The trip to Rudder Cut Cay was less than 10 miles and curved in many different directions so it was really impossible to sail as we were often directly into the wind and around the land the winds shifted so with the current in the cuts and gusts we simply motored the short distance. There were 2 shallow areas that at low tide were less than 5' so we needed to be sure we got through them at the higher tide.
After passing the Galliot Cut where we exited last year we passed Cave Cay which had a marina and a resort and then we came to Musha Cay which is owned by magician David Copperfield where he has a residence and a resort. Then we traversed the shallows behind Rudder Cut Cay and found several other boats already anchored there. So we scouted out for the best remaining place to drop the hook.
When we finally agreed on a spot we came up into the wind as we always do and judged our spot based on the other boats. So I dropped the hook and we started back and I let out the chain. I soon realized that instead of just going back we actually were coming back around and were next to our anchor. When we dropped the hook I thought the current was running north to the cuts we had passed but upon investigation found it running south to the Rudder Cut presenting an interesting dilemma. I put out enough scope and then swam on the anchor and found it set well. But as I assessed where we were relative to the other boats, we would be right on top of another boat which was not swinging as we were.
So we pulled up the anchor and dropped it a little farther downstream. Then we determined we were now to close to the shore depending how we would swing. So we went out away from everyone and everything and dropped the hook. It was deeper there so I let out a lot of chain and swam down to look at the anchor. I found it wedged under a rock but I tried to pull it and it didn't budge so I thought we would try it. We would find out how good it was when the tide turned. The wind was supposed to drop off so we should be ok.
We went off to explore and snorkel. The scenery at Rudder Cut was incredible. What beauties. After snorkeling a small bay looking for the submerged piano we returned to the boat and I snorkeled the reef behind the boat.Wow! Incredible assortment of corals, sponges, reef fish and turtles. Best snorkeling we've found in the Exumas. But the best was yet to come.
While the tide and wind were together we had a quiet uneventful evening but close to midnight when the tide turned it was horrible. Every 15 minutes or so the boat would completely spin around and the hull would cross over the anchor chain with a lot of grinding, jerking and popping. So we stayed up until about 0400 when the wind began to abate and the current slowed and the noise died down. Probably the worst night we've spent on anchor in this boat. A stern anchor might have helped but then we would have had waves pushing against the stern when the current flowed out. We probably could have done that closer to shore where the current was less but then we would have missed the reef off the back of the boat. The full keel on our IP was controlled by the current where the other boats fin keels were less effected.
In the morning I swam under the boat to check for damage and apart from some bottom paint rubbed off did not appear to be any damage.
So we left with the wind and tide together and went out Rudder Cut to George Town with less than 10 kts of wind on our nose. With the tight angle on the wind (5d to port or stbd) and heavy surf we motored to Emerald Bay and made the total trip from anchor to slip in less than 4 hours.
So here we are settled in and time to do more boat work before we fly out on Thursday. Have met lots of other cruisers and getting to know many better. Big joy of cruising is meeting lots of great people.
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