Sunday, 31 May. Yes, I'm compulsive, but the day before crossing the Banks, we sailed over the shallowest section (before the Cat Cay waypoint on the Explorer Chartbook) and then back to the anchorage on the E side of Cat checking depths so that I wouldn't have to worry in the dark. All was fine and we anchored as soon as depths fell to 6'. At 4:30 AM (still very dark!) we arose and readied to leave. By 5:00 we were underway. It sure was nice having Radar as well as AIS to warn us of any on coming traffic or storms. The sky was overcast with thunder echoing around in the distance. Fortunately, we didn't get any storms until after daylight. By then we could see them coming and prepare. The wind was crazy - 2 to 26 kts. from every point of the compass as the storms approached and passed. Raise sail, reef, shake out reef, double reef, drop sails, raise them again. We got our exercise. Motors on, motors off. We needed to maintain at least 5 kts. to reach Chub before dark, so anytime our SOG fell below that for more than a few minutes we started at least one engine. Most of the time we could sail and often at well over 5 kts. - you just have to be brave enough to ride the storm winds as each one passes and smart enough to reef before things get too exciting. Anyway, we arrived at Chub Cay ahead of schedule and had anchor down and secured (as yet another thunderstorm hit) by 7:00 PM, still reasonable light. It was a long day, but everything went well and now we can do day hops. Monday, 1 June. Still lots of thunderstorms this AM. Due to light and visibility issues, we anchored sort of in the open where we knew we couldn't possibly hit anything but it was not a real protected anchorage. Since we will be coming back to Chub to pick up Dottie & Larry, we decided to move on today and find a secluded anchorage along Frazer Hog Cay, about 5 nm away. The route takes us from 10' to 450' to off soundings briefly, back to 20', and eventually up a narrow natural channel that is 12-15' deep with 2' shoals on both sides. Dottie said there way good trolling along this route, but either she lies or my jinx is back. We trailed both a soft smelly plastic fish and a flashy yellow/green skirt lure and got no action at all. We did have a great sail, however, as the sun broke through and it was delightful. We also found a beautiful anchorage. At the end of this long channel, the water just sort of peters out. Everything for miles around is shoal. In some ways it reminded me of the N end of Turneff where you could anchor in what looked like the middle of nowhere but be protected by the reef. We wandered around a bit, checking depths and anchored I a great spot well off from land. The water is once again gin clear and there are lots of starfish (but no conch). Speaking of starfish, at dollar harbor, Deb found a Jewish starfish, yup an honest to God star of David - six legs. I didn't have the camera so you will have to take our word for it, but we counted them several times. We will probably spend a couple days here, exploring by dinghy, and then wander about the rest of the Berry's until we return to Chub for Dottie & Larry at the end of the week. Weather is supposed to improve gradually as a trough between here and Florida dissipates. Right now (8:00 AM) the air is 80*, water 81* wind light, sky cloudy with breaks of sun. Not a bad way to start the day.