They say the water in the Virgin Islands is crystal
clear, and you can see the bottom 30-40’ under you. Well the Bahamas are
amazing! We motored out of South Side Marina at high tide to get over low spot,
.3’ beneath the keel, and set sail toward Long Island.
 |
| The bottom is 65' down |
 |
| beautiful sand beach |
It was a two day sail by
the Acklins and up Long Island. The second morning we got up to no wind and calm
seas as we motored across oily swells, swells with no little wind waves on
them, as we approached the end of Long Island. The morning was bright and you
could see the shells on the bottom 60’ below. Now this is clear water! It was
so calm we could read the name Midnight Rambler in the reflection beneath the
bow. We rounded the point and dropped anchor in a little sandy bay with a
beautiful deserted sandy beach.
 |
| Cottage at Santa Maria Resort |
Around the next point was Santa Maria Resort and we took
the dinghy in for lunch. In the afternoon we snorkeled a reef in the bay and I
almost caught a shovel nose lobster, but at the last minute he wiggled and
turned in my hand and got away.
 |
| Bahamas Sloops race |
 |
| Ragatta village |
The next morning we sailed into Georgetown and the Family
Island Regatta. We were there a couple days and enjoyed the food at the
temporary plywood Regatta bar and food shops as well as watching the various
sail boats race around Elizabeth Harbor and through the anchored cruisers. Many
a sail boat shot past within inches of the anchored boats.
 |
| A dinghy drift at Georgetown |
 |
Greg, Leslie, and Lizanne on Stocking
Island |
We
also met friends of ours from when I was stationed on submarines over 30 years
ago, Greg and Lizanne, on their boat Lagniappe as they had been sailing from Louisiana to
Georgetown and they are now headed up to Maine.
 |
| Old Volleyball beach |
 |
| Conch Shack on Stocking Island |
We also visited Stocking Island, which we haven’t seen in
over 20 years, and had lunch at the Chat ‘N’ Chill. The place has changed in 20
years, what a surprise. Where there were no buildings on the island, now there
are many, plus a resort, and house boats moored in a little bay we called
careen bay because the drop was so sharp one could careen his boat on the beach
and clean the bottom. Also volleyball beach now has the bar and restaurant Chat
‘N’ Chill and a nice picnic tables. They do still have two volleyball courts.
 |
Marine Research on
Lee Stocking Island |
 |
| Leslie in the deserted station |
We stopped at a number of places on our trip up the
Exumas. At Lee Stocking Island we walked around the abandoned Marine research
center.
 |
| Leslie at Black Point |
 |
| We head to the bar in Black Point |
At Black Point we had lunch and then played some pool at
bar.
 |
| Staniel Cay |
 |
| Nurse sharks at Staniel Cay |
Staniel Cay Yacht Club had a good lunch and some small
grocery stores, as well as easy access to Thunderball Cay. Unfortunately my
camera’s battery went dead just as we to the cay. So I didn’t get any pictures
of the inside or of Bobbie jumping down into the water through the hole in the
top that James Bond escaped through.
 |
| The Pigs on Big Major Spot |
 |
| Thunderball Cay |
 |
Class A champion Tida Wave at
Staniel Cay |
 |
| We say good bye to Greg and Lizanne |
 |
| Carl pulls the dinghy ashore |
 |
| Carl on the top of Bell Rock |
At Cambridge Cay we pulled the dinghy through the shallow
water and crossed the cay to the ocean side where I climbed Bell Rock.
 |
| the side of Bell Rock |
 |
| Carl at the bottom of Bell Rock |
 |
Jetsom homeless camp
|
 |
| Warderick Wells ranger buildings |
 |
boat name boards on Boo Boo Hill
Warderick Wells |
Warderick Wells offered some great hiking and snorkeling.
We hiked virtually around the island and snorkeled at the south end to see the
Stromatilites, the oldest organism in the world, but very unimpressive.
 |
| End of Warderick Wells |
 |
| Leslie at the old Pirates well |
 |
| sink holes in Warderick Wells |
 |
| Stuff on the hike around Wardwick Wells |
 |
| resturant at Highbourne Cay |
 |
sharks at cleaning station at
Highbourne Cay |
Our last stop in the Exumas was Highbourne Cay. It is a
private cay with a great marina and nice restaurant and bar. There is also a
store there with groceries, beer, and tourist stuff.
 |
| The Spring at Highbourne Cay |
We crossed the Yellow Banks from Highbourne Cay to Nassau
where we got Leslie to a dentist finally to check a tooth she broke back in the
Turks and Cacois. The x-ray showed the tooth broken below the gum line so we
think we are looking at a tooth implant very soon. We also got to spend some
time with Randy and Erin, friends we met the last time we came to the Bahamas
over 20 years ago, before leaving on a
48 hour crossing of the Bahamas Bank and the Gulf Stream to Florida.
