Playing Hide the Boat
22 January 2011 | Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.
Cloudy, Air Temp 79F, Water temp 72F, Wind SW@15-25
We passed through Current Cut after a foggy motor for 7 miles from Royal Island. I looked at the height of the water at 7 am and decided we should try earlier than our 10:30 am plan. We arrived at the cut at exactly 9:00 am and the fog cleared (we have never seen fog in the Bahamas before) and we motored through at exactly slack tide... perfect. Through the cut the day was perfect... light following wind, sun shining on the incredible turquoise water of the banks, and not another boat in sight. By 5 pm we ghosted in to Governor's Harbour as the wind died completely. We dropped anchor and watched the anchor in 20' as it sat upside down on the hard rock bottom. But with the forecast for calm winds, we just put out 150' of chain and depended on weight alone to hold us put. In the morning we were still safely anchored, so went ashore for a stroll. The harbor has one commercial dock, and in the 12 hours we were there, we saw three supply ships come and go... a busy port. Back aboard, we motored south in a glassy sea, looking through the clear waters to the bottom 25' below. We spent the afternoon taking turn trying to spot conch, but no luck. Late afternoon we were anchoring off the village of Rock Sound and were soon aboard Seabird for drinks and nibbles celebrating our reunion. With a forecast for a strong front today (Saturday), we decided to wait it out here. So Friday we explored the village. As we go further south, the prosperity declines. Here we saw signs of a struggling community with very little commercial activity. And the grocery store reflects the changing economic climate. Although there are lots of fruits, in a large grocery store there is not one package of fresh meat or fish. Just freezer-burned chicken and pork. But we re-supplied as best we could and will push on south tomorrow, weather permitting. From here it will be to Cat Island with a possible stop at Little San Salvador, weather permitting. It is a beautiful cay with a large crescent beach and excellent diving and snorkeling. But it is exposed to anything but north-east winds, so not always a good stop. As well, Holland America Cruise Line now owns it and maintains it as a base for their ships to stop and let the passengers have a taste of a real "tropical Isle". So if a ship is there cruisers aren't allowed to stop. We'll see.