Blog by Maddie Baricevic: A week aboard the Wille Dawes | Exuma, Bahamas

Willie Dawes

10 things I’ve learned during the week

1. You can live without refrigeration, you just have to be creative. 

2. A slower pace of life should be practiced and appreciated more.

3. Get in the water any and every chance you get.

4. An afternoon drink with ice is a must. 

5. The sun is harsher and hotter than you think (yes, even in January). Reapply sunscreen often or wear a sun shirt.

6. What may look like a coral head or reed, could actually be grass. 

7. Snorkeling feels like you are a character in the movie ‘Finding Nemo’.

8. Spit in your snorkeling goggles to avoid them from getting foggy.  

9. Always have a free hand to grab onto the boat.

10. Spending time with family you don’t see often is one of the greatest feelings and I am forever grateful for this week. 

Once we landed in Georgetown, we had a welcoming ride from Vencil and a fast water taxi ride from Elvis to arrive at the boat that was anchored at Sand Dollar beach. Since we arrived a couple hours before sunset, we had time to test out snorkeling gear to figure out which goggles and flippers would fit best. One of the most helpful tips Kathy shared was focusing on breathing through your mouth and using your flippers more than your arms to swim.

We quickly fell into the routine of having breakfast and then spending the morning paddleboarding, then spent the afternoons snorkeling and swimming around the boat. Another part of our morning routine was listening to the net while we ate breakfast. The net started at 8 a.m. and was on a designated radio station where all boats in the harbor could listen and share anything and everything. From the weather report for the day, asking for assistance with boat issues, trading or giving away boat items to sharing new arrivals. It was always cool to hear where people came from and listen to all the interesting boat names! The first full day was pretty windy so we decided to walk to the ocean side on the island and go for a beach walk in the morning. We did a lot of catching up and looking for seashells. In the afternoon, we snorkeled over to a small coral head that was pretty close to the boat. This was my first one I’ve ever seen so I was blown away with how close up we could get. It was amazing! On the boat they had a book and different one pagers of the fish and coral life we would be seeing while snorkeling. By the end of the week I could tell you what fish I saw without referring to the one pager. It was a pretty cool feeling being able to recognize the fish while I was still under water! The next day was just as windy so we decided to dinghy over to the monument island and hike to the top to take in all the views. We started on what we thought was a marked path for visitors, however we quickly learned that path was not. We continued up the very, very steep path and made it to the top, the journey was well worth it. The views were beyond beautiful and of course pictures never do it justice!

Maddie & Veronica on the climbing up Monument Hill and at the top.

Another afternoon adventure was visiting a blue hole. A blue hole is a passageway to the ocean side of the island. Once we got there the blue hole was a lot larger than I thought with a lot of fish swimming out of it and around it. It was cool to feel the water temperature change once you got closer to the blue hole, it was colder than the water in the harbor. While we were snorkeling we saw a great barracuda fish! It was the biggest fish I saw all week and it was also the scariest. It is not a pretty looking fish to begin with and while it was swimming around us it would open its mouth and show its many and scary teeth. I cannot believe we got so close to a barracuda!

We cruised over to Red Shanks for two nights where the water was a lot calmer. We didn’t find many coral heads but we did snorkel around the rocks and see coral forests! Kathy picked up a sand dollar that made it safely back to NC. While paddleboarding, my mom and I saw starfish and since the water was pretty shallow near the rocks, we saw them pretty clearly with the help of the looky bucket.

Maddie & Veronica paddleboarding

Maddie & Dan scope out Red Shanks

We also got to spend a morning in Georgetown to go grocery shopping and stop at the Post Office. My mom and I walked up and down the main strip of the island, we walked past a school, a hotel and stopped in a few shops. Top 2 Bottom was a funky store we walked in, it had everything from “top to bottom” that people would need - boat parts, toilet seats, kitchen pans to a birthday tiara. The grocery store was busy since a shipment had just come in. This also meant ice cream for lunch! After shopping and walking around Georgetown, we hung out in the dinghy and shared 2 pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Most afternoons, right before sunset we spent time chatting and sitting in the sun on top of the boat. This is where we also had an afternoon snack and a drink with ice. Once the sunset, dinner was being prepared and so did the conch shells sounding off, thanking the sun for another beautiful day. After dinner most nights we played a game, Phase 10 or Cribbage. On our last night, Dan showed us how to make Turk’s Head bracelets. It is made out of boat string and once completed looks like a triple braided bracelet. It was easy to catch onto however the hardest part was getting over your thumb and knuckles since you were creating the braids around your fingers. Being able to share this experience with Captain Dan, Kathy and my mom was one I will never forget and continue to talk about every chance I get. It was truly a trip that was good for the soul - filled with family time, sharing stories, good laughs and daily adventures. What more could you ask for?

Turks Head bracelets.