Day 78: Exumas!

Nassau Harbor Club Marina, Providence Island  to Highbourne Cay, Exumas (anchored)

April 2, 2022

Nassau is a good spot to get repairs and supplies but we like nature and quiet much more.  It was a relief to head out of Nassau and into the Exumas.  This is only about 30 southeast nautical miles away.

The waves were a bit more wavy today – although after our trip around the Berry Islands, any waves at all are more wavy. They were probably a foot high (way better than our Gulf Stream crossing).

This water is a lot more shallow here so it’s more turquoise and green than the deep blue over the tongue of the ocean. I hoped that maybe I might catch a fish as we crossed. That, once again, did not happen.

We use multiple devices to help us get where we are going: we have two Garmin map systems (one in the cockpit and one below in the navigation station), plus apps on our phones (two apps on my phone just in case). We also have an autopilot which allows us to set a track via a compass track (for example, 156°). Even still, we wind up playing explorer with binoculars as we get closer to land.

We have a couple boat friends who are on approximately the same path we are. One couple left the marina earlier this morning to head to this anchorage. We’re anchored near them tonight and plan to do some exploring by dinghy tomorrow.

The water here is absolutely gorgeous and clear. We’re anchored in 15 feet of water and can see the bottom. On our way to the anchorage I saw a large shark swimming.

John has some very good friends. His friend Rob FaceTimed the Villanova game so John could watch it live (on our speedy 3G – sometimes 2G- connection here). He’s on a Facetime call with Rob and Robert right now.

A wonder of this anchorage is that we have a huge swath of ocean to our west. Sunset is beautiful in this big sky. The stars will be pouring out in the sky tonight.

We have been in the Bahamas for just about five weeks and have been moving east and south. Each island/island chain is a bit different which gives us lots of opportunities to explore.