When we last wrote we had just finished our second week of this trip with an Easter brunch on board and a relaxing day at the pool and walking the beach. We began our third week at West End waiting for the forecasted storms to pass for the cruise across Little Bahama Bank to the Abacos. A relaxing cruise depends on good weather so we start each morning checking the weather to decide whether to move on or to just spend the day enjoying our current location.
Our days in West End were all the more enjoyable because of the friends we made in the marina. We had dinners with Craig and Julie from Lady J and even took their dinghy to an adjacent cay for some snorkeling. Keith and Jeannie on Mucho Gusto hosted a “happy hour” on their catamaran bringing together a dozen cruisers—some departing after a month or season in the Abacos with many great stories and must-see spots. As the sky darkened we all raced “home” to wait out the approaching squall.
On Wednesday April 15th the weather cleared and we topped up our fuel tanks and left with Lady J for the 54 miles trip to Great Sale Cay—a small uninhabited island with a protected harbor about halfway to the Abacos. After an easy six hour cruise we arrived at 2pm—the first two boats in the anchorage. We dropped anchor in crystal clear ten foot water and watched it dig into the white sand. I jumped overboard with my mask and snorkel to double check the anchor and we lowered our dinghies to explore the lovely beach
On Thursday April 16th we had to say our sad goodbyes to our new friends on Lady J. Craig and Julie were going to cruise the local cays for a few days then return to the USA while we still had another 80 miles to get to the Sea of Abaco. After working out on our treadmill we set our course for Powell Cay an easy 48 miles and were excited to hear our friends Wink and Wilma aboard their lovely Great Harbour 47 MV John Henry returning to the USA after six months in the Abacos. They had been at a slip opposite us in Sarasota in early 2008 and are good friends with Andy on SeaDee, our “buddy boat” for some of the 2007 trip. It is really a small world! We arrived at Powell Cay at 3pm in time to play some bridge before dinner.
Respecting the Whale!
On Friday April 17th we traveled on 12 miles to Green Turtle Cay and picked up a mooring in Black Sound. This cay, 3 miles long and ½ mile wide with a few hundred residents marks the beginning of the Abacos and is just north of Whale Cay passage through which boats must pass to reach the Sea of Abaco. This passage is well known for the “rage” as ocean waves meet the shallow water and break across the passage. It can be quite dangerous in the wrong weather—a few years ago a 165 foot freighter was capsized in 30 foot seas! We spent several days in Green Turtle Cay “respecting the Whale” and waiting for good weather. Every morning at 8:15am the cruisers get together on the radio and discuss the weather and the Whale passage.
On Friday April 17th we traveled on 12 miles to Green Turtle Cay and picked up a mooring in Black Sound. This cay, 3 miles long and ½ mile wide with a few hundred residents marks the beginning of the Abacos and is just north of Whale Cay passage through which boats must pass to reach the Sea of Abaco. This passage is well known for the “rage” as ocean waves meet the shallow water and break across the passage. It can be quite dangerous in the wrong weather—a few years ago a 165 foot freighter was capsized in 30 foot seas! We spent several days in Green Turtle Cay “respecting the Whale” and waiting for good weather. Every morning at 8:15am the cruisers get together on the radio and discuss the weather and the Whale passage.
Black Sound is a very protected harbor next to the village of New Plymouth—the Abacos were settled by British Loyalists who fled the USA after the American Revolution. This Bahamian village has pastel colored houses
lining the streets wide enough for two golf carts to pass, a bank open for two hours twice a week, a couple of general stores, several churches, and an attack chicken.
We took our dinghy over to the public dock at New Plymouth and wandered through the streets. One day we continued to White Sound, the other protected harbor on the island and had a wonderful lunch of cracked conch at the Green Turtle Club.
We took our dinghy over to the public dock at New Plymouth and wandered through the streets. One day we continued to White Sound, the other protected harbor on the island and had a wonderful lunch of cracked conch at the Green Turtle Club.
On Sunday we dressed in our church clothes and dinghied to the church in New Plymouth where we were treated to another moving Bahamian service with island music, confirmation of 12 kids from three local islands, and a rousing sermon—the service lasted 2.5 hours! What a great end to our third week on the boat!
1 comment:
Beware the "attack chicken"
Sage advice! Hope you are enjoying the cruise.
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