West End

Life is a wonderful adventure, if you allow yourself to adventure in it.

When does a voyage actually start?  It’s an academic question made for long discussions.  Does it start when you slip your lines and point the bow toward the horizon or does it start with the commitment to go?   

We started sailing together in the 1970’s when we took a Sea Snark catalog Styrofoam boat and sailed in a local river.

 After our kids were adults and out of the house we revisited sailing and decided it was time to branch onto larger boats.  Funny how we thought a larger boat was 23’.   After several charters and long discussions (refer to line one) we decided this was an adventure we must attempt.  Thus leaving no regrets for what we didn’t do, thank you Mark Twain.

 As our sailing friends know, there are two kinds of East coast cruisers; those who plan to go to the  Bahamas and those who have been to the Bahamas.   Our more experienced friends had warned us our itinerary was a bit ambitious for a two month Bahama tour, but we have found it to be delightful and well-paced.

The last leg of this year’s trip to the Bahamas took us to Green Turtle Cay  and town of New Plymouth, where preparation for a large family regatta is underway.

Turtle Cay Resort

  

The race is followed by a cheeseburger cookout sponsored by the yacht named Stranded Naked. 

Stranded Naked

The T shirts and cheeseburgers are sold for a good cause, supporting the local fire department.   The town of New Plymouth is over 200 years and  the people are some of the nicest we have met yet (that’s saying a lot because there have been some VERY nice people along the way).      

  We had been advised to have the coconut lobster here and we were advised well, yummy food!  

Didn’t try the land crabs pictured but the Locals raise them in their backyards and fatten them up prior to cooking or selling. 

To get around this island’s narrow hilled roads we rented a golf cart to explore some of the hidden beaches.  The drive down the roads provided Simon with a cornucopia of smells.  Needless to say he loved it.

After leaving Green Turtle Cay we transited to Allen’s Pensacola and Great Sale Cay where we anchored, grilled dinner and enjoyed beautiful sunsets both nights.

Our next day was to transit further West to Old Bahama Bay Resort.  We had planned on 10 hours transit as an extra cushion in time.  The winds were wonderful at 15-20kts on beam reach so our average speed was 8kts.

This placed our arrival at low tide as we navigated through a shallow channel prior to turning into the Resort; fortunately we are shallow draft only needing 4’ and we registered 4.5’ at one spot.  

Old Bahama Bay Resort is a beautiful Resort with several amenities. 

We felt as if we had our own little oasis under the palm trees by the water with no one around.

As we explored the area on foot and bikes we found a fallen coconut.  We enjoyed fresh coconut milk in the hammock right outside our back door.  

There are many fishing boats here and at night they provide a colorful show.  

As always Simon continues to make new friends.  

Allen’s Pensacola and Great Sale Cay where we anchored, grilled dinner and enjoyed beautiful sunsets both nights. Weather is looking good for a crossing to Florida tomorrow.  We have revised our float plan with the Coast Guard and will clear in at Ft Pierce inlet, planning to stay at Vero Beach City Marina.  

We are leaving the beautiful turquoise waters of the Bahama's but now...
                                                                               it's time to continue the voyage.