other than cruisers. The strip of cays, known as the Exumas, separate Exuma Bank from the Atlantic Ocean and effectively break the ever present ocean swells. We charged down most of the chain at 12 to 14 knots with only about 4 feet under the bottom. Terrifying to a sailor trained in the North Channel where the bottom goes straight up and down in less than a heartbeat. The passage certainly invoked a desire to come back for a winter to explore and experience this tropical coastal wilderness - the Bahamian out islands.is full of boats. I am told however that a couple of weeks ago it was far more crowded. A mass exodus of about 400 a day are leaving for destinations north. On the way south we came across quite a few going the other way. It was almost like driving the Hwy. 400 on a holiday weekend! Other than the boats, there is very little here. A Scotiabank and RBC are central to the town. Being Easter Sunday and Monday, absolutely nothing was open, including the marina washrooms!
Dockage here is relatively cheap - under $50 a day as opposed to Chub Cay at $140! However, the facilities are commensurate with the price.
So now we wait out another cold front with the associated norther. The wind has gone to NW 25 knots so the open ocean will be nasty. As soon as this passes we will be heading lickety split for Rum Cay, Mayaguana and the Turks and Caicos. Because this trip has taken so much longer than expected, we are thinking of leaving the boat in Luperon, Dominican Republic until a delivery skipper can be arranged to finish the trip possibly in May after the trade winds have settled.
Important thoughts on voyaging by trawler - 1. Wave conditions determine the speed of travel and possibility of travel
- 2. The fuel range is everything. It is nice to travel at 14 knots but one must refuel every 150 miles or so. Given perfect conditions, one is still limited by range and NEVER plan landfall in the islands after sunset.
