Author: ortolancat

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Sand Bars, Not Travelin’ Far & A Whole Lotta Love

Feb 16: Before leaving Cave Cay for our lengthy journey up to Little Farmers Cay- all of 4nm – we spent a couple hours at low tide out on the long sand bars that have formed about  one mile west of  where we’d anchored.  Few shells, but plenty of sand dollars, conch and broken coral were scattered about. A beautiful slice of private sand island heaven with a million dollar view of the Exuma banks stretching for a far as the eye can see- in my case, not very far! We set our short, bendy tripod on the dinghy seat and raced against the 10 second timer to get a rare picture of the two of us.

Not fast enough!

Becoming Bahamian

These easy short hops are perfect for sailing using one or more sails, just quietly gliding along at whatever speed the wind takes us. The only sound is Bunting splashing behind us; we tow her on these short hops. Today was a one hour jib sail at 4kts to a small cove near the tip of Big Farmers Cay, just opposite Little Famers Cay. Little Farmers, well known for its 5F Festival on the first Friday in February, also boasts the FCYC, Ocean Cabin, a post office, airstrip, market and best of all a small fisherman’s dock where you can purchase the catch of the day; lobster, conch and today they also had a brilliantly colored red hogfish. With no fresh seafood in OUR fridge, we happily parted with $21 for 2 large conch (meat only) and 2 large lobster tails. Love it.

Friday’s excitement – are you ready?  – was lunch at the YC and free wifi- yes! A real treat on both counts and now we could get a weather forecast. The morning found us as busy bakers; Russ the bread man and me the muffin lady- what a team and we haven’t killed each other yet in that small galley!  Baking several things in one session saves propane since the oven only has to heat up once.

Farmers Cay Yacht Club

Our 3 ½ weeks in George Town invited a contingent of barnacles to grow on the hulls below the waterline.  Russ tackled the port hull today sans wet suit as the water is surprisingly “warm”.  I say surprisingly because we are only ¼ mile from a cut and you’d think that would mean colder water nearby.

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Caves Galore

Bummed that we couldn’t learn more about the studies carried out at the Center (mostly by young interns from the looks of the photo org chart at HQ), off we sailed 16 nm north to Cave Cay.  We’ve gotten used to irregular hours and days of business in the Bahamas, especially in what are mostly very low population areas. Two trolling lines out netted us zilch. Wind and waves pushed us along on a starboard tack at 7kts.

Cave Cay cut is one of the best in the Exumas and even with the wind up we slid in nicely; with a little help from the incoming tide and wind. Nearly flat calm inside and pretty too, not like some cuts that make you nervous just looking at them.

Cave Cay Cat- looking out toward Exuma Sound

Hang a right once through the cut and you come to the mile and ½ long Cave Cay. Cave Cay is privately owned and No Trespassing signs abound, but that doesn’t stop one from checking out the grotto and the numerous caves that line the south-western shore.

The Bat (Guano) Cave

Grotto at Cave Cay

A barely operational marina resides inside a much protected basin. Several new buildings and floating docks are enticing; except for one sport fish it was deserted. Good place to anchor though.

The next cay just to the south of the cut is Musha Cay, supposedly owned by David Copperfield. Several colorfully painted, new looking buildings give the illusion of occupancy but again we saw no obvious sign of activity.

Musha Cay

Galliot Cut is just above Cay Cay with Little Galliot Cay about one mile in (west) from the cut. It was the next stop on our dinghy tour of the area. A tiny cay, 3/10 mile long, it was loaded with photo opps but no place to land the dinghy. More caves and a natural stone bridge or two kept me busy.

Cave at Little Galliot Cay

We’re definitely enjoying this leisurely trip back up the chain. The cut (allows passage between the deep waters of Exuma Sound and the shallower waters of Exuma Banks- some are safer than others) at Cave Cay will be our last cut until we leave the Exumas as from here on up we can travel the bank side- calmer, prettier and offers more protection from the prevailing E and SE winds.