With Jim arriving on the 17th to join Windermere and a weather window opening up on the 18th, we left VB to rendezvous with everyone, anchoring off the public docks of West Palm several miles south of the inlet. Although a very convenient spot with easy access by foot or free trolley to a nearby Publix, West Palm was jumping with activities and bands that played well into the early morning hours. All good but we moved the following night up to the inlet for an early start.
Early start as defined by Peter — “getting up at 4, motoring over to the municipal marina fuel dock to get Nina ashore and out the inlet before 5.” The first few hours were dark with choppy sloppy confused seas. More than expected but daylight eased the pain and it got better about half way across. We reached the bank by 10:30 and Great Sale Cay by early afternoon. Not a bad day’s run.
Spanish Cay, a private resort island, was the choice for clearing customs. The resort provides “office space” in their bar and subsidizes having an officer come to the island accommodating guests. I knew it would be more laid back but didn’t expect sipping a drink while filling out the many forms! What we didn’t know was that the resort charged a $50 entry fee to access customs unless their slips are used. All still cheaper than going through West End. The only caveat was that Customs & Immigration are two separate departments. Only a customs officer was at Spanish (& Green Turtle) Cay to issue the cruising/fishing permit but limited to a 90 day stay. We will have to ask for an extension down the line.
Giving Jim a chance to see different islands, we skipped from cay to cay. Spanish to Manjack Cay for a quick row to the beach, swim and watched a family feeding rays and a couple lemon sharks. I gave it a try but didn’t like 3 rays swimming between and around my legs rubbing up against me like cats. Then on we went to Green Turtle Cay for 4 nights renting a golf cart and exploring the island end to end. The Bahamians celebrate Thanksgiving the same as we do so there were many restaurants to choose from. We had a great turkey dinner at Harvey’s Grille in Black Sound with a Bahamian flavor of conch in the stuffing.
One more special stop for Jim at No Name Cay where he found his calling with the swimming pigs. On Sunday the 25th we made our way around “the Whale”, a nasty stretch of water around Whale Cay that is exposed to ocean swell and narrow passages through reefs to Man-O-War Cay where we will call home for the next several months.
