Allen's Cay

Left Cambridge reluctantly and headed up towards Nassau. Reefed main for the the predicted 15-20 K wind. We were really close hauled but managed a bit of sailing until our last course change. Then course and wind direction completely matched. Jib flapped and main flapped too. The sea had developed a steep chop so we really were beating. We tacked a few times but had to go way way off course to make any way at all. Powered up the D sail and slogged. Made it easy to call it a day around 4 pm. The anchorage behind Allen's Cay looked protected and a colony of iguanas, an endangered species, live there . It took a bit of effort to set the anchor. The current was so strong that the boat was being pulled over the anchor and it was almost impossible to set. There are a few small cays around and I guess in the cuts between them the current can really gather a head of steam. We felt a bit like we were anchored in the Cape Cod Canal, but the iguanas were curious and fun to watch. It felt a little like Jurassic park to see all of them around . When we stood still on the beach, more and more iguanas ventured out from the trees, watching us as we were watching them. As we stood, slowly being surrounded, a couple of go- fast boats from Nassau with about 20 people each roared into the beach . That interrupted the spell quickly enough. Experiences are always different with 40 or so extra people. Still, it was great to see these creatures and it was enjoyable to watch others' reactions to them as well.

Cambridge Cay

We got a good weather break to leave Emerald Bay last week and headed up the Exuma chain to Cambridge Cay. This was a spot we wished to visit but missed a few times so I was glad to get there. It is a part of the national park in the Bahamas, although a few of the islands are privately owned most are being preserved. There is wonderful snorkeling and swimming here. We did a drift dive where we just tied a couple of long sternlines to the dinghy and let the current carry the dinghy and therefore us over the reef and out toward the sound. This requires that you launch yourself in a protected spot and eventually you recognize that you have reached the sound if for no other reason than the water is unreasonable deep. There are enough small shallow spots that we stopped long before we got that far. The current was ripping though and it carried us right along. Great sights many fish one huge grouper probably 4 feet long. They are protected in the park so no spear fishing. We also snorkeled in the reef near some caves. These were so big that you could stand up in them! The ceiling was very very high with openings to let in light so it wasn't all that creepy. In fact it was amazing.

Emerald Bay

Winds have continued to blow hard and we got tired of the anchorage in Georgetown. We were well protected and it is a pretty harbor, about 15 miles long! With a brief decrease in the winds we headed up Great Exuma island to the Marina at Emerald Bay. This upscale marina is associated with the Four Seasons resort next door. The lull didn't last long and the winds and waves were fairly serious but the sail was only 7 miles once we got out of the harbor and wind was just about at our back. Away from the harbor the rhythm of the waves seemed to get pretty manageable. Getting into the narrow harbor entrance was a bit challenging with the channel about 90 degrees to the waves and wind but I really think Tom likes challenges. It is calm inside the marina and we'll hope the weather passes while we are here. The resort atmosphere is a big contrast to some of the islands we have visited. Soon we think that we'll head a bit north and go to a few of the cays we missed. and get a bit more snorkeling in. We're talking all the time about what next. Seems that everyone we meet to is headed North for the summer. I don't think we ever include that as part of the plan although is there a better place than New England in the summer?