Cat is Purrrrty

After our super sail from Emerald Bay we have been enjoying discovery in the Bahamas the way it used to be. After we got here Saturday we kind of sat back and relaxed in the after glow of the great trip. After racing along at good speed all day it's nice to kick back after the anchor is down without rushing off to terrestrial activities. When I swam down to check the anchor I saw a large barracuda swim by and a bonefish about 3-4'. You never know what you'll see below.

A great sail deserves another picture.

Sunday was Easter so we figured that many places ashore would be closed since holidays are big on the islands.  So after our usual Sunday breakfast of pancakes and bacon we got the dinghy down and headed to shore to scale Mt. Alvernia, the highest land point in the Bahamas to see the Hermitage, a monastery built in the 1930's as a dedication of faith. Fitting to see it on Easter as it commemorates the crucifixion and the resurrection.

Looking at the Hermitage from our boat.

Walking up the road toward the trail.

The entry to the grounds.

Looking back at our boat from the summit.

Views from the top.

One of the carvings along the steps.

The sepulcher along the stairs.

Linda at the top.

After the walk and climb to the summit we did a walkabout the town near us. On the way back to the beach and our dinghy we discovered where everybody was hanging out. On the street along the water was about a half-dozen restaurants, take-aways and bars. Take-aways are like food trucks where you walk up, place an order and take away the food and eat someplace else. We found several other cruisers there also celebrating Easter and learned about the bonfire planned for the evening were none other than Bohog and the rooters would be performing.  Bohog is quite a legend in the native music called rake n scrape and claims to have started it. But, he is a very interesting guy.

Monday we worked around the boat and visited with other cruisers we knew and then went in for dinner at the famous Hidden Treasure on the beach. They were out of fresh lobster but we had some grouper and cracked lobster that was excellent.

Today, Tuesday, we rented a car and drove around the island. The island is about 40 km long and varies in width from about 10 km in the south to less than 2  km at points in the middle. There is one road with a few branches so we drove till we ran out of pavement in each direction.

Standing by the Bat Cave.

Tidal islands on the north shore.

Lunch at da Smoke Pot. Excellent by the way.

Examples of iconic Bahamian architecture were all over the island.

Plantation ruins.

 Views from the south beaches

We had lunch in Arthur Town at a great place called da Smoke Pot and had grilled conch while a heavy shower passed over. Then we drive back down the island and went around the south shore. In the settlement of Port Howe is the ruins of a colonial plantation home built in the 18th century. Cat Island like many of the islands had plantations that grew sugar and fruit for export to Europe. Cat island is named for a pirate Arthur Catt who lived here and Arthur Town is named for him. Arthur Town is also the birth place of Sydney Poitier and his daughter still lives there.

Tomorrow we may move up the coast to another stopover or stay here another night. We'll see.

Bit by the Cat

We made the trip across Exuma Sound in a great sail and are anchored by New Bight on Cat Island.

Emerald Bay in the rear view mirror already under sail.

We wanted to get an early start today so we could be sure to sail if there was any decent wind. Forecast was for 10-15 out of the southeast which should make for a good sail. So we started early but clearing the office which didn't open until 8 and the complexities of getting off the dock ate time along with waiting to top off with fuel. Then after the fuel dock we used the calm water in the marina to gather n all the dock lines and fenders used at the dock. In the end it was after 930 when we finally left the cut and out into Exuma Sound.

We topped off our fuel tank today for the first time since we arrived in Nassau over a month ago. For all our traveling and running the generator we used only 18 gal. because we were able to sail since we left Nassau. Leaving Emerald Bay proved to continue that opportunity.

Linda enjoying the sail.

Whose driving?

What a great sail we had! Wind was blowing 10-15 with gusts to 20 out of the SE and our course was NE putting the apparent wind ahead of the beam. With our cutter rigged boat we used both headsails and main to slide across the water with fair speed. We made the crossing of just under 50 miles in just over 6 hours for an average speed between 7.5-8 kts. Not bad for a big heavy boat like ours.

The day was absolutely beautiful. We had almost full sun and a clear blue sky over shimmering blue water. The wind was driving a nice chop along with a constant swell of 3-4 ft in a 4-5 sec. interval.
So apart from an occasional big swell the constant rolling was comfortable.

First view of Cat with the turquoise water reflected in the sky.

Getting to the island bank the water became turquoise in the shallows and made for a beautiful passage to the Town of New Bight. We dropped anchor and it set quickly in the deep sand.

New Bight.

We're able to get internet from the public wifi and found that Cat Island also has a transmitter to relay US and Bahama TV so we are currently watching the Ten Commandments on Miami's ABC station.

Tomorrow we begin our exploring.