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

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..........................................--- Cave Cay ---................................ ..........................................................--- To --- ..........................................--- Fox Town ---

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.............................................................(May 23rd to 28th) Anchorage --- N 26º 55.292´ ==== Trip Mileage = 1120 miles 7................W 77º 47.536´ ==== Day's Mileage = 20 miles

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Up before 7 and sailed off anchor again around 7:30.

There were clouds to the east and ....

.... more to the west with rain squalls not far away and one just clipped the boat for a few minutes with a little rain.

The wind had clocked to the east during the night as predicted and I had to run west for a bit before I could turn north around the western tip of West End Cay. West End Cay is a long spit of land that is cutoff from Little Abaco by a very narrow cut that the power boats use to gain quicker access to the Bight of Abaco. I rigged the sails to run wing on wing and proceeded west for about 3 1/2 miles.

I then ran north once past the end of West End Cay. Then I tried running east towards Fox Town but that wasn't happening in the east wind. I took off on a long tack to the northeast hoping to then tack to the southeast but about noon the winds died to nothing. With the forecast for 20 mph winds later in the day I gave up on the sailing and motored into Fox Town. After sailing almost exclusively for the past two weeks I felt a little dejected having to motor on in.

Fox Town is in behind Pear Cays and Hawksbill Cays.

Once in past those you will find rock outcroppings every were just off shore of Fox Town and the associated shallow water.

There are three main rock islands just off shore that mark 3 different passages in. I felt fairly comfortable in here with the shallow draft Mac, but wouldn't take the Endeavour in here.

The winds were suppose to be running 20-30 over the next few days at times and hopefully all out of the east as I didn't have much room to swing to the north and south. I put both anchors down as you can see by the two rodes trailing off the bow in the picture above.

Besides the two small islands just off the boat on the port and starboard sides of the boat their was another just astern. I tied to check often that I wasn't dragging but don't believe that I ever did. Putting the two anchors down single-handed isn't all that easy but can be done with a little patience.

I slept soundly all Saturday night and the next day stayed on the boat and checked the outboard oil level. I also listened to the NASCAR race on Sirius Radio. Taking the Sirius Radio on the trip probably kept me sane as I probably didn't engage in conversation with anyone for more than 90 minutes total for the 3 months of the trip.

Monday I also stayed on the boat and there was heavy rain at times with visibility under 100 yards at time and wind strong enough that the waves in the harbor had long streaks of foam blown off their crests by the wind.

I was also down to under $10 in cash so couldn't go ashore to eat anywhere unless I wanted to use a credit card and I wasn't crazy about doing that, as I hadn't anywhere else on the trip. The next trip I'd buy some credit cards with a couple hundred on them and use them. I didn't want to use mine as they auto-pay bills while I'm gone and my checking account auto-pays the credit cards. If they were compromised I'd have a big problem and knew that a friend had his card compromised in the Bahamas.

Tuesday I did finally go ashore and went over and tied up to the fuel dock even though I wasn't going to get fuel.

I walked up the dock past the restaurant.....

.... just to the east of the dock.

If I would of needed fuel I could of gotten it at the station above just to the west of the dock. I had last gotten fuel down in the Exumas at Highborne. Since I had sailed almost the entire way from there to here I felt I had more than enough to get back to Florida about 200 miles away. I probably had 17 gallons in the 19 gallon tank and then 10 gallons in two 5 gallon containers and a couple gallons in the dinghy outboard gas tank.

Fox Town is a pretty little town ....

... in a nice setting with a single main street paralleling the harbor.

I followed the street west ...

... and then back east again.

Before turning around though ....

... I went into a local store. Not the one above but another similar one on the other side of the street not far away. I bought one last loaf of Bahamian bread for $5.50. With that purchase I now had about 4 bucks left to get back to the states with, but wasn't planning on anymore stops and the wind is free.

After the grocery store .....

.... I worked my way back east past the town dock with the Kera Jane resting on anchor a short ways away. From what I understood this was the town dock which anyone can use. I returned to the dinghy and back out to the Mac.

Wednesday I returned to shore tying up to the town dock this time. I walked some more and returned to the store, where I bought 3 apples for $3.00 leaving me now with less than a buck. It was a good feeling knowing I really didn't need more than that to get back to Florida.

While I was here the only other sailboat I saw was anchored out near Hawksbill Cays. This is a tricky place to bring a sailboat into so I think most bypass Fox Town going east or west north of Little Abaco.

It is a shame as ...

... it is a nice little town.....

..... with a pretty setting.

If it just wasn't for all of those pesky little rock islands all over the place and they don't offer a lot of protection from the east winds.

I walked as far as the fuel dock, shown above, and a little further .....

... before returning to the town dock and the dinghy. This would prove to be my last visit ashore in the Bahamas. I was having a little difficulty letting that sink in and if it wouldn't of been so late in the spring would of stayed longer. Two months just isn't enough time. I had become hooked on the Bahamas.

Thursday I spent some time figuring out how I could lash the dinghy along side the boat vs. towing it from behind. More on that on the next page. There had been some light rain Wednesday night and there would be some light rain on this night also, but the winds had dimensioned and there looked to be a window where I could get to West End over the next two days and then on the third day, on across the Gulf Stream to Florida. Listening to radio traffic it sounded like a lot of boats had filled the anchorage at West End waiting out the storm that had been passing and they were eager to also make the crossing back over to Florida.

I also found that I could listen to NOAA weather on the VHF after trying it one day. That really surprised me as I was over 120 miles as the crow flies from the Florida Coast. Knowing that I could of listened to it earlier at Cave Cay and maybe some in the Bight of Abaco.

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