Big Major's Spot

Moonbeam
David and Lynn Wilkie
Fri 29 Apr 2011 23:06
 
24.10.963N   076.27.612W
 
Despite the annoucement on the VHF Channel 16 to come to the Bapist Church "cookout" on Good Friday we left the lovely bay on Thursday morning; calibrated the new autopilot course computer I had just installed ( yes still autopilot problems! ) and made our way onto the "Banks"
 
Here there are unmarked routes of shoal water with maybe 10ft plus at low water so it was about 10 miles to travel the 3 miles up to the anchorage at "Big Major's Spot", just north of Staniel Cay.
 
      
 
Here the sailing yachts are in a minority and there are lots of glossy motor boats but also some serious cruisers including a mini "Expedition Ship" called "Oban"! Subsequent enquiry revealed is so called because it is the owner's favourite malt.
 
     
 
                                                                                                           Motor boats towing other boats!
 
Immediately north of the anchorage is Fowl Cay Resort where a one bedroom bungalow is 9000$ a week and just south is Staniel Cay where there are a few basic shops, a school and a couple of restaurants  ( www.stanielcay.com)
 
At the head of the anchorage is a nice beach occupied by a family of pigs who greet you as you go ashore- demanding to be fed!
 
      
 
At anchor over looking       www.fowl-cay.co.uk
 
      
 
Just to the south is "Thunderball Cave" which has been used in a couple of James Bond films.Here you snorkel into the cave and there is a hole in the roof illuminating the whole place. The cave is full of fish which happily swim within 6" of you!
There are 2 marinas at Staniel Cay- SC yacht Club and the "Happy People Marina" ! Unfortunately it has been closed for a while- maybe AYC should change it's name to "Happy People Marina-Ardfern " !