23 March 2018; At Sea.

Today we are sailing North West towards the Bahamian Islands and late this evening we will enter the islands which are all scattered over the Grand Bahama Bank. Some areas can be sailed through as we will do, some areas are very shallow and some are reefs. Some reefs have developed into larger islands and are inhabited. Half Moon Cay was not until Holland America bought it. Then we built a house on it for the island manager and his family to live in during the cruise season. When the horses arrived, more people were stationed on the island as horses need grooms. Still most of the people who work on the island such as Security, the boat operators and the Shops, come over daily with one of the boats to the island from Eleuthera Island next door.  If I am not mistaken it is about a 45 minute ride or so.

A Frontal Passage. This one is a bit more severe than we had today but it shows the clear  line between two weather areas

The weather followed the weather forecast as least for the morning. We were supposed to have a little frontal passage in the early evening before the wind would shift to the North East, but it came our way by noon time. Because everything around you is wide open and not obstructed by trees or buildings, a lot of guests found it fascinating to see a frontal passage coming over. Unless you live on the prairie, the most you see is the rain cloud but not the whole dark band stretched out from horizon to horizon.

We of course want sunshine as we are on a cruise but for most of the islands, these frontal systems bring the rain they need, until the heavy rains come with the hurricane season. So also a bit of rain on Half Moon Cay today is not such a bad thing. As long as it is dry tomorrow when we were are there. Luckily the weather chart looks good.

Those of you who have made cruises might have heard the alarm sounded during your cruise of three long blasts on the ships whistle.  That is the Man Over Board Alarm, signifying that somebody has fallen overboard. In the old days when only men sailed on the ships and subsequently fell overboard M.O.B was correct but now it should be more a P.O.B, Person over Board, as the ladies are also getting quite good at it. We train this every three months and at an un-expected moment, as that is when a M.O.B also happens. Going overboard when least expected. As I am completely out of the loop on board, I am normally asked to set everything in motion………….. and…………….. I hate to say no.

Taking a selfie can be very dangerous. Annie in the water. With lifejacket otherwise she will sink.

So a few days ago in San Juan at the un-expected time of 11 am in the morning, I carried our dummy (She is called Annie) up the stairs, threw it overboard and then acted as the irate guest (calling 911 on a phone) whose wife had slipped overboard while taking a selfie (= that is a real life scenario) Then we have the protocol that the Front Desk (911) has to answer at once, question the person calling in a certain way and then take action.

The Front desk Attendant throws the buoy over the side of the ship, while her supervisor keeps the MOB insight,

Well they were on deck in 60 seconds, threw a lifebuoy over the side and reported to the bridge that rang the alarm. From that moment onwards we have 10 minutes to launch the M.O.B boat with a fully dressed up crew. Which we accomplished almost on the second and Annie was safely in the boat 3 minutes later and under Doctor’s care another 3 minutes later. When this alarm goes there are about 25 crew directly involved. Captain and Bridge Team, Crowd Control, Medical, Stretcher Team, Boat Lowering Team and the three crew of the Fast Rescue Boat itself.

It is required by law to hold a M.O.B rescue exercise every three months but we do it more often as the Rescue Boat’s water jet engine has to be tested more often and ……….Boys with Toys……… the speed the boat can make also has its attraction.

Annie is brought in the boat by means of  a special cradle.

As it happens on the open decks, we always have an audience and the standard remark is  “why does it take so long”. Well it does not but it feels like it, because so many things happen at the same time but as everybody focuses on Annie in the water, it look like as if nothing happens for a long time. Luckily we have Einstein with his relativity theory to explain this:  If you kiss your lover then 60 seconds feels like a very short time, if you sit with your bottom on a hot stove, then 60 seconds feels like a very long time.

Tomorrow we are in Half Moon Cay and it looks like a very nice day according to the weather forecast. 76oF / 24oC and a gentle North Easterly Breeze.

Our route and the tail of the frontal system that we passed through today. Before the nasty stuff in the USA comes our way, we will be away from Half Moon Cay again. (Photo courtesy www.wsi.com)