SDA260 A Long Night on the Hook

The anchor looked good enough in daylight. By nightfall, Captain Dave was running the engines in cold driving rain to keep us from dragging. We leave the rolly anchorage at Big Majors Cay and return to Thomas Cay in Pipe Creek, the same area where Dark Angel was struck by lightning last year. The weather is good all the way in, but starts to turn almost as soon as the anchor drops. I dive the anchor and it looks fairly well set, but the bottom is silty and the holding is poor. That night a massive storm rolls through. Captain Dave runs the engines in the driving rain to help keep Dark Angel in place while the wind and weather hammer the anchorage. We make it through the night without dragging. Our friends on a sportfish a few hundred meters away aren’t so lucky. With daylight, we weigh anchor and move to the wider open area near Little Pipe Cay. Another anchor dive shows the anchor only half dug in, but holding better, and this time we have room to put out twice as much chain. Anchoring in Pipe Creek and Little Pipe Cay in the Exumas, riding out a major overnight storm, checking anchor holding in poor silty bottom, and repositioning Dark Angel for better protection. -------------------- 🌊 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.sailingdarkangel.com/Fleet -------------------- ⛵ 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