Because a cold front was forecast and the anchorage at Hog Cay provided no protection from the west, we decided to move and explore some places we had not seen and that would provide a change in scenery. Most of the other boats anchored at Hog Cay decided to do the same and each selected a place that was thought to provide better protection from the coming winds.
We moved initially to Man O’War Bay next to Nairn Cay because it appeared to offer good protection from the west (and ensuing north) winds. It was a lovely, albeit small, anchorage and we were the only boat there. We anchored (not once, but twice because our chain was rubbing in a coral head at the first location) and swam in the beautiful waters. Unfortunately, Nairn Cay is separated from Raccoon Cay by a shallow opening so waves from the ocean can come through that opening on the north and around the south end of Nairn creating a surge of waves bouncing off the sides of the bay that caused the boat to pitch, dip, and roll at anchor. A small amount of motion is fine, but the wind held Gratitude’s bow enough off the direction of the surge that she rolled exceptionally – to the extent we had to hold onto our wine glasses for heaven’s sake! After a night of that, we decided to move over to Double Breasted Cay about 2 miles south. Although it is open to the north and west, it is a big expanse of water providing ample room to swing (or, heaven forbid, drag anchor) and the bottom is all sand providing excellent holding. We thought that, if Double Breasted became untenable, we could move back to Nairn as the winds clocked.
Our choice has been a good one – so far. Another boat tucked into Nairn after we left and they had to move several times to find a suitable anchorage and the crew was awake all night on anchor watch with the pitching and rolling. Meanwhile, we slept like babes in a crib with nary a drop spilled.
But, the sleep came after another long beach walk along the shores of Double Breasted Cay and, with Bess and Jim from another boat anchored here, a walk to the ocean side where we searched for and found some wonderful pieces of sea glass. We also searched for sea beans, finding innumerable of the big heart beans that we now leave behind because we have so many. Now, we are on a quest for hamburger beans! (The beans originate in Africa and the Amazon River basins and find their ways here to the Bahamas.) Our luck was with us as we found five of the hamburgers for our collection (or for jewelry making). We did not hear Jimmy Buffet, but we channeled him as best we could.
P.S. I knew I should not have written that -- we dragged anchor later in the evening and had to reset it. Lesson learned!