Crossing deep water again

We left Spanish Wells Monday morning 11 April and went to anchor in Royal Island harbor. Getting off the mooring and out of the channel in Spanish Wells was uneventful despite some traffic and a working dredge. We were able to sail the 5 miles or so from the SW channel to the entrance to Royal Island. The wind was blowing 15-20 out of the east so we just raised our main and had a nice sail at about 5-6 kts.

Anchoring in Royal Harbor.

There were several other boats anchored in the harbor but we found a spot in about 10' of water and dropped the hook. I swam down to look at the anchor and it was buried very deep so had no concerns about the holding. Even though it was windy and cool I swam along the ledges snorkeling and Linda enjoyed a nice quiet afternoon reading. We finished our prep to go across the channel in the morning.

 Look around the anchorage.

We arose early so we could depart as soon as there was enough light to see. As light came into the sky we hauled the anchor with wind still blowing. Forecast was or 15-20 kts out of the ENE but falling off to 5-10 in the afternoon. We got out and around Egg Island and went to sail with nice wind ahead of the beam. But it didn't take long for the wind to drop and we had a strong easterly swell about 6-8' at 6-7 sec. so forward progress became challenging.

Early departure.

About the time the wind started to drop we got a call on the radio from a voice we could barely understand asking us to avoid them. Looking around there was nobody in sight and and we responded that we didn't see anyone. They came back and we finally understood the name of the vessel and saw them on AIS they were 15 miles away. They wanted us to turn to starboard and take their stern. I told them I saw no need to turn but would take their stern. It appeared that based on our positions that we would pass in front of them so to meet their request we did turn. The move added at least an hour to our passage. After we passed behind them I called them and told them I thought their request was stupid. Other boats passed in front of them and they never called them. They only called us because they saw us on AIS. At happy hour later we talked to other cruisers who heard the calls and thought it was bizarre. Obviously an incompetent ship pilot.

So we motored the bulk of the way across trying to make the tide for entering Little Harbor but the wind came up and we decided to go to sail and put out a fishing line. We sailed until we got close to Little Harbor and decided we still had time to make the tide so we pulled in our line and sails and motored into the channel.

We thought about just anchoring in back of Lynyrd Cay but there were numerous mega yachts anchored there so we decided to go into Little Harbor. We bumped once but got in OK and took a mooring.

The entrance to Little Harbor.

We went into the very famous Pete's Pub for happy hour and met some cruisers we met in Spanish Wells and elsewhere and talked about the crossing. Enjoyed a quiet night and casual morning before heading up through the Abacos.

We left the bank that included Eleuthera and Cat Island, crossed the Northeast Providence Channel and back up into the Little Bahama Bank that includes the Abacos and Grand Bahama Island. When we leave here it will be back to continental shelf.