Far and Away

Exumas 2/27/22

The unsung hero of our trip is our 8ft Hyfield dinghy with a 2.5 horsepower engine. This little boat lives on our deck rolled up and wrapped in canvas until we need it. Then we carry it to the foredeck, and pump it up with a foot pump and heave it over the side. We bring it to the stern where we lower the engine and attach it. Nico and I have this operation down to a science and can pretty much be ready to go in about 20 minutes after popping in a seat and attaching oars. We throw in a waterproof emergency bag, snorkel gear, fishing rod (when we aren't in the Exumas Land and Sea Park) and the cutest three pound Bruce anchor and off we go! The dinghy takes us places we can't go with our 5 ft draft and allows us to fish, land on beaches and in towns and snorkel. A favorite activity is to poke into mangrove streams and see turtles, sharks and fish in the shallows. If we shut off the engine and drift we can hear birds and then find them with binoculars. We can also go out to coral heads, anchor and swim around.

Yesterday we took the dinghy to a spot by Bell Island (owned by the Aga Kahn) and Little Hall's Pond Cay (owned by Johnny Depp). We tied it to a mooring there and dove on the wreck of an airplane. There was strong current so it was nice to be able to hang on to the boat. I especially like having it near when I spy barracuda or sharks lurking around!

The wreck was creepy so the little dinghy gave me comfort.

I like to pretend I'm a marine biologist when at the helm. I'm old enough to remember all the Jacques Cousteau documentaries - " Zodiac - our favorite mode of transportation"

We can creep up streams and then paddle when it gets too shallow for the engine.

We can see turtles underneath us as we go along. They glide so beautifully. These are mostly young green turtles hanging out in the rich, protective environment of the mangroves.