Tagesmeldung vom 22.02.2026

Törn 0909 | Westindische Inselwelt
in Nassau

Position 25°04,9′ N|077°20,3′ W
Kurs, Speed 000 | 0kn
Etmal 0nm
Wind W – 5bft
Luftdruck 1019 hpa
Bedeckung 4/8
Temp (L/W) 28°C, 24°C

Titel: Bahamas Feeling
Author: Maya
Position: Bahamas-Nassau
Nautical Position: 25*04.859’N 77*20.316’W
Etmal: 0sm

To me, the Bahamas hadn’t really felt like the Bahamas the whole time I’ve been here — but today that changed.

The day started with us being allowed to sleep in — if you can call sleeping until 9:30 “sleeping in.” :,)
A lot was planned for today: you could choose between visiting a fort, having free shore leave, or going to the beach. And well, if you know me, my choice was obvious: I wanted to go to the beach.

So after some more ship maintenance work, lunch, and cake for our birthday girls Mona and Lotta, everyone was free to go. A big group of students went on free shore leave, and an even bigger one went to the fort with Andi and Luna.

Lotti, who joined Andi’s group, reports on their excursion. She explains that Fort Charlotte was constructed by British colonial governor Lord Dunmore and built in the late 18th century to defend the island against rival colonial powers – the Spaniards first and foremost – and potential pirate attacks.
Although they were initially assigned a rather hurried tour guide — who rushed them through the rooms at record speed — Andi made sure the visit did not feel rushed or superficial.
Thanks to him, the group was able to use the remaining time before the site closed to explore the fort more thoroughly and at their own pace.

With his knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for history, Andi added depth and context to what they were seeing. He didn’t just point out rooms and structures, but explained their purpose and historical significance — from the garrison’s sleeping quarters and the arsenal to the impressively deep cistern. On the roof, the group saw the old cannons aimed toward the sea and the harbor. Positioned strategically, they ensured the successful defense against approaching enemy ships.

Andi also shared a notable piece of social history about the fort’s garrisoning under British colonial rule. Originally, the military presence in the Bahamas was composed of European soldiers, but tropical diseases like yellow fever took a heavy toll, and many European troops did not survive the harsh conditions. In the early 19th century, British commanders began stationing Black soldiers from the British West India Regiment at Fort Charlotte and other posts because they were better adapted to the climate and disease environment. These free Black troops served alongside European officers and became part of Bahamian society — some even marrying local women and settling on the islands. Their presence challenged existing social norms and was met with unease by some white residents, reflecting broader tensions around race, status, and power in the colonial era.

Lotti says that they were able to gain a much better understanding of the Bahamas’ past, colonial conflicts, and the role piracy played in the region — all while still having a lot of fun exploring the site together.

But back to my group: The only ones with enough motivation to walk to the beach for an hour were Miriam, Nick, Mona, and me. You’re probably wondering: Nassau isn’t that big — why would we need to walk for an hour? Well, we wanted to go to a smaller beach that wasn’t so full of tourists.
But thanks to Deli and her amazing persuasion skills, we didn’t even have to walk! A crew member took us there in the dinghy. It felt kind of crazy to be right next to the huge cruise ships in our tiny little boat. He dropped us off at a small beach on a long stretch of land next to the harbor that you can only reach by ferry or by crossing the bridge much farther back. Of course, our way of getting there was way cooler.
Once we found the perfect spot, we had to step out of the dinghy into knee-deep water and walk ashore. That already felt very piratey, and the feeling was enhanced by the palm trees and bushes facing us. Even better, we took a small path through those bushes and palm trees and were rewarded with an amazing view:

An empty beach with beautifully clear blue water, protected from strong waves by rocks farther out, white warm sand with two chairs, and in front of us a treehouse surrounded by tropical greenery. It really looked like something out of a picture book.

As soon as we put down our things, I wasted no time running into the sea and jumping into the warm blue water. Well, if you ask Nick, it wasn’t that warm — but Mona and Miri agreed with me, so it’s 3 to 1.
As it turned out, the beach wasn’t completely empty. About 100 meters to the right, you could see a large section filled with beach chairs, lots of touristy attractions, buoys in the water, and security personnel. So we might have wandered into a cruise ship company’s territory — but who cares? Our part of the beach was peaceful, and the security staff didn’t say anything to us.
The four of us had so much fun in the water, jumping around, diving, and inventing silly games. It was the best possible ending to our time in the Bahamas.

In the end, each group fully enjoyed their chosen activity.

Now we’re on our way through the Bermuda Triangle — so who knows what will happen next?

Grüße:
Mona: Hallooo Mama und Papa. Danke euch. Ich hab euch ganz dolle lieb❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️