We’re off you see to sea to see...
February 17 - 20
Monday’s weather briefing was important since there isn’t one on Sunday and I had been too busy to study the upcoming details. We will have a few good weather days before the next front comes in on Friday/Saturday. So after we digest that and the last of the coconut french toast we are off to Allen Cay Exuma.
Coral head watching is the equivalent of spotting and dodging lobster pots in Maine. An attentive crew with needed course changes and you are all set. This started 100 yards from the West Bay anchorage as I decided to take the longer way out and around a small island keeping away from a questionable exit at low tide. If you leave from the east end of New Providence the route to Allen’s is through the yellow banks but our west departure is through the white banks which has fewer coral heads to avoid. Also I was able to use the newly repaired autopilot for more than half of the 7 hour transit. Very helpful.
We had a course set for the east side of Allen’s Cay and once again landed near the schooner Liberty Clipper. After scouting the anchorage we dropped the hook in 20 feet of water needing over 100’ of chain to feel secure. That done it was time to kayak around the island. The kayaks (deck ornaments) don’t get enough use with all the other activities and it’s always good to get the exercise. It was just over a mile to go around Allen’s Cay and we returned before the sun set.
Tuesday is Iguana day and about noon we stormed the beach with lettuce in hand but when 40 came running from the undergrowth we were quickly back in the dinghy. Sheri started relating how they bite and whip their tails so err on the cautious. Later in the day we went to a small neighboring island to enjoy the beach and these guys were not as aggressive as the others. Their behavior is due in part to the 5 to 6 high speed tour boats from Nassau that arrive daily and get them excited for the tourist pics.
Wednesday is snorkeling and exploring day. What a treat to float around such colorful graceful fish and coral. Very clear and a large variety. Sheri got in again, with a little encouragement, did well and enjoyed it. We floated around in the dinghy and the current pushed us towards a small beach on Allen’s where I was able to climb enjoy the view and get some pictures of Steadfast.
Lest you think we are only doing one major thing a day...you’re almost right. We do seem to be busy each day and we still have time to worry about this and that,,,very busy. Oh and we got sunburnt for the first time. So very busy!
Thursday is a travel day to see Norman’s Cay. More importantly we sailed 90% of the way and I was singing Zip-a-dee-do-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay, My oh my what a wonderful day! Anchoring on the west side in 8 feet of water so clear you think you’re floating. We headed off to explore the island which Carlos Lehder unfortunately made famous for shipping cocaine through here to the US. The movie Blow was based on his partner. The Island is in the process of reinventing itself into a high end community with Escobar’s runway for his drug shipments making that possible. We searched for a way to get to the ruins of the drug lords house by dinghy but only got exercise. Next time I’ll walk in the driveway! We were able to see the remains of a plane that one of his drunk friends ditched in the bay and the new marina basin for the new upscale development. The colors of the water will always make these places so desirable.
It has been important that I learn the proper anchoring etiquette and it is unsettling when at the end of the day someone needlessly comes to close especially if the winds will be changing overnight. Is this charter boat aware of the changes in the weather and have they set sufficient length of chain? Since I didn’t speak to them prior to nightfall I am awake overnight for hours watching that we don’t come too close. I will probably visit next time.
Monday’s weather briefing was important since there isn’t one on Sunday and I had been too busy to study the upcoming details. We will have a few good weather days before the next front comes in on Friday/Saturday. So after we digest that and the last of the coconut french toast we are off to Allen Cay Exuma.
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| Making the islands power |
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| Reminds me of a Maine Windjammer |
We had a course set for the east side of Allen’s Cay and once again landed near the schooner Liberty Clipper. After scouting the anchorage we dropped the hook in 20 feet of water needing over 100’ of chain to feel secure. That done it was time to kayak around the island. The kayaks (deck ornaments) don’t get enough use with all the other activities and it’s always good to get the exercise. It was just over a mile to go around Allen’s Cay and we returned before the sun set.
Tuesday is Iguana day and about noon we stormed the beach with lettuce in hand but when 40 came running from the undergrowth we were quickly back in the dinghy. Sheri started relating how they bite and whip their tails so err on the cautious. Later in the day we went to a small neighboring island to enjoy the beach and these guys were not as aggressive as the others. Their behavior is due in part to the 5 to 6 high speed tour boats from Nassau that arrive daily and get them excited for the tourist pics.
Wednesday is snorkeling and exploring day. What a treat to float around such colorful graceful fish and coral. Very clear and a large variety. Sheri got in again, with a little encouragement, did well and enjoyed it. We floated around in the dinghy and the current pushed us towards a small beach on Allen’s where I was able to climb enjoy the view and get some pictures of Steadfast.
Lest you think we are only doing one major thing a day...you’re almost right. We do seem to be busy each day and we still have time to worry about this and that,,,very busy. Oh and we got sunburnt for the first time. So very busy!
Thursday is a travel day to see Norman’s Cay. More importantly we sailed 90% of the way and I was singing Zip-a-dee-do-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay, My oh my what a wonderful day! Anchoring on the west side in 8 feet of water so clear you think you’re floating. We headed off to explore the island which Carlos Lehder unfortunately made famous for shipping cocaine through here to the US. The movie Blow was based on his partner. The Island is in the process of reinventing itself into a high end community with Escobar’s runway for his drug shipments making that possible. We searched for a way to get to the ruins of the drug lords house by dinghy but only got exercise. Next time I’ll walk in the driveway! We were able to see the remains of a plane that one of his drunk friends ditched in the bay and the new marina basin for the new upscale development. The colors of the water will always make these places so desirable.
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| How many shades of blue |
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| The plane boss...never mind |
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| A stop at the beach for an unreliable drug lord house ruins tip |
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| Not too impressive unless you consider the lives that were affected by this runway |
It has been important that I learn the proper anchoring etiquette and it is unsettling when at the end of the day someone needlessly comes to close especially if the winds will be changing overnight. Is this charter boat aware of the changes in the weather and have they set sufficient length of chain? Since I didn’t speak to them prior to nightfall I am awake overnight for hours watching that we don’t come too close. I will probably visit next time.
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