Lee Stocking Island

February 12, 2013

 

On Friday February 8^th, we arrived at Lee Stocking Island after a 15 mile run down the Sound from Little Farmers Cay.  The tide was near slack low, so Adderly Cut  was relatively calm and we had good light to guide us into the anchorage.  Our guidebooks indicated that Lee Stocking was the home of the Perry Marine Research Institute and would provide good protection from the predicted upcoming strong easterlies.

 

Both of our guide books stated that the future of the mooring balls located here was uncertain, but as we approached the anchorage we saw several empty mooring balls and prepared to pick up one.  We then noticed that there was no painter (the line that you pick up with a boat hook to attach your mooring line to) on any of the balls and that the two boats near the field were in fact anchored.  We attempted to call the ‘Research Center’ on the VHF as recommended by the guidebooks.    After receiving no response to two calls, one of the other anchored boats responded that the Research Center had been abandoned and the moorings were not maintained and therefore not recommended.  There was plenty of room and we put down an anchor.

 

Our trip ashore on Saturday seemed to confirm what we had been told.  The facility was like a ghost town. And it appeared that they had just left leaving behind many buildings and a substantial amount of equipment (boats, trucks, tractors, etc.).

 

On Sunday  the wind blew strong out of the east as predicted and we stayed on the boat.  We were well protected from the strong easterlies.

 

On Monday when we went ashore we found that a caretaker had come up for the day from Barretarre, a settlement about 10 miles south.  He was very nice and confirmed that the center had in fact been abandoned about 1½ years ago.  Apparently their income sources had dried up and they ran out of money to operate.  He did say that the moorings had been serviced around when they left and were usable at your own risk.  At this point the moorings seem to be in pretty good shape and subsequent boats have used them.  Again use them at your own risk!

 

We have stayed here almost a week and have hiked the island extensively.  The highlight of the hiking here is Perry’s Peak which, at a 'dizzying' height of 123 feet, is the highest point in the Exumas. The easiest way to reach the Peak is to dinghy to Coconut Beach, which is around the point to the south of the anchorage.  It is easy to identify by a number of tall coconut palms.  The trail to Perry’s Peak leads up from the south end of the beach.  You can also reach the beach by two trails that lead off the east end of the airstrip.

 

Barefoot tender on Coconut Beach - note palms on the right side of the picture

 

 

 

 

Williams Bay on the Bank-side from Perry's Peak

 

Beach on the Sound-side from Perry's Peak

 

Information for Cruisers not found in the guidebooks:

• The Research Center was abandoned about 1 ½ years ago.
• It does not appear to be any problem with going ashore at your own risk.
• The moorings lack painters and have not been maintained in over a year, but can be used at your own risk (we didn’t).
• The inner portion of the main dock is intact and features a ladder that can be used to land a dinghy, but again it is not maintained. As of this date, the third rung was loose – use with caution.
• Information on the trails:
• The trail head to Perry’s Peak is located at the S end of Coconut Beach, which is around the point to the SE of the anchorage and can be easily reached by dinghy. As of this date there was a sign at the trailhead. This is the easiest way to hike to Perry’s Peak.
• Two trails to Coconut Beach lead from the E end of the airstrip. They are both pleasant hikes and can be used to reach the Perry’s Peak trail.
• About 100 yards from the E end of the airstrip, the ‘Loyalist Trail’ heads SE along an old stone fence dating back to the Loyalist days ending up on Coconut Beach. As of this date there was a sign at the trailhead.
• About 100 yards past the E end of the airstrip you will find the trailhead for the “Coconut Beach’ trail. This trail leads up over some headlands on the Sound and over to Coconut Beach.
   

Hope this takes some of the uncertainty out of a visit to Lee Stocking. We enjoyed our stay here and hope you do too!

 

Tomorrow, we are off to Emerald Bay Marina, which we will use as a base for our visit to Georgetown.  Some serious provisioning is on the agenda.

 

Tom

Anchored at Lee Stocking Island

Exuma, Bahamas
Cruise 2012-13