Laid back 'n low key - Down in Abaco

January 9, 2016

Laid back 'n low key...

Down in Abaco

        Alan Jackson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp9XJnY5RPk

Well we finally arrived in Abaco, Bahamas - Green Turtle Cay specifically.

We departed Marco Island on December 28 and arrived early this morning January 9th.  We covered almost 400 miles in 5 travel days.  Since we travel about 1/10th  highway speed, this was equivalent to a 4000 mile car-trip.

Most of the trip was in somewhat adverse conditions: wind speed and or direction or rain.

Our last leg departed Old Bahama Bay early Friday morning to go through the Indian Cay Channel on a favorable tide and then 49 miles up to Great Sale Cay, where we anchored at around 4:30 PM for dinner and some rest.

We departed Great Sale at around 9:00 PM that same day in pitch black - no moon and heavy cloud cover.  It really doesn't make much of a difference in your navigation, but it is always a bit spooky.  Both the day and night passage featured wind on the nose (motoring only) which was expected.  The strength of the wind on the second leg, however, was  much more than forecast and unexpectedly, we got rained on!  For the most part the squalls did not feature high winds, but the rain was torrential.

The timing of our departure was to maximize our travel before the wind picked up (only partially successful)  and to hit the channel into Black Sound at Green Turtle at high tide.  After slowing down a bit to try to let the rain subside before reaching Green Turtle we entered Black Sound after 56 miles at about 45 minutes after high.  Unfortunately, no mooring was available there so we exited and picked up one in nearby White Sound.

We are currently moored off of the lovely Green Turtle Club; note: we are not staying at the resort

We hope to move to Black Sound when a mooring becomes available to better enjoy the unique Loyalist settlement of New Plymouth.

Today has featured some much needed rest and drying out of clothes and equipment.

Tomorrow we will start enjoying Abaco!

Tom
Moored White Sound
Green Turtle Cay, Abaco