Where has the time gone!! After leaving Fernandez Bay last Wednesday (Feb 20), we headed back across Exuma Sound in another great sail and arrived at Dotham Cut just at peak current running in. Watching the speed on the GPS, we saw it rise from our 6.5 knots we averaged on the crossing and saw it climb to a new record of 10.6 knots as we squirted through the cut into the Banks calm waters. Rounding up to the anchorage at Black Point, we saw over 30 other boats anchored, but its a large anchorage, so we had no problem finding a spot. Black Point was our objective for two reasons; first because it is an easy cut and close to Staniel Cay where we were to meet the Rossiters and second, because it has a laundromat, which we needed desperately! So Thursday was laundry day, then across to anchor at Staniel, where we met Eugene and Florence on Saturday morning. Their arrival coincided with some of the most unusual weather of the winter... three days of very light (less than 5 knots) south-west winds! So with E&F aboard and settled in, we headed out the cut at Staniel and sailed north on the unusually calm Exumas Sound. Sailing up to Cambridge Cay, we turned in the cut at Cambridge Cay and coasted in to the anchorage in late afternoon. With the dinghy launched, we set off to take advantage of the quiet weather and went over to check out the coral at Rocky Dundas. Then, landing on Cambridge Cay, we took a new-to-us path that led to Honeymoon Beach, one of the most beautiful we have found yet. Both Rocky Dundas and Honeymoon Beach are usually not calm enough to enjoy in the usual weather, but today they were extraordinary! Back aboard, we had Sundowner Gin & Tonics all around and dinner of Butter Chicken. In the morning, we headed back out into the sound in the light south-westerly winds. Unable to resist the beautiful sailing, we sailed 25 miles north to Normans Cay where we headed in to the anchorage and found a spot and settled in. Ashore we explored the ruins of Carlos Lheder's drug operations of the 70's and 80's and the sunken DC-3 that missed his runway and landed in the water.
On Tuesday, we paid the price for our beautiful sails of the previous two days. It was time to start back south, and the wind was still out of the south, so we had a heavy day of it working our way back, but by days end, we were settled in to Pipe Creek, a snug anchorage where we would spend two nights and wait out a strong front that was due late Wednesday. Dinner for the evening was Butter Chicken and rice with both red and white wine. Wednesday dawned with the wind still fresh out of the west. But in the shelter of Pipe Creek we were able to go for some exploration around the area. I don't know why its called Pipe Creek, as it is really more of an area with a bunch of cuts and a bunch of cays and a maze of channels running through. Some cays are totally empty and others have buildings on them, but none matches Little Pipe Cay for elegance. With its heli-pad, staff quarters, main home and guest houses, it is very impressive... but empty! For safety sake when wht winds shifted, we put a second anchor out, and I had to dive on it to get it properly set, but it gave us the assurance that we wouldn't drift back onto a rock ledge when the wind swung to the north. So with drinks in hand, we watched the front come through. Fortunately, we dodged the rain and lightening, but watched it pass to the west of us just as the wind swung abruptly from west to north at 20-25 knots. And riding quietly on our second anchor, we were in the lee of Thomas Cay just a few yards off our bow. The only negative was we were unable to go to Sampson Cay for dinner. So Thursday morning we raised anchor and motored down for lunch. After lunch and an inspection tour of the marina and boats, we headed down to Staniel Cay where we anchored for the night and had dinner at the Yacht Club. Then this morning we zipped over to the airport to see Eugene and Florence off on Flamingo Air, a fun week! Tomorrow we head down the coast aiming for Stella Maris Marina on Long Island where we'll leave the boat while we travel to Western Canada for skiing and family visits!