Masters Harbour, Georgetown, BS — 03•06•24
After having guests aboard Trouble, it was just me and Trouble again. I wanted to get back to the Jumentos and Ragged Island, so I pulled anchor up at 0600. I had to make a quick pick-up of a part to be delivered to another boat down in the Raggeds. I motored back up the channel toward Georgetown and was met halfway for the handoff of the part. I stopped the engines and he pulled up in his dinghy and handed the part off with directions to whom it would be delivered. After the mid-channel exchange, I was off the Water Cay.
Taking the shortcut through Hog Cay cut is tide dependent. I have done it enough times that I thought I would try to go through it at what I calculated was the absolute minimum. I dropped anchor at the entrance to Hog Cay cut had lunch and waited for the tide to rise at the bare minimum I calculated. At 1300 the tide was at 1 foot above low tide from the Nassau tide tables. Anchor up and go time. It was tight and I would not try to go any less than what I did. After I cleared the shallow areas I put the sails up, shut the engines down, and pointed Troubles bows towards Water Cay.
1530 ( 3:30 pm ) I dropped anchor at Water Cay, south side. I’d spend the next day here polespear fishing my favorite spot. This spot is near where I anchored and has always been fruitful with no sharks or barracuda. It is a challenging spot as the current rips through here so watching tides is critical.
Water Cay, Jumentos, BS — 03•08•24
0610 Anchor coming up. Heading south to Hog Cay in the Raggeds, approximately 49 nautical miles. There are several cays in the Bahamas called Hog Cay and this is another one, but with the famous Hog Cay Yacht Club (Just a thatched hut).
After a brisk sail down to Hog Cay I dropped anchor at 1520. I went ashore to drop off the delivered part and helped with some setup for the big party tomorrow, put on by Maxine from Ragged Island. Usually, it’s called the Valentine’s Day party, but it was a bit late this year. Locals from Ragged Island come over and Maxine puts out a big spread with her famous goat curry. Also, the cruisers put on an auction of extra stuff from our boats (we always carry too much stuff), and the proceeds go to the local school on Ragged Island.
Hog Cay, The Raggeds, BS — 03•17•24
0745 Anchor up. Headed to Between the Raggeds. A big front is forming and I want to get a good spot early, as I’m sure it will fill up. It was perfect wind for sailing the whole way even though it was a bit upwind. Trouble always performs well in these conditions but, I had to watch my daggerboard depths transiting the shallow waters. Boards up, sails down, and engines on getting ready to cross into Between the Raggedes. It’s always a butt squeezer going in as it is not marked and gets very shallow if you’re not on course. I have waypoints charted and try to hit those exactly going in. I was the only boat here. A couple of days later everyone showed up and we went into Duncan Town for a burger and a few beers.
I went polespear fishing with another boat and got a Hogfish and Nassau Grouper, I passed up some lobsters as I had a few in the freezer. After I got the fish I went back looking for the lobsters as I wanted the Trifecta in one day as it’s the only month in the year you can do that because of date fishing restrictions. But I failed. There is always next year.
Between the Raggeds, BS — 03•23•24
The reason we all came down here was a major front that was coming through. There was lots of hype about it. Anticipation of 50-60 knot winds, thunderstorms and lightning. It started after sunset with thunder and lightning coming at us. The wind squall line hit with a brief fury of wind and lightning about a mile away, but we were spared. While it reached 40 knots it was very brief and the lightning missed us with just a bit of rain.
Later we heard that Georgetown got hammered with over 7 boats getting hit by lightning. I heard other reports of friends further up the Exumas seeing 60-knot winds with half the boats in the anchorage dragging. I felt lucky we were spared, this time. The storm left as quickly as it came. Most people were prepared but there is only so much you can do, especially with lightning.
Hog Cay, Raggeds, BS — 03•31•24
I pulled anchor and headed back to Hog Cay. Easy sail and anchored in front of the Hog Cay Yacht Club thatched hut. I usually anchor away as it gets crowded here. But a lot of people are heading back to the States this time of year.
I’ll need to start planning my exit from the Bahamas also, but I still had a few places I wanted to revisit. But that will have to wait till the next blog.