Before we pulled out of Marsh Harbour Pam & I had one last meal at Mangoes and talked the bartender into taking our picture. Pam always looks good for the camera. As for me, this is as good as it gets.
Thursday morning we got ready to go. Filled the water tank,checked oil, paid the bill, etc. One last item was trading our Bahamian money for U.S. currency since we probably wouldn't be touching land again until Florida. I tried at the office but they only had Bahamian money. The office manager suggested I try one of the cab drivers sitting next door at the ferry dock so off I went. The first van I came to was operated by a nice lady who was more than happy to make a trade. Mission accomplished. We can leave.
Ray the dock master came out to give us a hand with our lines as well as the crew from Tropical Breeze, fellow loopers who had just arrived the night before. I must say that if we return to Marsh Harbour I'll definitely be staying at Mangoes again. The staff was friendly, accommodating, and genuinely cares about their customers.
We headed out of Marsh Harbour through the anchorage and set a course for Treasure Cay Marina about 11 miles away. It was a pleasant ride to Treasure cay with the wind mostly at our back. My reason for stopping here was twofold. One was to get fuel since they don't tack 5% onto the bill for the use of a credit card and two because I wanted to show Pam where we left the 57' Marlow last year that I helped deliver. Obviously a nice place which supposedly has one of the best beaches in the Abacos. We'll have to check it out next time. By the way. Fuel was $5.93 a gallon!
Our stop didn't take long and before you knew it we were back in the Sea of Abaco heading around Whale Cay passage. There is a shorter way through this area but shallow water and rocks keep the prudent mariner from attempting it. At any rate we're only talking a few miles additional but the Whale can be treacherous. Today though was pretty calm. About a 3' swell off the Atlantic was all we had.
Our travel continued past Green Turtle Cay and on to Manjack Cay where we anchored for the night. On our way into the anchorage we spotted a sailboat we recognized. S/V Spindrift who we had been next to at the Leeward Yacht Club.
Once settled in we dropped the dink in the water and went back to say hello to Scott. When we had met Scott before he had a female companion visiting for a few days from San Diego and so was the case this time....only a different female! Hmmm? At any rate we had a cocktail onboard and then went off to explore the island as Scott headed back to Leeward.
When the tide is in you can dinghy up some mangrove lined streams with crystal clear water. We saw turtles and fish of different species on our ride and didn't get stuck once!
Once back at Tourist I grabbed my mask and scuff pad and went to work cleaning the trim tabs and waterline. Amazing floating around the boat in 10' of water and being able to see bottom! We're certainly not in the Mississippi.
Friday morning we were up and moving by 7:15 a.m. We had been in contact with Coconuts the previous day and agreed to run together back to Florida. They got started a few minutes later than us probably because of the tough job of breaking loose from the roots they had grown over the last 4 months at Leeward Y.C. We travelled past Spanish Cay, Center of the World Rock, Foxtown and below Great Sale Cay and on to Mangrove Cay to anchor for the night. Seems others had the same idea as 3 boats were already there and another 4 had the same idea. Before long Coconuts arrived and we agreed to toast our days travels on our respective boats before turning in for the night.
Cinco de Mayo. By the time we got up several of the boats had already left the anchorage. Coconuts pulled out and we weren't too far behind. There was about a 1 and half foot chop on the Little Bahama Bank making for a comfortable ride at trawler speed. Around 11:30 we neared the White Sand Ridge waypoint where the shallow water of the banks ends and the deep water of the ocean begins. There is a distinct color change which shows up in the photo below.
Shallow Banks water in the foreground. Darker ocean water beyond.
Once off the banks the water deepens dramatically until the depth finder just blinks at 1414'. Deep enough for the commercial traffic that passes up and down the East coast. Even with all that open water you can't take a nap. The freighters come up on you fast.
Our crossing was as smooth as you could ask for enabling us to travel around 9 to 10 knots and conserve some fuel. It was one of those days when you just want to keep going! That is until you get close to Florida. Saturday along with a full moon brings out all the crazies and we found them all in our path as we neared Ft. Pierce. Somehow we managed to dodge them and slid in through the Ft. Pierce inlet and into Harbortown Marina where we'll stay until Tuesday.
Not long after we were secured in our slip we got company.
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