The Bight of Acklins
22 January 2013 | Snug Corner, Acklins Island
We left the Georgetown area about 7 days ago and made our way down the western side of Long Island then crossed the Crooked Island Passage. We did all that to get to a very remote area of the south eastern Bahamas-- the Crooked Island District.
We arrived Sunday afternoon in company of Myron & Dena on Hold Fast. We anchored off Long Cay, home to MANY flamingoes and 60 people. A couple days ago we sailed east across the Bight of Acklins to anchor on the western shore of Acklins Island. We are hunkering down for a blow expected of over a week of 25-30 kts with not the best protection but it's the best we have.
The tiny settlement here called Spring Point is in a pretty bad way. They haven't had a mail boat stop since New Years and are running out of fuel for their stoves, gas for their cars, fishing boats and generators. Food is running out AND the Batelco tower has been out of service for weeks so no phone service or internet. We feel bad for them and not just because they are the most friendly Bahamians we have met. They are subsistence farmers and fishermen and welcome you with open arms into their homes and lives.
We were anchored in Delectable Bay just off Cord o Wood Point. Today we moved up to Snug Corner...better holding but shallower water and we are close to friends. Just south of us is Lovely Bay. What's not to like? Looks like we will be here awhile.
A note on the Bight of Acklins: there are about 560 people who live here who are spread out over 3 islands. The Bight itself is over 1,000 square miles. Today we talked on the VHF radio to the other boats spread around the bight. Including us there are 9 boats anchored in various places. We were told by a boat that frequents the area that it is unprecented to have this many boats at one time! The way we figure it is if we divide the bight's area up evenly we should each have about 111 square miles to play in. Hopefully we won't crowd the other 8 boats too much!!
The picture is not related, just thought it was cute