Headed Back to the States

May 27, 2015

We have spent a great two weeks with our 'family' here in Black Point Exuma.

After over 5 1/2 months in the Bahamas, it is with mixed emotions that we are beginning our trip back to the States.

We plan to leave here on Friday (5/29).

• Day 1 will be up the Exuma Cays from Black Point to anchoring near Highbourne Cay.
• Day 2 will take us up over the 'White Bank' to anchor in West Bay on New Providence.
• Day 3 will be a midday departure from West Bay up the 'Tongue of the Ocean', on to the Bahama Bank via the Northwest Channel, and continuing across the Bank through the night.
• Day 4 will have us exiting the Bank at Gun Cay and then crossing the Gulf Stream to Miami.

We will probably not post another blog entry until we are in Miami, but we will be updating our 'Most Recent Position'  on the blog at least daily.

Tom

Anchored Black Point,  Exuma

Commissioning "HMBS Rolly Gray"

April 30, 2015

Today we were privileged to attend the commissioning service for a new Bahamas Royal Defence Force ship "HMBS (Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship) Rolly Gray" at Emerald Bay Marina.

The Defence Force is the Bahamas' sole armed service.  It is primarily a navy, but each ship has a complement of marines.

Rolly Gray was a legendary Bahamian sloop sailor from nearby Staniel Cay.  He was instrumental in starting the National Family Island Regatta and dominated the races for many years, primarily on 'Tida Wave',  the boat that just won the "A" Class series.

Rolly was also a mail boat captain transporting mail and supplies to the out islands. For many years he was the Captain of  "MV Grand Master", whose name is also a title  bestowed on Rolly for his sloop sailing prowess.

"HMBS Rolly Gray" was built in Holland and is the fourth of her class.  Two of her sister ships were present in the marina for the ceremony.  In total the Bahamian government is presently adding 9 ships to their fleet - a serious commitment to security.

Although we have experienced it in the past, it is striking how spiritual a  Bahamanian government ceremony can be - this was a full-blown worship service with scripture readings, hymns, and prayers.  A part of the ceremony that jumped out was in the Captain's 'charge' to the ship's company:

Commanding Officer:  I call upon you to pray for God's blessing on this ship.  May God the Father bless her.

Ship's Company:   Bless our ship.

Commanding Officer:  May Jesus Christ bless her.

Ship's Company:   Bless our ship.

Commanding Officer:  May Jesus Christ bless her.

Ship's Company:   Bless our ship.

Following are some pictures from the ceremony.  Disclaimer - many of the photos were taken at a 'practice': we wanted to be respectful during the actual service.  You can tell by the uniforms - dress whites for the actual event.

"HMBS Rolly Gray"

"HMBS Rolly Gray"at flank/full speed

Ship's Insignia

Honor Guard

Honor Guard 'Spacing'

Presenting Honors

Crewman preparing to raise National Ensign for the 'first time' during the playing of the National Anthem

Bahamian Ensign Flying

Sister Ship - "HMBS Durward Knowles"

Sister Ship "HMBS Leon Livingstone Smith"
Note crewman polishing name plate

All three sister ships at dock
Impressive Sight!

Ship's Company receiving dignitaries

Governor-General Dame Marguerite Pindling

Prime Minister Perry Christie

Staniel Cay School Children

Prime Minister Christie posing with school children

Patriotic turtle doing some bottom cleaning on Durward Knowles

We were glad that we were able to extend our stay here to witness the commissioning.

Hopefully on Saturday (5/2) we will leave Emerald Bay and head north to Black Point in the Exuma Cays.



Tom
Docked Emerald Bay Marina