Author Archive for Manning
Nat Manning is a retired law enforcement pilot and local legend with marine towing companies. His sailing skills are unsurpassed when it comes to handling a large boat while imbibing in his favorite rum beverage. Captain Manning is quickly becoming a local folk hero with his above average skills at scarring the hell out of unsuspecting local fish resting peacefully under his boat.
The Great Bahamas trip: Part 6 / Chub Cay to Bimini
Two Years Before the Mast – Chub Cay to Bimini
By: Nat Manning
After a nice layover in Chub Cay, we cast off on Tuesday, the 10th of February and motored out clear of the reefs off Moma Roda Rock. We unfurled the sail and slowly slid down the underside of the Berry Islands, past an almost [...]
The Great Bahamas trip: Part 5 / Nassau to Chub Cay
Two Years Before the Mast-Nassau to Chub Cay
By: Nat Manning
Leaving Nassau Harbor consists of a rapid transition from the quiet calm of the seaport to the deep ocean swells of the Tongue of the Ocean. From calm to six foot waves in just a few minutes. From the forty feet of the ship [...]
The Great Bahamas trip: Part 4 / Nassau
Two Years Before the Mast – Nassau, By: Nat Manning
On Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Elise II arrived in Nassau around five o’clock in the morning. As the Skipper tided up the boat and secured all the equipment from the overnight passage, I (Gilligan) spent most of the day in the bunk sleeping, much to [...]
The Great Bahamas trip: Part 3 / Bimini to Nassau
Two Years Before the Mast – Bimini to Nassau
The intrepid crew of the mighty ship Elice II had arrived in Bimini on the 28th day of January, 2009. The last day of January was a sad day aboard Elice II as it was the Admirals last day with us. We rode the water [...]
The Great Bahamas trip: Part 2 / Bimini
Two Years Before the Mast – Bimini
Bimini deserves it’s own article. Why? Because Bimini is a very special place. In essence, it really isn’t that much to look at. Most baseball players can stand in the water on one side of North Bimini and hit a ball into the water on [...]
The Great Bahamas trip: Part 1 / Tampa to Bimini
On the 20th day of January, in the year two thousand and nine the great ship Elice II set sail from the docks of Lands End Marina proudly and stately with the Skipper, the Admiral, and myself, (Nat Manning) as foredeck crew. The air was electric with the excitement of an adventure that would [...]
Two Years Before the Mast – The List
I told you not to read this, that it would be boring! What are you doing here?
Just a few points of interest. Note the 3 pairs of underwear. Ellen embroidered them as “January, February, March” so that I would have a system. In light of that, we pause for a commercial [...]
From Skipper to Gilligan, the adventure begins.
Editors note: The tall tale your about to hear is generated from the salt encrusted sea sprayed deranged mind of one sailing gent known as Nat Manning. He will be setting off on a sailing adventure to the Bahamas this week, and sending me regular updates. I’ll post them here so you can go on [...]
Boat Bites III (attack of the carnivores)
By: Nat Manning
I don’t know how long, for months, a plan has been rattling around between the Captain of Velella and myself of roasting a leg of lamb. After many conversations at the Tiki Bar and numerous ‘false starts’, we finally got serious and made the plans final and binding. Not wanting to be involved [...]
Boat bites, on the boat (part 2)
By: Nat Manning
Now that we arrive at the boat, the danger really begins. The deck of a sailboat is a virtual cornucopia of hazards that come in all colors and flavors. Hey, you remember “cleats”? Well, they are generally sprayed onto a sailboat and then bolted down where-ever they land. For fun, add some steel [...]
Boat Bites, getting to the boat
By: Nat Manning
I know that some of you are asking yourselves… “What are boat bites?”
Boat bites are painful, non critical, non debilitating minor injuries that occur on and around boats. Take note that I referred to them as injuries, not accidents. I have been studying this phenomenon and am somewhat convinced that the injuries are [...]
After Action Report Pirate Party
I have to express my apologies and concede that though a fair weaver of stories, I’m a poor action reporter. I was right on scene on the afternoon/night of the 21st and now it’s the 28th and I still haven’t submitted an article outlining the events of that ill-famed night. I’ve just apologized, but I [...]
Talk Like a Pirate
This is an important world wide service announcement from the coast! Tomorrow, September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. This is not something you want to forget or ignore.
As a past observer of this important event, I am astutely aware of it’s importance and propriety in today’s world. I’m not making this up, [...]
The Real Larry
This has gone long enough. Larry playing the suave sophisticated author sitting in a leather chair in a study surrounded by shelves of books, maybe smoking a pipe. I could just tell you about the real Larry, but perhaps a story will better illustrate the Larry that I know.
It starts in the middle of the [...]
Marooned!
Much attention has been focused on survival as a castaway both in movies and reality shows lately. Having had a recent experience regarding this subject, I can tell you that movies and reality shows fail to convey the array of emotions that are very much an important part of the castaway experience. Folks [...]
Don’s Marine Salvage Yard and spare parts emporium
Hello.
Since this is my first submission to Larry’s blog, I’ll introduce myself. My name is Nat and I used to have a life of adventure and excitement. Then I retired and the most exciting thing in my life now is eating enough fiber to keep my system functioning with some amount of regularity. I have [...]
