than willing to share whatever you may need.

We returned to Lake Worth Florida on the 20th of March and began our return home in earnest. It was wonderful to meet with Lark, [Caleb & Marion Marsh], Nameste, [Gordon &Bobbie Blowers] and Rainbows End [Bill & Pat Kirsch] in Vero Beach. We shared our experiences with them and listened with delight as they talked with great anticipation of their trip to the Abacos. We were envious of all the wonderful experiences that awaited them, but we were looking forward to going home by this time. We felt that six months would be ample time to see and do all we would want to, but we were wrong. So it appears that there will be another cruise to the islands in our future.

Looking back on the trip, one of the things we keep talking about are the people we met along the way. God has blessed us with a beautiful world to live in, but even more amazing are the wonderful people that move in and out of our lives. We have discovered that the care, concern and willingness to help others that is so prevalent in the cruising community is what we find in our friends here at home. How fortunate we are to have found such a special place to "drop anchor" and be at home.

Events marked with ** are firm dates. Others are subject to weather and date of departure will be during that week, to be decided by the cruise captain.

Events marked with * are land/water events and the land portion is for water participants only.

APRIL 18TH**
FIRST AID W/LUNCH
VILLAGE RESTAURANT
JOE SEVAGE

APRIL 26TH**
ORIENTAL HARBOR
ORIENTAL
HUFF

APRIL 27TH**
PARADE TO SEA HARBOR
ORIENTAL
HUFF

APRIL 27TH**
COMMISSIONING DAY PICNIC
SEA HARBOR
SOCIAL 12 NOON

MAY 12TH
CRUISE NORTH
CHESAPEAKE+
MAYKRANTZ

MAY 8TH
4 CREEK CRUISE
NEUSE RIVER
BENTLEY

MAY 20TH
SAFETY DEVICES
ORIENTAL BOAT RAMP
JOE SEVAGE

MAY 22ND
CRUISE TO OCRACOKE
OCRACOKE
NICKSTADT

JUNE 5TH
CAPE LOOKOUT CRUISE
CAPE LOOKOUT
SCHENCK

JUNE 23RD**
BROWNS CRK MINI CRUISE
AND COOKOUT
BROWN'S CREEK
OGREN *

JUNE 24TH**
SUMMER SOLSTICE RACE
YACHT/TRACTOR
MARSH

JUNE 25TH**
DOWRY CREEK RETREAT
DOWRY CREEK
OSMUN

JULY 5TH & 6TH**
CPR
VILLAGE HALL
JOE SEVAGE

JULY 10TH
PROGRESSIVE DINNER
SOUTH RIVER
BAXLEY

JULY 20**
PIG PICKIN'
SEA HARBOR
CATERED BARBECUE

JULY 24TH-31
PAMLICO RIVER CRUISE
PAMLICO RIVER

AUGUST 9**
PFDS AND DINGHIES
SEVAGE POOL
JOE SEVAGE

AUGUST 22**
BOATING EMERGENCIES
VILLAGE RESTAURANT
JOE SEVAGE

AUGUST 30**
CRISIS CRUISE
ORIENTAL 1
JOE SEVAGE

POTLUCK SUPPER
WHITTAKER CREEK
*

SEPT 7TH**
ANNUAL REGRETTA
ORIENTAL 1
TIERNEY
POTLUCK
WHITTAKER CREEK
SOCIAL *

SEPT 18TH
3 CREEK CRUISE
NEUSE RIVER

OCT 3D
COMMODORES CUP RACE
ORIENTAL 1
BLISS
POTLUCK
WHITTAKER CREEK
SOCIAL *

OCT 9TH
CRYSANTHEMUM FESTIVAL
NEW BERN

OCT 15TH
SOUTH TO FLORIDA +
HURLEY

OCT 16TH
HERITAGE NIGHT
SOUTH RIVER
SCOZZAFAVA

NOV 25TH**
TURKEY BOWL
ORIENTAL
POTLUCK
WHITTAKER CREEK
SOCIAL *

JANUARY 20TH**
ANNUAL MEETING
CHERRY POINT OFFICERS' CLUB* PARTICIPANTS ONLY
** DATE FIRM

Any additions or corrections, please call Ilona Forgeng, 249-3131, or e-mail forgeng@yahoo.com

For Sale
1977 Cape Dory 25-ft with custom tandem-axle trailer. Full electronics, safety gear, 9.9 Johnson Sailmaster outboard. (elect start/alternator) in stern lazarette. Currently visible on trailer in Oriental.
"Motivated seller!" George Duffie (252) 249-2990 or (843) 884-7594