SDA251 Threading the Needle

A beautiful, easy passage into the Exumas ends with Dark Angel threading her way through shallow water, coral and rocks. We cruise from Long Island to Hog Cay Cut in the Exumas. Dave pulls the new port engine raw water pump to track down an oil leak and discovers the supplied O-ring was oversized, crushed and damaged. An O-ring salvaged from the old pump gets us back together. We raise the main and genoa hoping for enough wind to sail the 16-hour passage, but spend most of it motor sailing through calm seas and absolutely gorgeous water. Hog Cay Cut is a very different kind of beautiful. Arriving a couple of hours after high tide means I am on the bow watching the shallow water for coral and rocks as we thread Dark Angel through the narrow cut. Cruising from Long Island to the Exumas aboard our sailing catamaran, with diesel engine maintenance, motor sailing through the Bahamas and navigating the shallow waters of Hog Cay Cut. -------------------- 🌊 Sailing Dark Angel follows our real-life journey sailing the Caribbean aboard our Island Spirit catamaran, sharing the challenges, adventures, and everyday moments of liveaboard sailing life. -------------------- 🎥 Become part of the Crew on Patreon Without a Crew, a Ship Has No Direction. Join the crew on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdarkangel -------------------- ⛵ Follow the journey beyond YouTube https://sailingdarkangel.com Lisa's personal blog is being added now. 🍻 Like what you see? You can even buy us a beer. Business inquiries: partners@sailingdarkangel.com -------------------- 📰 Featured in sailing media Latitudes & Attitudes Magazine 🍹 Rum tasting article https://digitalmagazine.latsatts.com/sailingdarkangel-5456 🌊 Bahamas snorkeling article https://summer2023.latsatts.com/theresthisplace#a_aid=640782a615fd9&a_bid=0e47bed1 Pussfoot Magazine https://www.pussfoot.com/blogs/water/sailing-dark-angel-sailing-and-slow-cooked-ribs -------------------- 🍹 The Dark Angel Cocktail We created our own signature drink, the “Dark Angel,” which placed 3rd in a Latitudes & Attitudes Magazine contest. If you’d like to try one yourself or order one at your favorite watering hole, here’s the recipe: Kraken Spiced Rum Ginger Beer Muddled Mint Slice of Lime If you try it, let us know what you think! -------------------- ⚓ Marine Electronics Support We trust Sea-Tech Systems for expert marine electronics advice and support aboard Dark Angel. If you're planning upgrades or troubleshooting onboard systems, these are the guys we rely on. https://seatech.systems/ See how they helped us: https://seatech.systems/2022/02/16/sailing-dark-angel-tests-sea-techs-marine-electronics-advisor-service/ -------------------- 🎒 Gear we trust We take our Ugowear waterproof bags EVERYWHERE. Amazing company, amazing gear. Affiliate link: https://ugowear.com?aff=34 -------------------- 🛠 Help keep Dark Angel sailing Amazon Wishlist https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/KYJVC8ZWGHY2 -------------------- 👕 Dark Angel & Be Nauti Swag https://spoiledbratdesigns.com/product-category/sailing-dark-angel-clothing-and-accessories/ -------------------- 📱 Follow the journey Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sailingdarkangel X https://x.com/SailinDarkAngel TikTok https://tiktok.com/@sailing_darkangel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sailingdarkangel -------------------- 🎶 Opening and closing song “Who We Are” by Miah From the band NINETEEN EIGHTY SEVEN Miah generously allowed us to use this song on the channel from the very beginning, and we've loved it ever since. Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/6WaNVPlzMwFn7WCVT3gVcJ https://nineteeneightyseven.com -------------------- Lisa & Dave Sailing Dark Angel © Sailing Dark Angel 2026