![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.argoknot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/2-1-13b-284.jpg\" "\\"2-1-13b")
<\/a><\/p>\nLast night was the very first calm winds since arriving in the Bahamas two weeks ago. \u00a0It almost felt like a protected harbor in New England, rather than a bit of water between two cays, which it really was\u2026.<\/p>\n
We are in Little Farmer’s Cay for the “Farmer’s First Friday in February Festival, ” or 5Fs, as it is known. \u00a0Part of this festival is a sailing race of Bahamian sloops. \u00a0There are a few of these boats on the island, and on the morning of the festival the large mail boat brings in a few more with crew. \u00a0This morning around 8am, we did see the mail boat “My Captain” arrive with three Bahamian sloops on the foredeck and a crowd of passengers milling on deck listening to blaring island music. \u00a0The little cay of Farmer’s is now pulsing with excitement!<\/p>\n
And the wind is picking up as predicted. \u00a0\u00a0The race should be quite adventurous, with East winds kicking up to over 20 mph and gusting to near 30. \u00a0Bob went ashore earlier to volunteer for a crew position on one of the sloops. \u00a0He came back to tell me that he is being considered for a spot on “Thunderbird.” \u00a0He’s got the camera so I cannot document what I’m watching right now through binoculars. \u00a0I don’t know if he has been accepted, but the captain of “Thunderbird” seems to be putting Bob through some paces: \u00a0making him do quite a bit of the hard work rigging this sloop which is bouncing dramatically at the dock of Little Farmer’s Cay Yacht Club. \u00a0It looks like most of the Bahamians are relaxing on the dock chatting together while Bob works solo to hank on the main sail. \u00a0I’m wondering if they are waiting to see if Bob will get seasick. I think they’ll wait a long time for that, so I’m betting Bob will be accepted to crew for the race.<\/p>\n
And I’m not sure what I think of that. \u00a0He took his inflatable life jacket with him, but I have to wonder what the procedure is if someone goes overboard. \u00a0From what I barely understand about Bahamian sloops, the biggest asset of having crew is ballast. \u00a0The crew are expected to shift sides on every tack and to hike out as far as possible to balance the huge sail. \u00a0Will they stop to pick up a crewman gone overboard? \u00a0Will there be a chase boat for this eventuality?<\/p>\n
Right now I’m watching a golf cart motor out onto the dock to pick up other supplies that the mail boat brought for this festival: \u00a0crates food and drink. \u00a0I was on that dock last evening, so I know it doesn’t seem sturdy enough for a golf cart full of supplies. \u00a0Hmmm\u2026 this is not giving me confidence about the safety of things around here. Wish I could manage some photos of Bob, but he’s got the camera!<\/p>\n
Now Bob is back on the dock, and the captain is on board looking at the sail, probably checking Bob’s handiwork. \u00a0I also know that Bob is at least as agile as any of the Bahamian men, so I think it’s time to start worrying about his safety during this race.<\/p>\n
Some of the boats are sailing around the harbor now, but I can no longer see “Thunderbird.” \u00a0There are only two or three men on each boat, so I’m rather surprised that any of them would need volunteer crew members. The booms on these boats extend well beyond the stern, at least half again as long as their length on deck, and the mast is quite far forward on the deck. \u00a0The sails are huge. I can’t tell if the sails can be reefed down in the kind of wind we have today. \u00a0Should be interesting!<\/p>\n