Marina at Emerald Bay and back in the Exuma Banks

As we started on our trip back up North, we headed for The Marina at Emerald Bay which came with good recommendation and did not disappoint. A first class marina where Diane got another haircut from her French Stylist.

View from Pallapa Grill at Grand Island Resort

A night out with Diane sporting her new Do

The next morning, Moonstruck stretched her legs for a stint on the Exuma Sounds before crossing back on the West Side to the Exuma Banks at Rat Cay cut. We found a quiet anchorage by Children Cay, another private island with lots of contruction.  The next day we moved 1.749 NM north to Williams Cay, this is the highest point in the Exumas at 68' and we went to shore to climb up the trail and enjoyed the panoramic view between Sounds and Banks

Sometimes the weather disagrees with your plans and after a day of rest, watching the rain fall around us, and reading we picked up for our next stop going north.

LONG ISLAND, THOMPSON BAY, May 23 – 24, 2014

It was time to say our good byes to the PDQ fleet and make our way to Long Island.  

We met up with Linda and Brian on Destination a 47’ Gulfstar and decided to travel together 

It was a beautiful, calm and most colorful crossing of 37.29 NM in 5 hours at an average speed of 7.2 knots.  

Linda and Brian on "Destination"

L.I. has a total land area of 173 square miles being 80 miles in length and 4 miles at its widest point, with a population of 4,000. The best way to see the island is by car and Fox Car Rental provides  us with wheels. 

We picked up our car at 3:30 PM on Friday and were off to explore the north part of L.I.  Our first stop was Morris’ tomb and Grave Marker and we continued north to Deals.  There is much to see at the very north, but we had a dinner reservation at Chez Pierre’s and decided we would have to see that another time.

Diane, Samatha and Linda at the office of tourism

Saturday morning was an early start heading south, stopping to view and photograph the many churches, our first stop was the L.I. Museum.

Next was Dean’s Blue Hole at Turtle Cove is the world’s deepest blue hole plunging 663 feet (200 meters) to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.  The blue hole is oval at its surface, with a diameter ranging from 80 to 120 feet (25 to 37 meters).  Words cannot describe was what it was like to snorkel this 8^th wonder of the world.  

Our next stop found us in Clarence Town visiting St. Peter’s and Paul’s Catholic Church, salt ponds and Flying Fish Marina, one of only 2 marinas on the East Side of L.I’s Atlantic Ocean.  It was getting to be lunch time, and we ended up at Max's Conch Cafe where the mosquitoes feasted on us. 

Diane, Brian and JP 

The next day, we pulled anchor and headed for Hog's Cay, a private island with yet another secluded and beautiful anchorage wedged between some coral reefs and a white sandy beach on the Cay. We snorkeled

and went for a dinghy exploration to the next blue hole. A fine cocktail and dinner on Moonstruck ended another magnificent day.

We could not decide whether to continue east to Conception and Rum Cay on the out islands with Destination our new ravel companion or start the journey back the Exuma chain. We were hoping to stay for the Long Island regatta sailed on the locally built sloops at Salt Ponds but it was not happening for another two weeks.
We backtracked to Stella Maris around Dove Point to refuel and top off the water tanks in preparation for a new adventure on the out islands when Destination came on the VHF with a disappointing weather report.... Change of plans, we are staying at Stella Maris a quaint little marina for diving enthusiast.

The resident manattee

Stocking Island May 19 - 22

There was serious melancholie on board when we departed Cave Cay leaving half of the fleet behind us.
After passing Rudder Cu and heading into the Exuma Sound, JP decided to set the fishing line in the water and joined Diane on the bridge to contemplate the rolling seas. Diane was hoping for no catch as she did not want to deal with a fish today.
When at 10:15 AM just of off Lee Stocking Island we heard an odd sound, dang it’s the reel, we brought in a 36”, 18 lbs Mahi Mahi.  What a thrill, we caught our first fish!  It was bit of bumpy/lumpy ride to George Town, and after 6 hours, 37.66 NM we had arrived in George Town..

Now we have to figure out how to filet this beautiful fish

As we were setting the anchor off Monument Beach on Stocking Island, a dinghy stopped by and who is it but Joe, Susan and Baci from Mud Puddle Rose.  Diane’s Salty Sister Sally Plonsky had connected us back in St.Petersburg as they have been in the Bahamas since March 1^st and have a great blog www.cruisingwiththechilbergs.com

Baci, Joe and Susan from Mud Puddle Rose

It was time for a nap.  Allez Cat II invited us over for dinner and offered to cook the freshly caught Mahi, and provided nibbles, wine, salad and sweet potatoes – it was delicious and fun evening.

Marya, JP, Chet and Sandy on Allez Cat II

Monday’s skies were grey, and after a tasty breakfast of French Toast made with Bahamian Bread it was time to take the dink to shore and walk up to the Monument, what a view.

Steep climb, but worthwhile

Still having some energy we walked out to North Beach and off of this is on Stocking Island.

Now it was time to go into George Town on Great Exuma Island, a 20 minute dinghy ride with someone getting wet.  This is our first time to this area and it was a bit tricky finding the bridge that takes you into Lake Victoria, but we found it.

Not much room to spare. Priority to incoming traffic

We had a great lunch at Driftwood Café and met Linda Smithe & Brian Ducharme traveling on Destination a 44’ Gulfstart Motor Yacht.

After moving the boat to a mooring ball in expectation of windy weather, we joined the rest of the PDQs and the next beach cocktail party in front of Chat 'n Chill

8:00 AM is the Cruiser's net on VHF 72. The truck will be picking people up at 10:30 AM in front of the Exuma Market to go to the Island Prime Meat Market.

Another busy day

Time to chill

Let's go snorkeling the reef at Guana cay

Are we in Venice?  No, this is the Bridge to Nowhere (Crab Cay) in Red Shank's Anchorage. The development started in 2006 and stopped in 2009.

The Bridge to Nowhere

Cave Cay Marina May 15 - 17

Our plan was to anchor at Farmers Cay for a quiet nighat anchor, but we could not find a good spot due to strong currents and decided to continued on to Cave Cay where most of the PDQ fleet was already docked.
You enter Cave cay through a narrow dredged channel which was cut into the rock to allow access to the tranquil lagoon. You are suddenly in a different world on the other side.

Entrance to Cave Cay Marina

We tied up to the dock and it was time for the cocktail party to begin.

Dick as the Captain

Cave Cay is a wonderful place in that they had free washing machines, free showers, a garden that provided tomatoes, peppers and limes.  This is also where are next scheduled PDQ dinner / pot luck event was to be held.

Saturday started with jumping on Traveller II and heading out for another fishing trip, Alaska Gypsea was already out trawling – Suddenly, one reel started wheezing and JP grabbed the rod to reel in a barracuda.

John reached for the gaff but the handle came loose and John jumped in the water to rescue the gaff with the barracuda still hooked and squirming on the side of the boat !!!!!

What are you thinking ???

 Barracudas are smelly and have potential for cigaterra, but the locals love it, so we gave it to them.

Upon returning we found that His Idea, Tiger, Feline Purrfect, Tar City Star, and Mega Marine had departed for Georgetown. JP was ready to also get going to GT, but Diane was dragging her feet and really did not want to leave.  As were saying our goodbyes to Heron, it started to rain and rain and rain ... Diane had her wish and we stayed another day.
By 8:30 the next morning we were heading out all on our own to Georgetown, with all remaining PDQs at Cave Cay stayed, they would wait a day before starting their journey North back home.

This is goodbye, until next time

Great Guana Cay – Black Point Settlement, May 14 - 15, 2014

Diane did a magnificent job taking the boat out of the dock with boats tight in front and behind us.
A short  7.01 NM on a VPR (Visual Piloting Route) route around rocks and coral heads in 1 meter of water depth and we arrived at Black Point settlement.

Time to visit Ida's  for a laundry run (she has her own dock, how convenient is that) and a bite to eat at Lorraine's while the dryer is running.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club May 12 - 13

Once all the PDQs were docked safely at the Staniel Cay YC people started on different activities: Boat cleaning, repairs, walk into town to secure a loaf of Bahamian coconut bread, walk to the dump for  a  free (big deal) garbage disposal and yes ... a tour of the airport.

Everybody is in

Airport terminal:  Concourse B,  Gate 23 B

JP and James Powers waiting for  Jackie to arrive

Some decided to jump in the dinghy for a swim at the Thunderball Grotto. When we arrived at the Grotto, it was past slack tide and the current was too strong to swim inside. The fish were here to great us though.

Imagine the frenzy if we had brought some food !!

A little R & R in the pool and chat with the fishing party who invited us to a fish preparing contest.

It's good to rinse off after a swim in the Exuma Banks

The day ended with a group cocktail and dinner at the Yacht Club.  

Next morning started out with Nancy, JP and Diane having breakfast at SCYC, while enjoying our food we watched the rain.  Rain is good, a free boat cleaning that is much needed.  After breakfast Nancy and Diane strolled to the Yellow House to picked up our freshly baked coconut bread.
Finally around noon they told the 9 PDQs that there was room for us, so it was decided we would stay another night and there would be a 5:30 PM Cocktail Party after we stopped to feed the sharks.

Big Majors and Staniel Cay May 11 - 12

Most of the group had stopped  at Cambridge Cay for the night  so we moved on heading south to Big Major’s Spot looking forward to a full day…….there are pigs to feed, reefs to swim and Fowl Cay Resort to check out, along with the Cocktail, Fish and Pot Luck dinner on the beach.  Since we only draw 2’-4” okay maybe 6” with all the food on board we are able to get really close to the shore.

You too can stay in a little cottage for six people for $ 18K/week

We were the first to arrive with Improv and had our choice for a good spot by the beach, this is why it took us three attempts to find the perfect spot. First try was too close to the beach, second try, too close to the reef, third try ... PERFECT..

This little piggy is not shy

How about a cracker?

Time for a swim before the beach cocktail party

A big day, but we managed to squeeze it all in

The next morning, everybody was anxious to get to Staniel Cay Yacht Club which is right around the corner  from  Big Majors. Unfortunately, they would not let us in until Noon, so everybody went and anchored across from the yacht club with hope to go visit the Thunderball Grotto.

On our way we passed Bachue,  Renee and Tito and continued our way.

We decided to dinghy in, check out the YC and visit with Sno’ Dog, we were missing Henry and Nancy.   We all jumped in the Golf Cart to see if we could secure a loaf of bread, stop at the grocery for eggs and then back to the YC where PDQs were starting to move to the docks.  We hurried back to Moonstruck, pulled up anchor and brought her into the dock.  

Pipe Creek and the High end district

We untied from the mooring and headed south with Improv for a  quiet anchorage  to recover from the night before.  12.92 NM and 2.5 hours Improv pulled in the U.S. Navy Decca Station where we could have tied up to a very long and high concrete wall, Not a very warm and welcoming sight.

An old military dump ... May be we can find better

Instead we  puttered around the corner and dropped anchor in a snug little cove. It was time for a nap.  It took us over an hour to realize we had the same rolly motion as we did the night before and this was not going to happen  a second night, so we pulled up anchor and headed for Rat Cay, Gusto – Sandy and Bob MacNeil suggested we stop at Rat Cay / Mice Cay for a look. 

When we came around the tip of Rat Cay and saw the area between us and Thomas Cay, we knew this would be a great evening.  The descriptions of the Cays starts out “The Most Beautiful………” 
The Pipe creek area is very protected and surrounded by small islands where luxury homes  are planted out of context. There is big  money and famous people here, but because it is shallow there is no room for big yachts.

Time  to check the anchor and see if the running gear is still attached