Back to the Bahamas 2019

After hearing from many of our friends that they were disappointed at my not keeping up with our blog last year I will try to do better this trip.

On March first we left Lake Worth inlet (Palm Beach) at 3:30 AM with calm seas and a star filled sky. I always have trouble sleeping the night before heading out and as usual I was awake and ready to go much earlier but in deference to Chris held off.  Our trip across was uneventful and we were a motorboat for 14 hours finally anchoring at tiny uninhabited Mangrove Cay for a peaceful night. The second day was much of the same with very little wind but at least the fishing improved, 3 jacks(keepers) and 4 barracuda with 3 being to big to keep. We only eat small Barracuda- under 30 inches as the larger ones can build up a toxin hazardous to us mortals. The fishing kept the trip exciting and after 8 hours we dropped anchor for another peaceful night in a protected cove on uninhabited Allens-Pensacola island.

another 40 inch barracuda

our private oceanside beach

Chris enjoying the pristine waters

signing tree

With another beautiful day on Sunday we decided to spend some time at the calm oceanside beach starting with a long hike followed by Bloody Marys and some time in the chrystal clear waters. That evening brought an end to our calm weather and we were joined by 7 other boats all having made the crossing on Saturday. During the night I was awakened by the sounds of a 50 ft motoryacht that had dragged by very close and was now aground just off our stern on a falling tide. I spent most of the night on watch as they tried in vain to get free which finally happened at high tide near daybreak. Apparently no damage was done which was surprising since they had engines roaring for hours churning up sand.  

The next 2 days are what makes sailors forget all the boring days spent motoring. Sailing south under reefed sails we made great time stopping at Green Turtle Cay to clear customs then on to a perfect protected anchorage for a quiet nite. These cruising grounds make for excellent sailing as the protected sea of Abaco is enclosed by Great Abaco to the west and numerous barrier islands on the ocean side.

 Off early to catch the high tide so we could take a shortcut thru a shallow area called  Don’t Rock passage for another exciting sail anchoring by noon at Marsh Harbor where we will wait out the upcoming stormy weather. This small city is called the hub of the Abacos and it boasts a commercial harbor leading to a  protected pleasure boat harbor with currently about 50 anchored boats in addition to 3 marinas and 2 large sailboat charter operations.  We normally only spend time here to provision or hide from weather.

 As we entered the channel the 250 ft freighter Duke of Topsail was anchored near the entrance and we soon discovered that the 250 ft freighter Inagua Spirit was aground and listing  in the channel blocking the entrance. Thankfully we bypassed this to enter our anchorage. It will be interesting to watch if the next tide re-floats this ship(2 high tides later she is now free with the help of a few tugs).

The expected cold front arrived during the night with big winds but little rain, we plan on spending another day here waiting out the winds and plan a lunch in town today.

Since leaving Jensen Beach last Thursday we have covered 208 nm (240 miles) and consumed 17 gal of fuel. Has been our easiest first week out of the past 8 years.