Underway Again #10 Allens Cay to Big Major Spot

Allens Cay

We decided to leave for Allens Cay the next morning as the winds would be a beam reach and we would have a great sail.  First we filled up at the Texaco station where diesel was $5.24 at least a dollar more than in the States but less than most everywhere else in the Bahamas.  We literally ripped over the waves at a steady speed of over 6kn. and anchored at Allens Cay where we watched the iguanas on shore from the boat.

 A tour boat came by with about 20 people on board who jumped in and swam to shore to see the iguanas who appear tame and come out looking for handouts but they are definitely wild and must be treated with caution. 



The next morning we decided to sail to Hawksbill Cay which is part of the large Exuma Land and Sea Park which covers 176 square miles. Last time we spent a week in Warderick Wells and thoroughly enjoyed it. You may not take any lobster, fish or souvenirs(shells, rocks etc) from the Exuma Land and Sea Park. There is a $500 fine per person per item and your boat may be confiscated. as well The park wardens take this very seriously as they are truly trying to preserve the Beauty of this pristine park.

We took a mooring ball and dinghied to shore where we spent a great afternoon.

 



The dinghy was pulled ashore quite a way and secured with an anchor on the beach as the tides can come up and float your dinghy away away!

 

Hawksbill Cay was wonderful.  It is uninhabited and has several beautiful beaches (with beautiful shells which I did not touch) on its western side.  Our dinghy was the only one on the beach. 

We climbed, yes I climbed very carefully and in retrospect, foolishly, to a hill where we overlooked a river.



The river fills at high tide and at low tide creates very warm pools of salt water to soak in.



It was very tempting to climb down the other side and soak in the pools.



 Wisely I decided just to climb down the way I came with Roman's help.

 

One of the most awesome things about the Bahamas is the colour of the water.  If you look closely on the left you will see a darker spot which indicates something in the water either grass or a group of rocks or reef.  On the horizon you can see the deeper colour of blue indicating deeper water. The sky is another shade of blue.  Absolutely beautiful!

 After spending a couple of days at Hawksbill we decided to move to Big Major Spot before the predicted winds and squalls.  We started out with a nice sail but when we changed course we just motored as we were going straight into the wind.  It was a very bumpy ride.  At one point a squall caught us with high winds and rain.  We thought, great! the boat would be cleaned of the salt but when the squall passed the waves continued to come up over the boat and covering everything with salt.  Just as we were entering Big Major Spot anchorage, I went down to get something and noticed water on the floor of the v-berth.  I looked up and saw that the forward hatch was not closed and that our bed was soaked with sea water.  I had asked Roman if he had closed it and he thought he had.  It was closed but not latched so every time the boat bounced the latch opened and the salt water poured in. 

 

Anything wet with salt water takes a very very long time to dry so I took off the slipcovers, rinsed them in fresh water and hung them up to dry.  It was late in the day and of course nothing dried even though I used up all our clean rags and towels getting the water out of the foam.  I slept in the pilot house for the next two nights while Roman slept in the galley berth.  The next two days were intermittently sunny with a few showers where we quickly put everything outside and inside again.