Juffa

Juffa is heading south after leaving the USA.

15 December 2017
10 November 2017
18 September 2017
28 June 2017
01 June 2017
20 March 2017
18 March 2017
15 February 2017
11 December 2016
24 November 2016
11 November 2016
24 October 2016
12 August 2016

Southern Bahamas

01 June 2017
Checking in to the Bahamas is simple and straight forward, and we have internet back for the first time in what seems like ages. Amazing how much you come to rely on and expect it. Suddenly we can look up the answers to the questions we’ve been asking, if only we could remember the questions. The reef on the south coast of Mayaguana provides a reasonable anchorage even in SE winds and most importantly flat water for the kite surfers. The wrecks along the reef show how quickly things can change around here. Alongside the incredibly shallow government dock local fishermen show us how to clean conch (the huge and beautiful shelled sea snails) and give instructions on cooking. The recipe might need a little adaptation if we’re to repeat the experience. Not a total success unfortunately.

Wrecks seem to be a bit of a theme at the moment. Swimming through shallow coral reefs scattered with wreck flotsum and jetsam is a salutary reminder of how easily circumstances change. Ikea bowls, cheese graters and navigation pilots stir in the sand as the gentle surf piles over the reef. A 40m fishing boat is wedged on the rocky reef of Plana Cay, a huge bird nest showing signs of the only recent occupation. Anything of use to anybody has been taken.

The environment however, is stunning. The colours never fail to surprise and astonish. Beaches of fabled soft white sand, rocky outcrops and feathery palm fronds. The snorkelling has been marvelled at and something we were looking forward to seeing. Coral heads still remain but sadly the recent hurricanes have decimated them. Occasional outcrops have survived with soft corals slowly colonising barren areas and the odd reef fish making the most of what’s available.

Sheltered harbours in the SE winds on Acklin, Crooked and Conception Islands dazzle us. There’s few boats around and most of the time we’re the only ones anchored. It is late in the season but with our newly available internet we keep a close eye on the weather. The locals greet us and give advice when ever we see them from how to clean the conch to offering a lift back from the store/gas (petrol) station. Always happy to meet us and give a hand. I hope we would do the same.

Conception island is reputedly one of the jewels in the Bahamas. East of the Exuma chain of islands it is an uninhabited National Park (with no internet ….). All the above descriptions of the area apply. The inland waterway, approached through a rocky channel, gives way to wide open mangroves lining shallow waterways teeming with green turtles. The GoPro camera attempted to capture the exceptionally fast moving reptiles but the skill with which they moved was not matched by the photographic ability of the operator. A couple of photos are ok, but nothing to write home about unfortunately. Having learnt from the previous photo disaster a dinghy excursion to check out the coral heads was in order.Eventually, by wearing the snorkel while dinghying along and looking below being careful not to inhale too much water or get swept out of the dinghy, a patch of outlying coral heads appeared to be less damaged, with some corals and life around. First attempt at anchoring the dinghy showed we needed quite a bit more line on the anchor - touching the sea bed is always good….finally all set … and ready for an invigorating snorkel. Admiring the underwater vista we looked around, double checked … and yes those are two rather large and hungry looking sharks heading our way. Quickly, but much slower than we’d like, we lurch into the dinghy and decide that snorkelling might not be what we’d like to do today. They were probably fine, no worries, they don't eat people - but the previous night with our available internet we’d checked out shark attacks in the Bahamas. Maybe it just made us a little nervy.
Comments
Vessel Name: Juffa
Vessel Make/Model: Fountaine Pajot, Lavezzi
Hailing Port: Portsmouth, UK
Crew: Bill and Caroline
About: We sailed from Portsmouth UK, in March 2011.
Juffa's Photos - Main
40 Photos
Created 13 January 2018
17 Photos
Created 15 December 2017
19 Photos
Created 28 November 2017
21 Photos
Created 11 November 2017
13 Photos
Created 11 November 2017
26 Photos
Created 18 September 2017
15 Photos
Created 7 July 2017
20 Photos
Created 26 June 2017
24 Photos
Created 1 June 2017
5 Photos
Created 15 May 2017
22 Photos
Created 20 April 2017
22 Photos
Created 26 March 2017
35 Photos
Created 4 January 2017
17 Photos
Created 11 December 2016
16 Photos
Created 24 November 2016
13 Photos
Created 11 November 2016
18 Photos
Created 24 October 2016
17 Photos
Created 10 September 2016
13 Photos
Created 19 July 2016
19 Photos
Created 17 July 2016
22 Photos
Created 17 July 2016
23 Photos
Created 30 June 2016
27 Photos
Created 20 May 2016
11 Photos
Created 8 May 2016
32 Photos
Created 20 April 2016
28 Photos
Created 3 April 2016
10 Photos
Created 5 March 2016
34 Photos
Created 2 March 2016
13 Photos
Created 20 February 2016
16 Photos
Created 26 January 2016
19 Photos
Created 27 December 2015
35 Photos
Created 10 December 2015
5 Photos
Created 21 November 2015
9 Photos
Created 17 November 2015
29 Photos
Created 1 November 2015
22 Photos
Created 1 October 2015
6 Photos
Created 26 September 2015
10 Photos
Created 11 September 2015
8 Photos
Created 25 August 2015
8 Photos
Created 15 August 2015
19 Photos
Created 16 July 2015
18 Photos
Created 19 June 2015
21 Photos
Created 15 June 2015
17 Photos
Created 11 June 2015
19 Photos
Created 16 May 2015
16 Photos
Created 3 May 2015
49 Photos
Created 17 April 2015
13 Photos
Created 10 April 2015
15 Photos
Created 8 April 2015
7 Photos
Created 8 April 2015
4 Photos
Created 24 March 2015
15 Photos
Created 18 March 2015
10 Photos
Created 23 February 2015
25 Photos
Created 3 February 2015
22 Photos
Created 16 December 2014
7 Photos
Created 16 December 2014
34 Photos
Created 23 November 2014
40 Photos
Created 18 November 2014
11 Photos
Created 9 November 2014
13 Photos
Created 25 October 2014
20 Photos
Created 17 October 2014
39 Photos
Created 14 October 2014
20 Photos
Created 14 October 2014
16 Photos
Created 30 September 2014
24 Photos
Created 18 September 2014
20 Photos
Created 4 September 2014
10 Photos
Created 2 September 2014
12 Photos
Created 2 September 2014
11 Photos
Created 23 July 2014
14 Photos
Created 27 June 2014
20 Photos
Created 21 June 2014
14 Photos
Created 21 May 2014
18 Photos
Created 2 May 2014
20 Photos
Created 23 March 2014
10 Photos
Created 2 March 2014
13 Photos
Created 15 February 2014
9 Photos
Created 4 February 2014
7 Photos
Created 26 January 2014
Sydney Harbour
20 Photos
Created 8 January 2014
12 Photos
Created 26 December 2013
First Impressions
13 Photos
Created 21 December 2013
12 Photos
Created 21 December 2013
13 Photos
Created 8 December 2013
Las Perlas
16 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
San Cristobal
39 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
From the Perlas to the Galapagos Islands
15 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
Arriving in Hiva Oa, and Hananoamoe
27 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
Fatu Hiva
20 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
Nuke Hiva
35 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
Apataki
37 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
13 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
12 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
30 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
Arriving and first few days...and leaving for New Caledonia
26 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
New Caledonia
20 Photos
Created 30 November 2013
14 Photos
Created 29 November 2013
San Blas Islands
13 Photos
Created 29 November 2012
Panama Canal
10 Photos
Created 18 November 2012