Party Island

Shelduck
Neil Hegarty
Sat 12 Apr 2014 08:28

Party Island, Great Abaco, Bahamas.  26:58.558 N  78:12.984 W    Distance sailed 236 miles.

The Navionics chart told us that there was enough water to sail between Little San Salvador Island and Sand Point on Cat Island but it was not as much as we expected with less than a meter under the keel at times. I had read that Garmin Blue are the most reliable charts for the Bahamas. If I was coming here again with Navionics charts I would put Garmin on an Ipad or a handheld. After passing Sand Point we had a beautiful sail in 10 knots of breeze with Eleuthera Island to port until we reached North East Providence Channel at sundown where we were kept busy watching out for the many ships, mostly cruise liners, entering and leaving the channel. Next morning the weather was kind so Shelduck was able to enter Marsh Harbour through the reefs at North Man of War Channel at 10.00 and on to Harbour View Marina for fuel. Docked on the lee side of the fuel dock and were allowed to stay there. Met Mike Fitzpatrick who helped us after helping John Jensen in Slainte back into his berth. They and many others spend February and March each year at the marina. Great friends of Ireland. John spent many years as a pilot flying Delta from the US to Shannon and Dublin. Monday 7th went shopping for provisions, Anne washed clothes as I arranged our flights and a hotel in Washington to get us home. I was able to access the internet from Shelduck's chart table, a rare luxury. We were invited to Slainte for cocktails 17.00-19.00. Tuesday 8th John Jensen and his wife Melanie organized a Brats party at the small marina pool starting at 17.00 and ending at 20.30 to which they invited us. Anne contributed a loaf of her freshly baked Irish brown bread. Americans seem to be in bed by 21.00 and up again at 06.00. Brats are a type of sausage which we enjoyed.

Wednesday 9th brought an active low with heavy rain and 25/30 knot winds. Shelduck was lucky to be on the lee side and so was blown out from the marina piles. Next day more clothes washing and provisioning. Friday 11th high pressure again which put Shelduck on the ground at her berth at low tide. I spent some of the waiting time aboard Mike Fitzpatrick's ketch as he took me through the passage to Great Sale Cay and on to Fort Pierce Florida. Earlier John Jensen, whose home port is Isle of Hope Georgia, went through the passage from Fort Pierce to Norfolk Virginia including the Intracoastal Waterway. Both were of great help to me. At 15.00, with Mike's assistance, Shelduck floated off and we sailed out of Marsh Harbour to the Whale Cay Channel. A more difficult channel in the conditions than the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, Anne thought. Managed to anchor for the night off Green Turtle Cay before sundown. Shelduck had sailed just 22 miles. Brats for dinner and loud music from the shore. Brats were great but the music was disappointing. Saturday 12th up early for the 60 mile sail to Great Sale Cay. A beautiful day and sail in a fresh breeze aft.  Past Powell Cay, where many yachts were anchored, on to the Centre of the World Rock and then to North West Harbour, Great Sale, where Shelduck dropped anchor at 17.00. Anne and I were tired. Next day we rested and had dinner at 17.00 ready to leave for Florida at 19.00. We had greatly enjoyed the Bahamas. During our time there were not too many bugs and it was not humid, nice and fresh.   

 

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