The Abacos are divided by the Whale Cay. On the south side of the Cay is a channel going out into the sea and on the north side is a small channel between 2 reefs and with any heavy wind or swell it rages and becomes impassable. Such was the case and boats began transiting the whale on Wednesday. One of our friends, Hayden and Radeen Cochran on Island Spirit left the marina Tuesday afternoon to go through at high tide Wednesday morning because the rage would have been less. We showed up near low tide but boats were reporting no issues passing through. We were concerned because the wind was supposed to increase over night and on Thursday so we were thinking of going through and getting it behind us.
We saw 2 boats we knew, Toucan Deux and Finistere approaching and we discussed a plan to go through near low tide slack water. We actually had turned off to anchor by Guana Cay but after talking with them decided to go on. So we turned and sailed right up to the channel. We pulled in our jib and motored out the southern cut with our main and staysail. The waves were coming on the beam so we turned into them and went to deeper water where they were less stiff and then turned in toward the northern cut and let the waves push us through. We did it! It was a piece of cake. So we shut off the engine and sailed up to Green Turtle Cay where we anchored for 2 nights.
Street scenes from Green Turtle.
Sundowners.
The decision to go through the Whale was only the first key decision we needed to contemplate. The big question was when to head north and cross the gulf stream. Our plan is to go from the Abacos all the way to Beaufort, NC in one passage. It is about 500 miles and will be 3 days offshore but save us lots of time by avoiding the ICW and let us get north quickly. But the weather challenges make this a difficult and protracted analysis. While the winds are favorable the sea swell is not.
But, while we wait out the weather we visit more islands. We spent 2 nights at Green Turtle Cay and it's primary town New Plymouth.
Green Turtle was among the islands settled by British Loyalists after the American Revolution. The
Memorial Parkisland is the result of an enterprising and industrious community. Like most of the Abacos it exhibits prosperity with numerous stores and businesses. Unlike other islands in the Bahamas prices were also reasonable. We actually found an Asian takeout restaurant which is a first and the food was very good. We had Mongolian Conch
Our Bahamian Chinese dinner.
We also visited the Green Turtle Club which is a very nice resort on the northern end of the island. We rented a golf cart and drove around the island and found several very nice beaches. On Gilliam Bay beach we met another liveaboard cruiser couple from Annapolis who were heading back Friday. On their way out the came by our boat and hailed us. We loo forward to seeing them again.
On our first night at Green Turtle we had happy hour at Sundowners with our friends from Toucan Deux and Finistere. That night just after we had finished eating we heard yelling coming from the vicinity of Toucan and saw that a boat had drug anchor and was against them. I jumped in our dinghy and went over to see if I could help. The dragging boat had come to rest perpendicular to the hull of the catamaran with its tender caught in the anchor bridle so I cut the tender loose and the boat drifted off the hull of the catamaran and the owner could then get to his boat and reanchor. Fortunately it looked like most of the damage to the cat was superficial.
We are still debating our departure decisions with our weather routers Dane and Jenifer Clarke and in the next day or so reach a definitive plan. Tomorrow on to Manjack Cay.
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