Monday May 5: Manjack Cay

Well, yesterday was an interesting day.

We sat two days at Orchid Bay marina on Great Guana Cay waiting for the strong S winds to quit blowing. The Whale cut needs to be crossed before we could start making our way back to Florida but only when it's safe.

So Steve was up early (as usual :-)). Shortly after I was up, we both said the same thing: we should go NOW. If we didn't get across yesterday (Sunday) it would be most likely Tuesday until the water settled down as north winds were due in later in the day. Which makes the Whale cut a miserable and truly unsafe passage.

As we eased out of the dock at 8:05, winds were light from the SW and we saw two trawlers also headed for the Whale passage. That was a good sign!

An hour and a half later – home free!! Even though the SW winds continued to pick up, we were across with minor surface waves and very small ocean swells. And then we saw the rain ahead of us! Quick – get the flybridge plastic up - we are definitely going to get rained on! No lightening or anything – just a good old fashioned squall :-)

The seas picked up and the winds came. About 30 mph so not bad. It was just a matter of maintaining a heading directly into the wind and waves. Good thing we were back in the Sea of Abaco and out of the Whale cut!

The rain and winds came and went – three times! We knew they were due in and pretty much it came through right when predicted.

By the time we were tied up at Leeward Yacht Club in Black Sound on Green Turtle Cay, it was a beautiful day with the sun shining – but still very windy. It was a short travel day and we were in before lunchtime so time to spend time relaxing.

Green Turtle Cay is where we spent 4 days a couple of weeks ago (while traveling with Peter and Cheryl) waiting to go south across the Whale cut – our time was spent at the Green Turtle Marina on White Sound. This time we went into Black Sound (south of White Sound).

Preparations for crossing the Whale: reclining chair and stool get tied with a line that is on a cleat outside the door, wound around the stool and table leg and then tied off. Anything that could slide or fall was put away. Now I just need to undo it all now that we are at the dock :-)

Steve does a great job of securing the cabin as we move – no lost time. And the paper towels tried to escape again. When will they ever learn it's not going to happen?

This time around, we rode our bikes to Bita Bay and Steve snorkeled there. Missed this the last time (Really? I know – how was it that in 4 days we didn't make it there???) Anyway, this time it happened. Definitely worth doing – according to Snorkeler Steve.

The sunset was great. We were just really glad to have the Whale passage behind us ….

Today we waved goodby to New Plymouth (not before Steve rode into town to see if he could get some more of the GREAT cinnamon raisin bread that we found at a bakery/restaurant last time). Score with 2 loaves – day old but that's ok. One went into the freezer and the other won't last a day or two – it's THAT GOOD!

Destination: Manjack Cay

A great anchorage protected from the still north winds which will eventually change to east in the next day or so.

White beach – snorkeling and kayaking opportunities – what's not to like?

I have to say that I never imagined this picture when we bought this old 1978 Albin back in 2005. It was a depressing day for me the first time we looked at her: everything on this boat needed attention. There wasn't one single surface that didn't need refinished, one single system that didn't need reworked.

And yet today: Yesterday's Dream - anchored off of a beautiful white beach in the crystal clear water of the Bahamas.....

How fortunate we are ….