On to the Bahamas

 

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.