May 6,7,8 Double Breasted and Little Grand Cay

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After two relaxing days at Cave Cay it was a lazy sail in on a north west course to Double Breasted Cay.  Sometimes we were moving only at 4 knots in the light wind.   We kicked back and enjoyed the laid back journey over the Abaco bank with mostly no navigational hazards.   

Double Breasted Cays is a group of four closely spaced limestone ridges  that run northwest to southeast.  The ridges rise well enough above the water to provide protected narrow but long strips of water.  We thought we might anchor in one those strips.   We discovered water that was too narrow and much too shallow.  There would be no room between rocks for the boat to swing on the anchor when the tidal current switched.  Gingerly we turned Second Star around in a barely wide enough spot with just inches below the rudders.  

Once out of that mess we wandered around to the lee side of that group of islands and dropped anchor in the only patch of sand in a nice wide open area of deep water.  Doubled Breasted Cays protected us from the wind for the next two nights.

The next day we noticed a catamaran coming around the corner and headed our way. This was only the second sail boat we have seen in the Abaco Islands, the other one being no more than a sail on the horizon.   As this boat got closer we realized it was a Maine Cat, the larger 41 foot model, but very similar to ours.  They anchored a half mile away. Within minutes of getting settled Ross and Phyllis, who we have never met before, were in their dinghy headed our way to meet the other Maine Cat owners (us).  This is all part of being in the Maine Cat family.   

Ross and Phyllis took a tour of Second Star.  Later in the evening we joined them on their boat Kohina for social time.  It is amazing how a boat 3 feet longer can have so much more room.  Their boat is immaculately kept and the boat quality shines through even on a 15 year old boat.

Our evening came to an abrupt end when some clouds we had been watching became a squall headed our way.  We dashed back to Second Star with *just* enough time to close hatches and secure the dinghy before the 30 knot winds and rain arrived.  The wind settled in for about an hour but rain came on and off through the night giving us a good fresh water rinse. And this morning periodically a brilliant rainbow could be seen.

The next morning the winds again built up to 20 plus knots.  Reluctantly we pulled anchor as the wind direction had circled around to a direction that would make staying put uncomfortable.  We needed to move over to the next set of cays anyway to visit the village.

Brent dinghied into town for fuel, groceries, and to clear out with customs.  Our time in the Bahamas is about to come to a close.  Clearing out of customs was bittersweet with the great time we have had here, but also realizing it is time to start the journey home.  

For tonight we're settled in near Felix Cay, right next to the village. All the buildings we can see have missing shingles, missing siding, missing walls. This hurricane-wrecked jack-leg platform lies twisted and discarded nearby. 
This is obviously one of the places that Dorian hit hard. But they're recovering.

May 9

To stage for a quick getaway we moved again, this time to the lee side of an unnamed cay west and north of Walkers Cay. Walker's Cay is an interesting story. It's owned by a Texas billionaire who made his money in treasure hunting.  He is now retired and lives on this island with his 150-ft pleasure yacht Gigi and it's 150-ft support vessel Axis. He's slowly building a marina on the island.

The island we've anchored behind is the most northwest land in the Bahamas. On the Atlantic side of this island is Coral Head National Park. We took the dinghy to check it out, and didn't have to go far before we were snorkelling on some bea-utiful reefs.

There's always a friendly & curious barracuda (lower right in this picture).
French Angelfish
We were followed for a while by a pair of Atlantic Sunfish. They wouldn't come very close to us but were definately interested in checking us out.


The ocean side water was not quite as crystal clear as we'vd gotten used to on the bank side (we got spoiled!), so the photos aren't as good. 

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