Back to Abaco

Miss Bizzy is excited to be back in Hope Town!

After our tour of Bimini, Cat Cay, and the Berry Islands, it was time this morning to head back to more familiar ground (water?)  So, at 6am I booted the nav computers, warmed up the mighty 75hp diesels, Larry cast off the lines, and we were underway once more - northeast to Abaco.

The forecast was for westerly winds until about noon with 2' seas,.  Then they would shift towards the north and increase to 2' - 4'.  The west winds were very good news as we would be heading due east for the first half of our trip, and all Great Harbours love a following sea.  It was the "north" part later in the day that was concerning me, since we would be "rounding the corner" at Hole-in-The-Wall and heading due north the rest of the way until entering the Sea of Abaco at Little Harbour bar.

Monarch of The Seas

Well, it was very breezy when we left the cut at Great Harbour.  We worked our way up the back side of Great Harbour Cay, around the Stirrup Cays (where the cruise lines have their "Bahamas Out Island" stops), and right out into a four-foot following sea.  After dodging a couple of cruise ships working their way in to their islands, we settled down to a very nice ride.  "We" being everyone aboard Spoonbill.  The poor little skiff, on the other hand, does not love a following sea and was crashing down waves sideways, threatening to rip her tow lines off.    In fact, she finally spit one of her tow lines off about halfway across.



Hole-in-The-Wall (Note: the millennia-old natural bridge that forms this hole fell into the sea during a hurricane less than a year after this picture was taken.)

As we rounded the southernmost point of Abaco at the Hole-in-The-Wall, things settled down nicely.  The forecast shift to northern winds did not occur until much later, when we were already safely into the Sea of Abaco.  It even calmed enough for us to set up the gas grill so Chef Laurence could grill up some delicious Bubba Burgers!  So, the whole day worked out pretty well.  At about 5pm, we cruised smoothly over the Little Harbour bar and into the Sea of Abaco.  At 7pm, we docked at the beautiful new Hope Town Marina and had a wonderful dinner while the girls swam in the pool.

So, we are back in familar waters once again - and ready to move a bit north.  I think the plan is to spend the day tomorrow here in Hope Town, then head north the next day for Green Turtle Cay. Or maybe Spanish Cay?

Stay tuned.