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| Abaco 'Blue Hole' After trying in vain to find this with directions from the internet, our bible study teacher, Elvane, led us here. |
We arrived in Rock Sound, Eleuthera late yesterday (Monday) after a 3-day transit from Marsh Harbour, Abaco.
Day 1 (Saturday) was a short hop down the 'Sea of Abaco to anchor off Lynyard Cay near Little Harbour Bar (Cut). This is one of those trips that is of 'many turns' as you dodge the numerous shoals that line the way south. For the first time (at any speed anyway) we briefly hit a small uncharted shoal in water that was supposed to be 10-11' feet deep (we draw less than 5'). After bouncing over it, there appears to be no damage, that we know of, other than probably scrapping some bottom paint off from our keel.
Day 2 (Sunday) featured an exit from Little Harbour Bar to the Atlantic Ocean. Little Harbour Bar is one of the cuts or channels that connect the Sea of Abaco with the Atlantic Ocean. None of these cuts can be taken lightly. When a large ocean swell is running, particularly if it is opposing wind and/or tide - the resultant large breaking waves can be very dangerous as you navigate the relatively narrow 'cut'. Sunday morning featured a 6' NE swell that at near high tide in the morning featured a somewhat bumpy, but safe exit to the ocean.
After exiting the Bar, we proceeded to cross what is known by professional mariners as 'The Hole in the Wall'. The Bahamas create a huge 'wall' that large ships can not get across to reach the south-east or gulf coasts of the States. One of the few places where there is a large deep-water channel that allows them to pass is the Northeast Providence Channel or 'The Hole in the Wall'. Although only about 60 miles across, it consists of deep ocean water heavily trafficked by large ships. Although much is made about crossing the Gulf Stream with its strong currents, crossing the Hole in the Wall is true 'ocean' sailing in that it is exposed to the North Atlantic swells. Swells are waves that were created by wind a long way away and have traveled and built up, sometimes to monstrous size. The swell on Sunday was a moderate 6-8', but even at that, when you are at the bottom of a swell, you sometimes look out of the cockpit at the side of a wave.
Day 3 (Monday) featured a transit through 'Current Cut', an aptly named very narrow channel between northern Eleuthera and Current Island to the south, through which a huge amount of tidal water flows. We transited a little before a high tide with a modest 2 knot following current. Then it was across the bank, arriving in late afternoon at Rock Sound, Eleuthera.
Already, we have had great visits here with our friends at Sammy's Place and 3-T's laundry and we are looking forward to our remaining stay. Although we have done it several times before, the transition from Marsh Harbour, Abaco to here is always striking. Although we have great friends there, Marsh Harbour is the 3rd largest city in the Bahamas and although relatively small by American standards, still has somewhat of a 'city' feel. Here almost everyone that passes says good-day, how are you - especially the school children - quite a difference from Marsh Harbour.
That said, our time in Abaco, especially Marsh Harbour was precious. Our friends at Grace Baptist are like family and we enjoy our time together. This year, in addition to Sunday worship, we joined the Wednesday night bible study and I attended 2 days of a men's conference. Our time there was a great spiritual uplifting!
The text from one of Pastor Shawn's sermons has become a special passage to me:
Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old,
Behold, I (God) will do a new thing
Now it will spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
...
To give drink to my chosen people.
Isaiah 43: 18-19,20e
Tom
Anchored Rock Sound, Eleuthera
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