Day 281 - 282 March 28 - 29, 2023

 Day 281 Tuesday March 28, 2023

Spanish Wells Yacht Haven, Eleuthera to Schooner Bay, Great Abaco Island

Today a fleet of 5 boats are on the move from Spanish Wells.  We left at about 7:15 following Donna Lynn and Anna Dee with Phil-N-Wild and Call Me Curly following behind us.  Waves were 2-3 foot about 9 seconds apart, so were like rollers.  Not bad.  Our first challenge was Ridley Head Channel through Devil's Backbone.  This area can be quite shallow and is riddled with coral heads and rock under the surface.  We were timing our travel with the tide and actually didn't have any problems.  The 2 boats ahead kept looking for the shipwreck that was noted on the chart -- everyone else saw it, they thought it was a rock. 

 Sights along the channel  Following Anna Dee

                                        Commuter ferry

 Phil-N-Wild following us 

By 11 am the seas were calming and the ride was comfortable.  We met the freighter "Methoni" sailing to Esalr  I had to look it up -- Alboraya, Spain.  Our AIS system on the boat transmits our boat info and location to other boats around us with AIS.  It was very helpful on the river system and when other boats want to communicate with us. 

Schooner Bay Yacht Haven had a tricky entrance with a lot of current.  It is actually an island in the center of  the bay with a dock that goes to shore.  Because it is an island ocean water current travels into the bay and around the island, causing a surge of water that made it difficult to dock.  It also started to downpour as the 5 boats came in to dock, making the process pretty miserable tying up the boats.  Our boat continued to move so much after tied that we used a fender board to maintain contact with 2 fenders and the dock. 

The rain brought out the bugs! Susan and Danny invited everyone on their boat for popcorn and a 7's tournament.  Five couples laughed and played cards shielded from the rain and bugs.

Tomato soup and grilled cheese seemed an appropriate dinner.  The boat continued to move with the surge in the marina; we didn't have a good night.  Schooner Bay Marina is now Schooner Surge Marina. 

Day 282 Wednesday March 29, 2023

Schooner Bay to Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island

Only about 5 hours planned travel so we left a little later today, at 8:15.  The ocean was much calmer but we saw weather and rain around us.  We also saw several boat wrecks and hurricane damage.  Rebuilding is going on, definitely more apparent in some areas over others.  We traveled with Call Me Curly and Phil-N-Wild.  Donna Lynn and Anna Dee were going to Little Harbour and then to Hopetown.

 ShipwreckPopular snorkeling spot

Reconstruction going on  

We made it to the marina before a heavy downpour.  There is a huge mooring field that is filled with boats.  Mooring balls were first come, first served.   We were cozy tied to a dock at Harbour View Marina, especially welcome after the surging of the night before. 

 

Settled in we all walked to the Marsh Harbour Marina and Jib Room across the bay.  It would have been faster to dinghy over but it was rough and would be dark when we returned.  The roads were rough too.  A local has a sense of humor! 

Lorrie, a high school classmate of Danny's was there on her sailboat "Endeavor".  Great view, drinks and company. 

Taxi back with plans to meet Lorrie and take a ferry to Hopetown for sightseeing.