Friday, February 7 to Thursday, February 13, 2014
We head out of Marsh Harbour on Friday, February 7th and move down to Tahiti Beach to anchor out for the evening. Being at Tahiti Beach makes us a bit less dependent on the tides required to exit and enter harbours.
Last view of Marsh Harbour as we leave. We will miss it and all the folks at the Jib Room.
Heading to Tahiti Beach
As soon as the weather looks good we want to make the ocean crossing to Eleuthera. Unfortunately, when we get up the next day, it looks like the good weather window we need to make the crossing has now pushed out to Monday. So, we move a short distance to Boat Harbour, one of the few marinas we haven’t explored yet in the Abacos. Its a lovely resort and marina, but a bit pricy. We enjoy their pool and beach and relax.
Heading from Tahiti Beach to Boat Harbour. Beautiful clear water.
Randy tying off the boat at Boat Harbour
Chillin’ on the Boat Harbour Beach
Sunday morning we are up early and on our way to Lynyard Cay. The wind dies to nothing so we just float for about an hour. Its a beautiful morning and we don’t have far to go, so we sit and enjoy. Finally, the winds pick up again and we make our way to Lynyard. Later a storm rolls in. We are glad we didn’t attempt to make the crossing today.
Early morning to Lynyard Cay
Happy Captain
Calm waters
Beautiful morning
Monday we are up just before 5 AM and on the water before the sun is up. We exit via the South Barr cut with no problem — and we are on our way! The winds are light and the waves and ocean swells are tolerable. About an hour into the trip we see another boat behind us. We radio them. Its a boat called Monarch owned by Jodi and Daulphin who live in Texas. They are heading the same way as us, so we stay in contact along the trip and arrive just before them in the anchorage at Royal Island that night.
Sunrise over the ocean
Happy first mate!
Very nice ocean crossing
Sleepy Captain after an early morning and sea sickness meds
We are glad the crossing is over and relax on deck and watch the sunset. The next day we make the short trip to Spanish Wells. Apparently, bad weather is moving in so we want to get settled and tied to a dock somewhere. Looks like we might be here for a few days. Not so bad since it has given us internet access well before we had planned.
Woohoo! We made it!
Sunset after we are all settled at Royal Island
Spanish Wells is a working town and not a touristy place. It is mostly engaged in fishing including providing much of the lobster for Red Lobster. Its a cute town. We meet Jodi and Dauphin for lunch when we arrive then do some exploring around town.
Heading to Spanish Wells
Entering the harbour at Spanish Wells
At lunch in Spanish Wells
The next day we take ferries and a taxi to Harbour Island, on the bigger island nearby. Apparently, it is known for being a place the rich and famous stay. The island has a really friendly Bahamian town with a beach on the other shore. The beach sand is pink and beautiful. We have lunch with our friends, Jodi and Daulphin from Monarch, and Kathy and Jules from Haida Girl, then explore the town and walk the beach. Lovely.
Dunmore Town at Harbour Island
Lunch with the group: Jodi and Dauphin (Monarch) and Jules and Kathy (Haida Girl)
Randy on the pink sand beach of Harbour Island
Thursday we do laundry and groceries in the morning. In the afternoon we take the dingy to the beach and on the way back the bad weather moves in. It pours rain and thunders. We are soaked.
In the dingy to the beach
Tonight we are heading out to dinner to celebrate Valentines a day early. Tomorrow we will be back on the water now that the bad weather seems to have passed. The boats, Monarch and Haida Girl are heading out with us. All of us will be in Hatchet Bay tomorrow night (Friday, Feb. 14). Fair winds, everyone!
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