SONATA: March 15-28, 2008 . . . The Bahamas

On Saturday morning, the 15th, at 5:00am there were seven, yes, seven, cruise ships entering Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale. We had to stay out of their way as they made their way to the docks to unload passengers, reprovision, and be ready to load passengers and depart by Saturday afternoon. We got by the seven and set our course for Grand Bahama Island, West End.

We cleared the Port Everglades harbour entrance and set our course of 100 degrees magnetic for Grand Bahamas, West End. The trip was a distance of some 86 statute miles and we had the push of the Gulf Stream behind us.

At about N26-21.653 W079-36.669, in the Gulf Stream, Bonnie saw her first whale. This picture shows, left side, the blow of the whale just as he/she rolls underneath the water. By the time you see the whale and get the camera up it is again under the water....

As the old sailors might say . . . "Land Ho". Just after noon and some seven hours of travel at sea we see Settlement Point, West End, Grand Bahama Island.

We docked at Old Bahama Bay Marina after clearing Bahamian Immigration/Customs and running up the Bahamian courtesy flag. The marina was full of boats and activity.

The resort called Ginn sur Mer describes itself as offering beautiful water, extraordinary beaches and incredible fishing. They invite you to surround yourself with barefoot elegance in the resort and marina paradise. See: www.ginnsurmer.com

From Settlement Point, West End, we next went to Great Sale Cay; N26-59.483 W078-13.011 and anchored for the evening. A travel distance of some 57 statute miles.

We initially shared the location with two sail boats. A motor yacht and two other sail boats joined us before the sunset. We put the dingy in the water and went in search of a beach . . . there was none inside the bay.

The little red dot marks our approximate anchor locatin at Great Sale Cay. You will have to double click the image to enlarge it and see the red dot.

Leaving Great Sale Cay we went over to Allens-Pensacola Cay which used to be two cays, a hurricane joined the two and they are now one. We towed the dingy and went swimming and ashore on the beach. Stayed one night due to generator problems and then went on to Green Turtle Cay for repairs..... and arrived at New Plymouth just after noon.

SONATA at BlackSound Marina where "George" came over and gave advice on the generator. In the Engineroom there is a shelf over the generator for storage of filters and parts which George wanted removed, then he would come back and try to diagnose the problem. The shelf was removed, the generator box opened . . . and Charlie found a loose wire. Plugged the wire back into its proper position, started the generator, all is well and GOD is really good to us!!! Charlie was so up-tight over the generator failure that Bonnie and John had to take a walk while he stewed . . . and then got it fixed. Oh, the stress of breakdown in a foreign place. So, so, glad to have it fixed.

John acquired a golf cart for our travels on the Cay and lunch was enjoyed at the Green Turtle Club (www.greenturtleclub.com). Then we were off to the Bluff House and a picture of us with New Plymouth in the background.

Ron and Daniel, boaters from Fairfax, Virginia, were on our dock and frequent visitors to Green Turtle Cay. They joined us for evening snacks and shared stories about the Bahamas and their experiences. Daniel promised Bonnie buckets of sand dollars . . . just go pick the up off the beach.

Bonnie led the search on the ocean side of the island for the sand dollars.

We hiked through the "jungle" to the other side of the island . . . in search of sand dollars.

Bonnie and John, all of us, searched the flats for sand dollars . . . the "buckets" of sand dollars amounted to about four. Slim pickins.

We enjoyed five days at Green Turtle Cay. Ice cream from the grocery 2x, from the Three Sister's Ice Cream shop 1x, purchased groceries, went to the local museum, rode our bikes around and enjoyed the golf cart for travels to the beaches. We joined the local community for the Good Friday community church service which about half the island attended (some 200 persons attended, population of the island is about 450 and has five churches).

Easter Morning as we departed Black Sound. The weather had finally broken, the wind and seas calmed, so that we could get around Whale Cay. To go around Whale Cay you must leave the Sea of Abaco and go into the Atlantic, then back into the Sea of Abaco. The weather for the previous five days would not allow vessels to pass due to 8-10+ swells breaking over the exit and entrance. One boat tried the passage and returned with reportedly injured passengers, one falling overboard (recovered) bent and broken life line rails, a smashed in front window and a badly bent boomvang. We waited for a good day!

We arrived at Orchid Bay Marina in Great Guana Cay before noon and walked over to "Nippers" where Bonnie met the Easter Bunny.

Nippers was having an Easter Egg Hunt both on the beach and in the water.

The place was packed with people from all the outlying cays, all sizes and shapes, the young the old. A great time.

John and Bonnie at the top of the stairs to the beach. We spent this day observing the crowds . . . the beach was ours the next day for swimming, walking, and snorkeling.

Approaching Elbow Cay and Hope Town.

Hope Town Harbour had hundreds of boats on mooring balls. The marinas also appeared to be nearly all full. We arrived and docked at Hope Town Hideaway . . . could not find anyone to check-in with . . . was told by another boater that to get to town we should just take one of the marina john-boats and go to the other side of the harbour. We stole a boat and went to town for lunch.

A quaint little rental cottage along the shore in Hope Town.

An attractive water fountain in a front yard of a small place over looking the harbour.

From Hope Town to Marsh Harbour and dockage at the Conch Inn Hotel and Marina (www.conchinn.com). A walk to the grocery, to lunch.

We waited for lunch at Wally's. Eating out in the Bahamas is an experience. First the prices shock you and then the food . . . well we did enjoy the grouper sandwiches even at $18.00 for a sandwich and fries.

Sunset over Marsh Harbour. A great on-board dinner prepared by Bonnie. She also prepared special breads and treats for the guys to eat on their way back to Florida.

With Bonnie safely airborne John and Charlie departed Marsh Harbour and went around Whale Cay heading for Spanish Wells Cay. The water was fairly calm and as they traveled they heard the pending weather in the Gulf Stream and decided to press on to Great Sale Cay and reduce travel by one day.

Sunset at Great Sale Cay just before SONATA entered the harbour . . . to join eleven other boats at anchorage. A quiet and peaceful overnight. . .

Sunrise showed God's Promise of a beautiful day. The water was flat, like a lake. John could not believe it was so calm. SONATA set out for West End . . . contemplating remaining there overnight to cross the Gulf Stream on Saturday.

Arrival at Indian Cay Channel and West End, Grand Bahama Island, showed smooth water. The rocks and coral is easily seen just four (4) feet below the hull of the boat in the clear water. The seas were quite different from the 8-10 seas SONATA had experienced when first going through this channel inbound to the Sea of Abaco.

Passage through the Channel, a view of West End, a review of the present and anticipated sea conditions, the time of day, 1243, the joint decision was made to press on across the Gulf Stream for Lake Worth. Course set for about 250 degrees magnetic with an anticipated arrival time in Palm Beach of about 7:30pm; sunset was to be at 7:29pm.