BarneyandDiane: On to the Exumas

February 1, 2011 - Allens Cay, Bahamas, The Bahamas

Crossing to the Exumas

We had reached the end of Eleuthera, the weather was getting better, it was time to cross to the Exumas. We had a beautiful crossing and anchored behind Ship Channel Cay. Not a great anchorage and a bit rolly for our little boat. Then next day we moved to the smallest anchorage we could find. We had to enter at high tide, and then we only had 5ft of water. Difficult to enter, but very sheltered and quiet. We spent a few days relaxing and swimming.

Allens Cay anchorage

The next stop was Allens Cay, famous for its Giant Iguanas. The anchorage got pretty crowded as it was the normal first stop from Nassau. Every afternoon tripper boats would unload on the beach for 10 minutes, then rush off and leave us in peace.

Iguanas in Allens Cay

First lobster supper

We bumped into Paul and Liz from Jalan Jalan who we had met in Rock Sound. An English couple who had been around the world, and now sail just around he Bahamas. The English humour took a while to remember, but we soon remembered how to be dry,sarcastic and talk about the weather. Paul turned up to our boat with a spare lobster tail. He had ben fishing and got a bit carried away, so we helped him out and enjoyed our first lobster dinner, of many.

Our favourite anchorage

Further south we found our favourite anchorage, deserted due to the difficult entry, but sheltered. Plenty of snorkelling, with a few lobsters to find. A well on the island for fresh water, what more could you want.

The first Stack Pack made, and its maker.

DI found a few days to concentrate on the project of renewing all the blue canvas on the boat. With the cockpit cushions completed, the next was the sail covers. We decided to make Stack Packs so as to make the large main easier to control. Di made the mizzen stack pack first so as to practice the design on a smaller scale. It looks and works like a dream.

Exploring into Shroud Cay