We picked up Jackson at the airport Sat morning and will leave the marina for the Exumas on Sunday. Sat afternoon we enjoyed the Palm Cay resort beach and had conch fritters and a Bahamian Kalik beer (it was coke for Jackson even though he is old enough to drink in the Bahamas).
Pizza for dinner in the cockpit. You can't see easily but this is the tightest marina we have even been in. Its going to be a challenge getting out of the slip tomorrow without hitting someone. Hopefully the forecast for light winds holds true.
Heading out to sea on Sunday morning. Thankfully there was just a slight wind helping us leave the slip and no current. We had 2 feet to spare aft and forward and made it out with no bumps. I don't think we will be returning to this marina.
We were lucky the winds were light enough to let us motorsail southeast to the Exumas and not lose a day waiting for a break in the winds. Crossing the bank to the Exumas you have to pass over Yellow and White banks which are only 6-10feet deep with numerous coral heads. You have to post a bow watch to point out the coral heads and tell the helmsman which was to steer.
This is what Sue and Jackson are watching for. Unfortunately we're heading southeast in the morning into the sun which makes it near impossible to see the black coral heads until you are right on them or passing by. We made it through without any bumps mainly because the route I take, although longer, is one of the safest through deeper water.
Jackson getting his Gopro ready. He also brought his drone and collected extensive videos. Too bad Blogspot won't let me upload videos as they are very cool.
The winds were light letting us motor on course but along with the light winds came showers. But with our full enclosed cockpit we just zipped up and stayed dry. The boat got a nice wash clearing off some of the salt.
Its a full day trip to the Exumas by sailboat at 6mph, but we arrived before dark and proceeded to an anchorage sight just outside the mooring field at Shroud Cay. The winds were a little brisk to start but by nightfall they had settled down and it was a restful night.
