Vacationing around stormy weather....

I did laundry in Black Point and mosied on down to anchor to the west of Sampson Marina.. That is a nice anchorage, unless you get a westerly wind. There was a 140' yacht there, and a 60' It is also on the Staniel to Compass small boat route, and between boats flying past, and jet skies zipping through the anchorage...





In the morning at high tide, and with the latest weather info, I took the shallow water route south and west of Sampson to the deep channel heading up to OverYonder Cay, and turned into my selected spot tucked in next to Thomas Cay to ride out the weather associated with Tropical Storm Chantel. Later that afternoon, a sailboat, Soon Reach, decided the same thing, but anchored in the middle of the channel. I watched him get bounced around by wakes for a couple of days.





Mercy-dog and I took the Whaler through protected water on Thursday to pick up Dorothy at Staniel Cay.





The Staniel Cay Yacht Club has a good relationship with Watermakers Air, out of the executive airport in Fort Lauderdale. This US based airline of small planes seems to be one of the most reliable forms of transportation. They fly from Fort Lauderdale to Andros to clear Customs/Immigration, and then on to Staniel. I would love to make that flight, just to be able to see the low altitude view of the islands! You can get transportation via golf cart with Staniel Cay Yacht Club from the airport to the marina.





On the way to the MERCY, Dorothy and I swung by Big Majors to feed the swimming picks some old bread that I needed to get off the boat. Mercy-dog always wants whatever we're feeding pigs or fish! We just beat a sprinkling rain back to the boat.





On Friday, with the remnants of TS Chantel providing winds, we roamed the quiet protected waters in the vicinity, drift snorkeling and exploring the areas around Pipe Cay, Little Pipe Cay, Compass Cay, and Joe Cay.





Friday night/Saturday morning in the wee hours, we had a 50 kt storm blow through. I'm sure Dorothy wondered what she was getting into.





Saturday morning we saw two ladies off the Soon Reach, and their two dogs walking the beach, and we went in and joined them for an energetic walk on Thomas Cay along a trail that was new to me. The trail cut across the island to the cut, and then along the sound side. They pointed out a couple of other trails as well.





With the squalls over, and our water tanks topped off, we moved the MERCY through the inside, past Compass Cay, did a drive-by of Rocky Dundass, but didn't stop, did a drive-by of Cambridge Cay, and then went outside into the Sound and down to the Hog Cay mooring field at South Wardwick Wells.





While at the mooring field for a coouple of days, we drift snorkeled with the Whaler through several of the cuts, snorkeled along the outside of Hog Cay, snorkeled around Emerald Rock, and did a dive at Jeep reef. One of the more interesting features is the tunnel that goes all the way through Hog Cay, which is pretty much open at low tide. At high tide, when I did it, when the surge wasn't so bad, there are openings to the sky every few feet, making for an easy snorkel. Having said that, it is a good idea to make sure you are swimming into the current, which ensures a ride back.





There were lots of big lobster in these protected areas, as well as an abundance of conch, and tropical fish. The water clarity and the abundance of coral and rocky reefs are always fun.

Big Thomas Cay anchorage

Wednesday May 22

This morning I listened to the pre-dawn rumble of thunder, and watched lightning in the distance.  By the time all the squalls had passed, I eeked out catching  gtvless than eight gallons of water.  That was enough to pretty much scrub all the salt off the boat, but not enough to catch any good water to fill the tanks.  I am ready now, however, should it rain some more.

Yesterday was the first day that the solar panels didn't top off things all together, so today I ran the generator while simultaneously cooking brunch, watching a movie, and turning the water heater on.  I think the generator charging run was unnecessary, since this afternoon the sun is out in its glory, and the panels would have made up a lot of lost time.

Overyonder Cay is gorgeous.  Here is the view going into their harbour, showing one of their wind generators.

I'm going to Compass Cay to see if I can get internet.

Post 5067 5073
 

Exploring by WhalerThomas Cay to Staniel Cay

Tuesday, 21 May

This morning we took the Whaler to the south to Staniel Cay, to see if there was enough water to run the trawler through.  The lowest water I ever saw was 3.9' at a little below normal low, along the western side of North Sampson Cay.  If I were anchored near the yacht club, I would cut through to Big Majors Spot, but, from over here, I'll probably go around the Twin Cays with MERCY.

I made a circle, cruising through the marina at Sampson Cay, then continuing south of Dennis Cay, North of Fowl Cay, and between Little Majors Spot and Big Majors Spot.  We did the Staniel Cay Yacht Club drive by, visited Isles General Store, returned by way of the Thunderball Cave, and the pigs on the west side of Big Majors Spot.

Coming back, I cruised by Overyonder Cay, which is gorgeous.  Here is the view going into their harbour, showing one of their wind generators

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Exploring the area around the Thomas Cay anchorage.

Monday, May 20th

From my present anchorage, I have protection from the wind in every direction. The current is flowing through pretty briskly, as would be expected on this phase of the moon, coming full.

For the most part, I am out of the wakes of the outboards heading to and from Compass Cay, at least they are negated some by the bar that lies between me and the channel they are running.



At low tide, Mercy-dog and I took the Whaler and went exploring. We ran slightly south to the cut between Thomas Cay and Overyonder Cay, and then along the northern coast of Rat Cay (Wild Tamarind Cay) We couldn't pass up the huge exposed sand flat to the east of Little Pipe Cay, and Mercy-dog and I walked and played on that for awhile. Then we continued through the deep channel immediately north of Little Pipe Cay, between that island and the little gazebo on the neighboring rock, and found the magnificent anchorage between Pipe Cay and Little Pipe Cay. If I wasn't in such a good spot already, to be anchored down for blowing rain squalls... I may move there in a couple of days. N24 14.086' W076 30.172'



There is a huge sand bar running north from the southeastern tip of Pipe Cay, separated by a channel 4.8' at a below normal low tide. There were a couple of 50' boats on moorings in that channel. I don't know who manages the moorings. The current was kicking in there, and the anchorage was very narrow. There were two small boats pulled up to the sand flat, with their occupants enjoying a walk on the exposed beach.  



We worked our way north, between Hattie and Little Hattie Cay, stopping on an exposed sand bar. I won't pass through there again. The channel was about twice as wide as the boat, and the current was ripping. 

We returned to the MERCY and one of us napped, and one of us vacuumed. Mercy-dog did wake up long enough to give me a kiss for cleaning up.

Anchored N24 14.245' W076 25.425' 14' in sand 0nm today

Norman's Cay to Thomas Cay

Sunday , May 19 

Due to the forecast 20-25+ kt SE winds for the next couple of days, I started figuring out a good anchorage area for several days. I decided to look for a good spot between Compass Cay and Sampson Cay.

I ran down the western side of Compass Cay and anchored about .3nm below the NE tip of Pipe Cay, temporarily, while looking for a better spot with the Whaler.

The Pipe Cay anchorage would probably be an ok spot, if I couldn't find any better. The current screams through there, and the wind was 20-ish. The sand bar to the east provides protection from the wakes of the dozens of outboards that seem to be cruising through there from Staniel to Compass. Where I dropped the hook, slightly up on the bank, in 11' of water, the sand was great holding. I just didn't like the spot. N24 15.281' W076 30.795




I took the Whaler, working to the south, following, more or less, Garmin's recommended route, until I found the PERFECT spot! I am currently anchored off the western side of Thomas Cay, about half way down.

I have good electronics on the Whaler and on the MERCY. Unfortunately, I have no way to communicate the tracks I have made with the Garmin on the Whaler to the Raymarine on the MERCY. The easiest fix? I carry an iPad! I scouted out several different paths across the final bar coming in here, picked the one I wanted, and recorded my "final" track back to the boat on Garmin's Blue Chart on the iPad. I pretty much followed that track to my present anchorage with the MERCY.




It is funny how dependent we become on electronics. In the early 90's, I followed this same shallow water route down with my old boat, which drew considerably less, without the benefit of GPS or cartography. I think I had a copy of the Yachtsman's Guide to the Bahamas, and created my own sketch charts. Unfortunately, most of my old sketches succumbed to mildew and were destroyed. It is amazing all the advances that have been made with computers and electronics in my lifetime.

Anchored N24 14.245' W076 25.425' 14' in sand 35nm today