Cambridge Cay in The Exumas

We departed Warderick Wells on Thursday, March 26, 2015 and headed south 11 nautical miles to Cambridge Cay which is the southernmost part of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.  Within the Park you are not allowed to fish or take anything from the sea or the land or you will face huge fines, your vessel will be confiscated and you will be required to leave the Bahamas within 48 hours!  We spent four nights here as a front came through with 48 mph winds.  We did not have a mooring ball as all were filled, but so glad we have our Mantus anchor!  This area is beautiful with places to snorkel, hike, beach, and explore.  The island near us is owned by Johnny Depp as there are many privately owned islands here in the Bahamas.  We have had many mega yachts moored near us and it’s nice to say that we all have the same view as the rich people who charter yachts at $750,000 plus per week.  I wonder if they enjoy the scenery and the nature as much as us.

Warderick Wells Cay in The Exumas

We departed Allen’s Cay on Saturday, March 21, 2015 and headed out to the Exuma Sound with ink blue water in over 3,000 feet of water.  We arrived in Warderick Wells Cay 5 and 1/2 hours later to the most awesome picture perfect water colors we have seen.  In fact, the cover picture on the Waterways Guide to the Bahamas is this place!  We were lucky to get a mooring ball as there is almost always a long wait list.  We were just in time for the Saturday evening happy hour on the beach to meet the other cruisers.  There are no services here – no water, no restrooms, no provisions, no phone, no internet – nothing but the beauty of the Bahamas.  Warderick Wells is the location of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park Headquarters with an office and staff who provide information, education, and dinghy and snorkeling guide maps for the cays and reefs within the park.  The snorkeling has been the best with many varieties of fish, huge spotted manta rays, nurse and lemon sharks, and lobsters that weigh at least 15 pounds.  The only mammal native to the Bahamas is the Nocturnal “hutia” which looks like a large rat, but with a short tail.    The famous “Boo Boo Hill” is here where cruisers leave driftwood with their boat name and date to pay tribute to a schooner that sank many years ago and no bodies were recovered.  There are many beaches, spectacular blowholes, and Loyalist ruins.  We spent almost a week here enjoying and exploring nature.  We took all of these pictures with our own camera and did not alter them – these are actual photos!  It’s hard to believe the colors and beauty of this area, looks like a post card!

Rose Island near Nassau

We were fortunate to have found someone in Nassau that could rebuild our windlass motor for a fraction of the cost of a new one.  Not only is the cost an issue, you have to wait about a week for one to be shipped from the states and then you have to pay shipping.  We departed Nassau on Thursday, March 19, 2015 and headed for Rose Island about 6 nm away to meet up with our buddy boat, Circe.  We were also joined by our good friends on Akula.  This is a good anchorage with good snorkeling and a place where the party boats come with tourists from Nassau.  The sunset over Atlantis was beautiful that night and the sunrise was equally impressive.  We enjoyed sundowners on our boat with Circe and Akula as we all depart tomorrow morning for the Exumas.

Allen’s Cay in The Exumas

We arrived in Allen’s Cay (pronounced Key) after motoring for 7 hours in the Great Bahama Bank.  We had little wind and we had to be very observant and watchful to avoid the reefs and coralheads in this area.  The water is crystal clear and varies in so many colors very quickly.  Allen’s Cay is well known for the many iguanas.  The name Iguana is Spanish and was taken from the Arawak word for the animal “Iwana.”  The iguanas come out to greet you looking for handouts but they are not tame and will bite you and each other!    The yachts we see are too numerous to mention, however we did see a helicopter land on one yacht by the name of “Air.”  There is a power cat anchored here and the largest one we have ever seen.  The view is beautiful, the sandbar is fun, the water is clear as glass, and just on the other side is the Exuma Sound with thousands of feet of water depth.

Nassau, Bahamas

We departed West Bay on March 16th and arrived in Nassau 3 1/2 hours later after encountering two rainstorms that completely covered everything in sight.  We stayed at Nassau Harbor Club still within reasonable walking distance to Atlantis Resort over a 67 foot bridge.  Our friends, Ron and Cindy on s/v Akula, whom we travelled with down the ICW, are staying at the Atlantis Marina and have passes for us for Atlantis.  We are so fortunate that they are here the same time we are and chose to stay in Atlantis – great friends!  Atlantis is quite a place with a marina full of mega-yachts, aquariums, sharks, turtles, dolphins, predator lagoons, body slide, water coasters, water slides, mile-long current, pools, beaches, restaurants and casino.  Our motor on the windlass quit working, so we are staying a bit longer than anticipated in hopes that we can get it repaired here in Nassau.  Cruise ships here are numerous and frequent.  Downtown Nassau is full of shops and restaurants and the historical straw market with its hundreds of vendors.  On St. Patrick’s Day we found $1 green beers at the Green Parrot Harbourfront along with Corned Beef Ruebens!  We have been enjoying lots of seafood such as conch salad, conch fritters, crab and rice, cracked lobster, and cracked conch – love it!  Just before sunset we spotted a funnel cloud over Atlantis, scary and beautiful at the same time.