Struggles in Nassau & Bittersweet Reunions in Andros

Battling northward across the passage from Bimini toward New Providence, Connor and Kelly took heavy seas over the bow of their 62-foot catamaran, Sailing Big Lost. One surging wave broke directly through an open window, dousing the salon while crew members scrambled to shield cameras and verify gear positions. With a beam measuring 29 feet, entering Nassau Harbour under sustained high winds created an immediate test of close-quarters handling.

Connor took the helm to back the multihull into its assigned slip at Nassau Harbour Marina while the crew managed dock lines between concrete pilings and neighboring piers. Safely secured alongside, the arrival brought an immediate transition. Crew member David packed his bags to fly home to Canada for the holidays, concluding his stretch aboard and leaving the family to confront mounting repair lists.

Cutting Cracks and Patching the Anchor Locker

Structural damage from the rough crossing required professional intervention at the dock. Following a personal recommendation from David Langlois, the crew hired local fiberglass specialist Michael to inspect fractures on the bow adjacent to the forward trampolines. Michael ground out the fractured laminate on the port side down to sound composite, preparing the substrate for structural glassing before returning later to apply finishing gelcoat. The starboard bow displayed shallower surface cracking that required buffing rather than deep structural reconstruction.

A morning inspection by kayak revealed more severe damage hidden beneath the foredeck. The primary anchor had driven entirely through the hull laminate into the anchor locker. Working from a dinghy positioned directly beneath the trampoline, Michael ground back the damaged composite and applied structural patches to seal the void. Reflecting on the relentless cycle of offshore wear, Kelly noted, “it’s like we fix some things and we go out there and mess it up and add to our list it’s like a Non-Stop battle.”

Engine Servicing and Cruiser Rules in New Providence

Secured in the marina, the family took advantage of calm water to complete scheduled machinery upkeep. Connor crawled into the machinery spaces to drain and replace engine oil, while Kelly worked through the deck hardware, polishing stainless steel and washing salt residue off the cabin top. Checking in on Connor’s progress inside the starboard bay, Kelly observed, “looks okay this engine’s the easy compartment.” Reviewing unfinished items, the couple decided to prioritize safety-critical repairs and postpone cosmetic tasks.

Stepping ashore for dinner, the family followed local recommendations to walk toward the traditional Fish Fry. Finding the distance significantly longer than anticipated, they flagged down a street taxi for the second leg of the trip. Ashore, they noted piles of discarded conch shells lining the waterfront. Practical logistics in New Providence proved challenging: local marine police regularly visited vessels moored in the harbor or anchored off beaches, instructing them to depart once they reached three days. Facing steep daily marina dockage rates and finding no public dinghy landings or shoreside trash facilities, Connor and Kelly cast off lines to relocate.

Relocating to Athol Island and Christmas Aboard

Connor threaded the 29-foot beam through the harbor fairway between mega-yachts, guiding Big Lost out toward Athol Island to drop anchor and allow fiberglass resins to cure. The anchorage hosted commercial tour boats operating an excursion known as Pig Beach. Visiting the beach, the crew learned tour operators charged $186 per person to interact with the pigs. Connor and Kelly declined the fee, choosing to wait for an authentic encounter elsewhere in the archipelago.

The crew spent Christmas aboard the catamaran while nursing lingering head colds. Kelly distributed holiday gifts in the salon, handing out Skullcandy earbuds, personal jewelry, cabin decorations, and a Hawaiian sling spear rig with an underwater tube for targeting invasive lionfish. Finn and Maddie assembled their hunting equipment while resting before the next passage leg.

Rerouting Passage Plans to Andros

Original cruising itineraries called for sailing Big Lost to Andros to meet family friend Zula at a rented beach house in Kemp’s Bay. Navigational research revealed severe hazards across the Great Bahama Bank surrounding Andros, characterized by shifting sand shoals, expansive coral heads, extreme low tides, and prevailing headwinds. Evaluating their 62-foot catamaran, Connor and Kelly determined the risk of grounding was unacceptable.

Rather than canceling the reunion, Kelly booked regional commercial flights from Nassau Airport to Congo Town on South Andros. Despite an early morning airport delay that held departures until 8:00 a.m. due to local airfield hours, Kelly and Maddie landed safely on Andros for an extended weekend ashore. Watching the children reunite along the shoreline, Kelly remarked that “it honestly made my heart sing to see the two of them together and enjoying each other’s company it was pure joy.”

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