I would like to thank you for your cruising guide. This is our first year of cruising and your book has been very beneficial once we got used to the format. In response to your solicitation for comments, we offer the following:
1. Clarence Town. We share your enthusiasm for Clarence Town. Also, our diesel engine starter went out and, after asking the local fisherman if a good diesel mechanic was available, I was told Andrew Cartwright (tel. 337 2424) was the best. He came to our anchored boat, removed the starter from a very tight place, took it home, and reinstalled it the next day at a third of the price someone would charge in the States. I thought it might be helpful to other boaters if his name was included in your yellow pages under Clarence Town.
2. Marsh Harbour to San Salvador. We came to the Bahamas on the new Bahamas 500 Rally from Beaufort, NC, to Marsh Harbour. The sponser was Nautech Enterprises. I understand this fall they plan an intermediate stop in Charleston, SC. After arriving in Marsh Harbour and visiting the Abacos, we wanted to get south in a hurry so we could take our time coming back north with the prevailing SE winds. Most everyone else went to Royal Island and down Eleuthera, Cat, Exumas, etc. We caught a north wind following a cold front and sailed 40 hours to San Salvador, which we also enjoyed. We planned to follow the next cold front to the Turks and Caicos, but we got a late start and in mid Feb we ran out of cold fronts to follow. We ended up going to Rum Cay and Clarence Town with plans to go to French Wells since you recommended it so highly (although it may not be as secluded now that you have published it). Maybe there is a reason I don't know about that keeps people from taking the direct route south, but I thought that route might be worthy of mention in your next edition.
I wish you continued success with your next edition. The detailed research that goes into such a guide is, I'm sure, very tedious but it is certainly appreciated.
Rankin Tippins and Sandy Hollis
S/V Heart of Texas
