We passed eight luxury cruise boats that were tied to the cruise docks in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. We were headed to the Bahamas to spend 9 weeks enjoying the sun and sights of the Abacos.
About 9 hours and 63 miles later we approached West End on Grand Bahama where we had to clear customs.
The docks were full of other boats waiting to clear customs or waiting until morning before cruising on to other Cays (Keys) in the Bahamas. It didn’t take us long to clear and then Bill raised our Bahamian flag to indicate that we were now “legal”.
The following map shows the course we took once we arrived in the Bahamas.
The next morning we headed towards Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. Winds didn’t co-operate every day, so we spent three extra days in route. The first month we stayed at a marina in Boat Harbour, a part of the Abacos Beach Resort. It has a well-protected harbor and first class facilities. We joined the local yacht club and enjoyed many social activities as well as becoming acquainted with the local area.
The next picture shows the resort's condo building and several of the seven docks.
Our boat, Harbour Reach, is snuggled in with many others on dock 4.
The infamous Octopussy, 183 feet long, made famous in an early James Bond movie, was docked in the marina for several days while we were there.
One of many tropical plants decorating the resort's grounds.
The marina water is just as clear as most of the Bahamas. Many fish could be seen right from the boat or the dock. It wasn't even necessary to snorkel!
The marina water is just as clear as most of the Bahamas. Many fish could be seen right from the boat or the dock. It wasn't even necessary to snorkel!
Curley tailed lizards and non-curley tails enjoy running through the grass and on the sidewalks.
The resort's swimming pool where we did water aerobics nearly everyday and where we swam to cool off in the hot afternoons.
Perhaps we should try fishing if this is what others are catching here!
Knowing us, you probably knew we'd include a sunset from our boat at the resort.
When we got tired of the pool, we could always swim at the resort's beach, lay in hammocks or use their kayaks.
Perhaps we should try fishing if this is what others are catching here!
Knowing us, you probably knew we'd include a sunset from our boat at the resort.
Bill getting a haircut and I'm getting a haircutting lesson from another yacht club member.
Southern lobster are easy to get, some dive for them and others, like us, buy them from the lobster men who sell them at the resort dock. Lobster season ends April first.
Interesting walks are plentiful from the resort/marina.
Interesting walks are plentiful from the resort/marina.
Another nearby walk takes us by the former Doctor's castle and clinic.
Shelling is my addiction and Bill humors me. This is the result of our first day at a Bahamian beach.
No, we're not planning to eat this conch meat. Instead we're trying to prevent those "yucky smells" that will come from the conch shell if we have live conch in the shell. ( Thank you Bill.)
Channel markers can be a challenge. This one is important, but is it for the starboard or port side? Yes, charts are a MUST when the markers have no red or green color.
After the first month we left the marina to explore the other Cays in the Abacos. We were not aware of how many islands there are in the Abacos. Each island has its own character and its own well-known special places and sights. We had many hikes, snorkeling adventures, shelling and swimming days, and met people from all over, even one couple who also lives in Wickford, RI as well as enjoying Easter week with our close friends Dick and Cathy Pedone who brought their boat, Dana A, to the Abacos this year.
The red path in this map indicates the route we took in the Abacos as we explored the many islands. The marina we stayed at for the first month is in Marsh Harbour.
Channel markers can be a challenge. This one is important, but is it for the starboard or port side? Yes, charts are a MUST when the markers have no red or green color.
Little Harbour on Big Abaco Island
Harbor entrance.
Anchorage: Catamarans, both sail and power, are common in the Bahamas.
Craggy rocks along the beach are common on most islands and appear only at some of the beaches. These were along the path to the abandoned lighthouse.
One of several beaches at Little Harbour:
Harbour Reach at anchor at low tide:
Pete Johnston, bronze artist at Little Harbour, leading a tour of his foundry.
Pete is a jack of all trades, we joined several friends at Pete's Pub, an eclectic outdoor dining tiki hut and bar.
Pete is a jack of all trades, we joined several friends at Pete's Pub, an eclectic outdoor dining tiki hut and bar.
Days of rough seas we stayed anchored and enjoyed the "day off", but many fishermen headed out.
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Sunsets were amazing!
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Elbow Cay, near Sea Spray Marina:
Harbour Reach dwarfed by another boat at dock.
Saying "Good-bye" to Dick and Cathy and the Bahamian dock master at Sea Spray Marina
After leaving Sea Spray Marina, we moored in the northern harbor of Elbow Cay. Hopetown is the friendly village there and its lighthouse is magnificent. There are two lighthouse keepers and they have identical houses as part of the facilities. This is one of only three kerosene burning lighthouses in the world. The other two are also in the Bahamas. The tour at sunset when the light is first lit is very informative.
What a view from the lighthouse!
The lighthouse from our mooring ball.
Firehouses frequently have red doors.
Roast pig being prepared for a charity event. It was delicious!
Harbor at Man of War Cay.
Victorian style waterview home in Man of War harbor:
Steep road to the ocean beach.
The lighthouse from our mooring ball.
Elbow Cay's northern beach.
Firehouses frequently have red doors.
Roast pig being prepared for a charity event. It was delicious!
Harbor at Man of War Cay.
Victorian style waterview home in Man of War harbor:
Steep road to the ocean beach.
Heritage celebration at Man of War: Local school children wore costumes of the books they had just read. Man of War as well as Green Turtle Cay were settled by Loyalists who left the US after the Revolutionary War.
The lignumvitae tree that we saw in the Florida Keys is the national tree of the Bahamas.
Guana Cay
Shadmore, a 63 foot cruising boat, took 40 extra passengers to Guana Cay for a Sunday afternoon in March. The owners are members of the yacht club we joined.
We all headed to Nippers Restaurant and passed their tractor on the way.
Nippers beach is good for swimming, shelling, walking, and snorkelling.
Green Turtle Cay:
One of three wild parrots we saw at Green Turtle Cay.
New Plymouth:
New Plymouth:
One of the most interesting old villages that we saw in the Bahamas is New Plymouth on the south shore of Green Turtle Cay.
Notice that golf carts are a popular "means of transportation" in the towns.
Loyalist Park in New Plymouth pays tribute to many of the Loyalists who helped develop this town.
Our Bahaman travels came to an end May 3rd when we returned to Florida. It was an enjoyable winter-spring adventure and we hope to return again next winter. Our water crossings from Florida and back were uneventful, which translates to sunny skies, relatively calm water, and winds below 15 knots. It made for pleasant cruising and it showed us that it is worth waiting for favorable weather to cross large bodies of water.
Our Bahaman travels came to an end May 3rd when we returned to Florida. It was an enjoyable winter-spring adventure and we hope to return again next winter. Our water crossings from Florida and back were uneventful, which translates to sunny skies, relatively calm water, and winds below 15 knots. It made for pleasant cruising and it showed us that it is worth waiting for favorable weather to cross large bodies of water.
