January 11-19, 2018: Crossing over to the Bahamas.

January 11:  So we did set out at 4am from Lake Worth Inlet to travel the sixty miles across to West End, Grand Bahama Island.  As we went through the inlet we counted about 15 other boats going across.  Seas were supposed to be less than 3 feet and winds 10 knots.  Of course not!  Eight hours of rock and roll with winds steady at 17+ and seas 4 – 7 feet on the beam.

But we made it!

Docked at Old Bahama Bay Marina.  As we walked over to the Customs Office we noticed a bit of a rainbow.  Checking into the Bahamas is such a pleasure!  Courteous agents and no hassles about anything.  We should have filled the forward cabin with beer, wine and coffee.

Scenes of the grounds of the Marina and condominiums.

January 12:  Bob and fellow boater Hugh Grant (yes, that’s his name – he says he’s the original and better looking) trying to figure out why our starboard engine slowed down half way through the crossing.  I actually suggested he change the fuel filter.  2 points for me, that turned out to be the solution.

Weathered in for a day so I amused myself with doodle art.

Finished product.

Decided to continue on with creating blanks for the grandkids to color when they arrive in February (or possibly a few adults I know…).

January 14:  We left West End on the 13th and had a pucker factor of 10+ getting through Indian Rock Pass to enter the Little Bahama Bank (you have to go through a narrow cut between unmarked rocks with basically white water raging beside you).  Once through, the seas were calm – but it was a very gray day so no subject material for pictures.  Anchored off Great Sale Cay for the night.  Met some folks on a sailboat (Paradise 9) whose engine had quit.  Bob determined they had an air lock in the fuel line but didn’t have the right tools to fix it.  Fortunately they were able to sail to Green Turtle Cay the next day.  Took a mechanic two days to fix their problem. On the 14th we had an annoying beam roll for about 3 of the 6 hours to Green Turtle Cay, but no drama.

This 55+foot sailboat passed us!  He was doing 9 – 10 knots….

and then he sailed right off the horizon.

Too much of a beam roll to sit in the captain’s chair.  Fortunately Otto (our autohelm) did all the work.  Here’s Bob on the upswing…

and then on the downswing.

Gotta love the name of this rock…Center of the World!

But it looks like a caterpillar!

Happy to be in Green Turtle Cay before sunset.

So two boats down was this chartered catamaran with blow up dolls on it! It was part of a set for a reality TV show being produced by Bravo Elite TV (Bucket Lust?).  There were all kinds of actors/actresses dressing up in pirate outfits and skimpy bathing suits  – all being followed by an elaborate film crew.

From our stern we could see some of the actors/actresses between shooting scenes.  Quite amusing while we awaited a weather window for our final hurdle (Whale Cay Pass) to get to Marsh Harbour in central Abacos (our destination for the winter months).

January 15:  We rented a golf cart for the day and went around the island to check out all the beaches.  Loved the handy signage…

so we kept going!

 

Scenes of the various beaches around the island.  Bob found a captain’s hat on the last one!

January 16:  Took the dinghy over to nearby No Name Cay to see the wild pigs (and chickens/roosters).  This was apparently a failed attempt to raise pigs for meat so they were just left on the island.  A local group fund raises to keep them fed.  Have to admit I found some of the larger females a bit intimidating.

But it was fun to check them out.

Heading back to Green Turtle we saw this sting ray.

Took the dinghy over to Gilliam Beach at the south end of Green Turtle Cay.

Looking for shells can be addicting.

The beach borders a protected area for nesting birds. Didn’t see any there….

but we did see these parrots on our way back into White Sound where we were docked.

We were told these parrots were pets that were released when their owner died – about 10 years ago!  Not sure what type of parrots they are.  The native parrots in the Abacos are basically all green except for their red heads.

January 17:  Still not going anywhere so we walked to the beach at the northern end of the island.

A display of all the stuff that winds up on the shore.

Cool street to live on.

Walked over to the Bluff House Beach Bar (Tipsy Turtle).

Looking at the Sea of Abaco, it seems quite calm.

Walking back to our marina.

January 18:  How we spent most evenings – in the Green Turtle Club discussing when are we ever going to get through the “Whale??”

January 19 – Yes!  Let’s go for it!

Whale Cay in the background – the end of the challenge is in sight.  What makes this passage challenging is that the Atlantic Ocean funnels through a narrow passage into the Sea of Abaco.  And of course the rocks are unmarked.  If the current and wind direction oppose each other too much a “rage” forms that even intimidates freighters. So basically wind and current have to line up.  We had 7 foot seas but with 10 second intervals,  it was doable.

Our friends on Hush A Bye look like they are being swallowed up by one of the ocean swells.

One of the last reefs to get by.

Once back in the Sea of Abaco it was smooth sailing.  Tied up at Harbour View Marina by lunch time.

Our home base for the next three months…from here we’ll visit the various islands in the central to southern Sea of Abaco.  Phew!  No more hurdles for awhile!