.....................MacGregor Index Page.......... 2015 Bahama Trip Index Page

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......................................--- Basin Harbor ---................................ ..........................................................--- To --- ............................................--- Cave Cay ---

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.............................................................(May 22th) Anchorage --- N 26º 52.485´ ==== Trip Mileage = 1100 miles 7................W 77º 54.492´ ==== Day's Mileage = 33 miles

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I felt pretty good about sailing off anchor here, since the prevailing wind would take me away from shore, so didn't start the outboard. There was a motor yacht anchored some distance to the north of me but no other boats. If you like being by yourself the Bight of Abaco is a place you might want to visit.

I wasn't sure how far I'd get during the day but hoped to at least make it out of the Bight of
Abaco.

I sailed west as close to the wing as possible but that course .....

....... was taking me into shallow water south of Little Abaco.

As the morning went on the wind began to clock around more to the south but not quite fast enough. It looked like on the present course I'd get into the shallow water off Brush Cays and the even shallower water past them. I had no choice but to tack back southeast some (see above). With the tack completed I was able to now sail to Spence Rock where I would turn north.

There are a couple very narrow/shallow cuts at the west end of Little Abaco can run through with their shallow draft and I was pass a couple times during the day by them. They seemed to be headed for the south side of Grand Bahama Island were there are various towns.

As I approached Spence Rock the wind had been dying steadily and instead of sailing along between 4-5 knots I slow to barely over 1 knot. I could of started the outboard but it wasn't late so I took what the wind had to offer and ...

..... turned north at Spence Rock and headed north towards the cut between Cashs Cay and Cave Cay wing on wing at about 1-2 knots. I'd considered running on the outboard to Fox Town (my destination) but would probably get in there at dark since I was still 25 miles away.

I was content to just drift towards and through the cut watching the bottom go by under the boat and saw a couple sting rays while doing so.

I passe Cashs Cay off to starboard and rounded the north end of Cave Cay, shown above.

Just to my north was West End Cay which I would have to past on its far west end the next day.

Out in front of me were the waters of the Little Bahama Bank which I would have to cross once I left Fox Town for West End and then Florida.

I kept Cave Cay close at hand to port and ....

.... once around on the north side ......

.... I came upon what might be a nice anchorage although the chart didn't show much detail and there were rocky shores there.

There were two sandy beaches with a rock out cropping between them. I'd hope to get close to one of the beaches but the water shallowed quickly.

I was determined to sail onto anchor, but it took two attempts before I was successful in the very light air. I finally was happy with were the boat was and dropped the anchor feeling good that I had never started the outboard that day. I think that was a first as before I would have the outboard started as a precaution in case my sailing proved less than successful.

I also noted that from the boatyard to here was 1100 miles and felt good about that also.

This was a nice little anchorage .....

.... but there were rocks close at hand on both sides of the boat .

The day ended with another beautiful Bahamian sunset and tomorrow it would be off to Fox Town to sit out the coming storm.

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