When we crossed the Gulf Stream from Wahoo Bay to West End, Bahamas, in November there were several squalls we negotiated as we sailed. No real problems with them, just a few crossing waves patterns to deal with. Our arrival was late in the day and we didn't leave Faith until the following day. The wind was out of the East and the anchorage was protected nicely. There were the aforementioned battery issues we had on our minds and we decided not to head out early the next day for Abaco. Instead, we stayed an extra day to diagnose and make a plan for our power storage needs. As Naomi had not been to the Bahamas before, we were all excited for her to see the clear waters and white beaches. I needed some space to work, and the girls were ripe for adventure, so I sent them out in the dingy to the nearby beach resort for a swim. Mia spent the first 90 seconds running on full throttle getting the water to drain out the back of our dingy and then proceeded toward the beach which was around the marina breakwater. Rounding the breakwater and running straight onto the oncoming tidal current, the dingy motor quit. Just died. Of course, situations don't normally get complicated without other circumstances encroaching. And they did here. I had decided that before I solved the battery problems, I'd go for a swim. And, if I was going to swim, I might as well clean the hulls. Clear, warm Bahamian water just invites a cruiser to do this every day. So I jumped in and spent the next few minutes scraping growth off of Faith. That's when I surfaced to hear Maya yelling my name. That's unusual. She normally whispers in my ear;) I came to the swim deck to hear the situation. The dingy motor had quit and the girls were being swept out to sea in the current of the ebbing tide. Swift current is normal in the Bahamas, and we had been used to making our plans and dealt with it. However, after four months away from Faith, a new dingy to captain and and older sister to impress, Mia was not prepared for this turn of events. She did bring the radio and that was what saved her that day. Calling Faith on channel 9 she raised Maya, and Maya raised me from the water. As I climbed the ladder I heard another voice over our radio asking Mia if she needed help. Did she need a tow? Mia answered that she did, and we were soon reunited Faith. What is hard to describe is all the small things that add up to make a big difference. But I'll give you what I can. The rain during the crossing had filled our dingy to the point where water had seeped into the gas tank. Our fuel/water separator needed to be replaced and was not working properly. The water took about two minutes to get through the lines, separator, filter and carburetor to finally foul the chamber and put out the spark. The engine died just as they entered the ripping current that would take them toward the Gulf Stream and far away. Four months off of dingy captain duty made Mia react slowly and not throw the sand anchor immediately. Mia hailed me on channel 9 and never tried to raise help on the main channel 16 where most boaters monitor. There was only Get Routty in the area, and they just happened to be monitoring 9 while Mia was using it because they had friends at a local resort using it that day. No one else was listening or hearing or cared. There is Maya hearing the radio on Faith and not knowing why her daughter is calling me while she knows I am underwater. Then she uses the radio for the first time in her life to listen and answer, and then get me out of the water. It was just a completely weird and fortunate set of events that took place to introduce us the some friends we will follow for many years.
Four months later, we are parting with the family and vessel that rescued Naomi and Mia that early November morning. Get Routty, the name of the beautiful Leopard 46 catamaran the Martyn family from Routt County, Colorado, are sailing, is headed south from Georgetown, Exumas, in the next few days. We spent the morning together at Stocking Island beach church today, and they decided to join us in distributing bibles as they sail. What an unexpected joy!
A short dingy ride over to their vessel and we handed off 99 copies of the New Testament. Heather and Ren, and their two sons Andrew and Lander, will place the bibles as they travel from country to country. Gods word knows no bounds. It's an incredible sight and thoroughly invigorating to meet other folks who sail and have the knowledge of the impact Gods word can have on lives. We wish them the very best on their voyage. Please remember Get Routty and their faithful crew in your prayers.