Thurs,Fri, 3-25-10, spent the past 2 days as typical boat bums. Walked the beach and wandered around town. Fri brought rain much of the day so we hung out doing chores and reading.
Sat- Sunny skies are back along with a brisk east wind. Beat to Bakers Bay on Guana Cay under a reefed main and full genoa. Spent the afternoon lazing on the protected beach. Anchorage was protected from the east wind but rolly during the night with swells coming in from the Loggerhead Channel.
Sun- With another cold front expected we sailed back to the protected anchorage at Treasure
Cay. Great run under just genoa. Now that we are in the central Abacoes numerous great anchorages are only a short daysail away.
Mon -As predicted winds are up around 20 and cloudy, squalls rolled thru late afternoon with 40 mph winds and heavy rain. Was able to catch enough rainwater to top off our tanks. Still experimenting with a raincatcher that works in the gale winds that seem to accompany the rainstorms. Lots of boats moved in to the anchorage(mostly 40+ ft charters) and we stayed on board all day.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Manjack, Green Turtle and Treasure Cays
March 17th- Manjack Cay, met couples from 2 neighboring boats ashore for a tour of the Island where we were welcomed by the owners and spent the morning hiking the extensive trails and the beautiful beach. headed to Green turtle in the afternoon as another front is expected. Arriving in Black sound all the moorings were taken and anchoring isn't advised due to poor holding. We able to get a space on the dock at Donnies for the price of mooring.
Thurs & Fri, March 18,19- Green Turtle, Spent days biking about and enjoying the miles of deserted beaches.
Sat & Sun- beautiful day so we headed back to Manjack, Spent lazy day on deserted beach, saw 3 sea turtles while dingying about, on Sun we took a long walk on the beach before heading back to Green Turtle and our dock at Donnies.
Mon & Tues- rain all day with another passing front, weather cleared Tues and we enjoyed a BBQ put on by Donnie that evening. I had been working on a conk horn and we had a great time learning how to blow it at sunset.
Wed- Beautiful day with lite winds. We motor sailed south thru Whale Cay Passage in long easy swells. This short detour in the open ocean around the shallow Dont Rock area can be treacherous in any seas, so we were waiting for just this type of day. Anchored in the protected Treasure Cay harbor then enjoyed a stroll on yet another gorgeous beach.
Thurs & Fri, March 18,19- Green Turtle, Spent days biking about and enjoying the miles of deserted beaches.
Sat & Sun- beautiful day so we headed back to Manjack, Spent lazy day on deserted beach, saw 3 sea turtles while dingying about, on Sun we took a long walk on the beach before heading back to Green Turtle and our dock at Donnies.
Mon & Tues- rain all day with another passing front, weather cleared Tues and we enjoyed a BBQ put on by Donnie that evening. I had been working on a conk horn and we had a great time learning how to blow it at sunset.
Wed- Beautiful day with lite winds. We motor sailed south thru Whale Cay Passage in long easy swells. This short detour in the open ocean around the shallow Dont Rock area can be treacherous in any seas, so we were waiting for just this type of day. Anchored in the protected Treasure Cay harbor then enjoyed a stroll on yet another gorgeous beach.
3 mile beach -Treasure Cay
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Back on the Water
Sun. March 7th- After spending the past 3 months on land in Jensen Beach with a few weeks in Piercefield at Christmas we are finally back on the boat for a new adventure. The weather since New Years has been unseasonably cold and windy. We had planned on heading out early Feb but decided to hold off until the cold fronts abated. Today we motor sailed down the ICW to N Palm Beach where we spent 2 nights anchored in the north end of Lake Worth. This is a very popular area for sailors staging to cross over to the Bahamas as the inlet here is excellent and major shopping is a short walk away. The weather has finally turned summerlike and we were able to explore a little and meet a few of the other boaters. An enjoyable evening was spent having Cocktails with the crew of Soulmate. On Tues we moved close to the inlet so we could get an early start.
Bahamas Bound
Wed 4AM- The weather looks promising to cross the gulf stream and we were out of the harbor by 4:30. The plan was to head to West End but that was not in the cards with this wind. Unlike in the anchorage where we had a south wind, the wind on the ocean was SE and right on the nose. We decided to motor on and without sails it was a very uncomfortable ride. By changing our course for Memory Rock we were able to hoist the main and steady the motion of the waves.
Dolphins, whales and flying Fish
As we approached the Bahama Bank we were entertained by numerous dolphins, amazing schools of flying fish traveling at least 100 feet thru the air and numerous sitings of huge whales we have yet to identify coming straight up out of the water and crashing down with a tremendous splash. We tried getting close for a better look but to no avail.
On the bank
Crossing onto the bank we left behind the deep blue 2000 ft deep waters and are now in calm 10-15 foot deep aquamarine waters that are “gin clear”. We anchored for the night at sunset off of Mangrove Cay and spent a very peaceful night.
Thursday- Winds weren’t favorable to head to Great Sale Cay so we decided to head to Walkers Cay to clear customs. As we approached the entrance channel the winds had built to 20 kts and the prospect of entering a long shallow channel at low tide led to another change of plans. We proceeded to change course for nearby Grand Cay where we anchored in its protected harbor. Gale winds and driving rain had us up much of the night resetting anchors in the poor holding. We were relieved to have the winds back down to 20 kt by dawn but heavy rains persist. A very trying couple of days for the crew of the little ship Andros. Hopefully things will improve from here.
Fri- Heavy rain all day, winds clocking around from all directions had us on anchor watch much of the day and thru the night. To wet to think about going ashore.
Sat- Another storm with gale winds at 6 am had us re-anchoring again. Later in the day after winds had dropped to 20kts marina suggested we pick up mooring rather than trying to get into dock. If we had realized it was there(just had a fender for a float) we would have picked it up sooner. Walked around tiny village after drying out boat in the welcome sunshine. Beers at Rosies (almost everything in town is owned by Rosie- Rest/bar, marina, cottages, fish processing, grocery). We bought fresh bread at local bakery.
Sun- Took water taxi (driven by customs officer) to Walkers Cay to clear customs. Exciting 4 mile ride in open fishing boat at 30mph. Winds still howling about 20 but sunny. Walkers was a fancy resort that was abandoned after hurricane Floyd and still sits idle. The airstrip is still in use but the resort is abandoned. Our friends in Tupper Lake will find it interesting that this group of islands was owned by Robert Abplanalph and was used as a vacation retreat by President Nixon, as was The Abplanalph camp on Big Tupper. Apparently the family still owns the Islands but makes little use of the beautiful estate. Spent afternoon wandering about Grand Cay followed by a great dinner at Rosies (local cracked conk and Grouper)
Mon-Sunny and still windy, one fishing boat went out but all others still at docks. To town to try for wifi, Stopped at school where principal offered the use of his office and computer during lunch, then later Phone Co manager offered the use of his home wifi. Am amazed at how friendly evreyone is. We were the only visitors (read the only whites) on the island. Apparently by next month the place will be crowded with fisherman from the states.
Bahamas Bound
Wed 4AM- The weather looks promising to cross the gulf stream and we were out of the harbor by 4:30. The plan was to head to West End but that was not in the cards with this wind. Unlike in the anchorage where we had a south wind, the wind on the ocean was SE and right on the nose. We decided to motor on and without sails it was a very uncomfortable ride. By changing our course for Memory Rock we were able to hoist the main and steady the motion of the waves.
Dolphins, whales and flying Fish
As we approached the Bahama Bank we were entertained by numerous dolphins, amazing schools of flying fish traveling at least 100 feet thru the air and numerous sitings of huge whales we have yet to identify coming straight up out of the water and crashing down with a tremendous splash. We tried getting close for a better look but to no avail.
On the bank
Crossing onto the bank we left behind the deep blue 2000 ft deep waters and are now in calm 10-15 foot deep aquamarine waters that are “gin clear”. We anchored for the night at sunset off of Mangrove Cay and spent a very peaceful night.
Thursday- Winds weren’t favorable to head to Great Sale Cay so we decided to head to Walkers Cay to clear customs. As we approached the entrance channel the winds had built to 20 kts and the prospect of entering a long shallow channel at low tide led to another change of plans. We proceeded to change course for nearby Grand Cay where we anchored in its protected harbor. Gale winds and driving rain had us up much of the night resetting anchors in the poor holding. We were relieved to have the winds back down to 20 kt by dawn but heavy rains persist. A very trying couple of days for the crew of the little ship Andros. Hopefully things will improve from here.
Fri- Heavy rain all day, winds clocking around from all directions had us on anchor watch much of the day and thru the night. To wet to think about going ashore.
Sat- Another storm with gale winds at 6 am had us re-anchoring again. Later in the day after winds had dropped to 20kts marina suggested we pick up mooring rather than trying to get into dock. If we had realized it was there(just had a fender for a float) we would have picked it up sooner. Walked around tiny village after drying out boat in the welcome sunshine. Beers at Rosies (almost everything in town is owned by Rosie- Rest/bar, marina, cottages, fish processing, grocery). We bought fresh bread at local bakery.
Sun- Took water taxi (driven by customs officer) to Walkers Cay to clear customs. Exciting 4 mile ride in open fishing boat at 30mph. Winds still howling about 20 but sunny. Walkers was a fancy resort that was abandoned after hurricane Floyd and still sits idle. The airstrip is still in use but the resort is abandoned. Our friends in Tupper Lake will find it interesting that this group of islands was owned by Robert Abplanalph and was used as a vacation retreat by President Nixon, as was The Abplanalph camp on Big Tupper. Apparently the family still owns the Islands but makes little use of the beautiful estate. Spent afternoon wandering about Grand Cay followed by a great dinner at Rosies (local cracked conk and Grouper)
Mon-Sunny and still windy, one fishing boat went out but all others still at docks. To town to try for wifi, Stopped at school where principal offered the use of his office and computer during lunch, then later Phone Co manager offered the use of his home wifi. Am amazed at how friendly evreyone is. We were the only visitors (read the only whites) on the island. Apparently by next month the place will be crowded with fisherman from the states.
South to the Sea of Abaco
Tues- The winds have finally calmed down and we headed south at daybreak. Motor sailed the 55 nm to Manjack Cay where we are anchored along with 12 other sailboats. The islands owners supply free wifi and welcome use of the extensive trails and ocean beaches.
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