Leaving Calabash Bay, Long Island
Ambler Isle
V and S
Wed 1 Apr 2009 15:52
March 31, 2009
"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is a mystery.Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present."
We left our wonderful anchorage at Calabash Bay, Long Island. This is the area first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Heading north to Cape Santa Maria, we remembered the translation for the word "Cape" in Spanish is "Hold onto your hat.." As soon as we reached the Cape, we were in 6' swells. The wind was light, and there was no wind wave. Luckily the swells were on our nose, so after "Amber Isle" and we got into sync with the swells, it was comfortable. It was the biggest seas we'd encountered this entire trip. Valt rigged the fishing poles and we ran along the drop off, hoping for a fish. A 4' Wahoo leaped out of the water just before our reel began to sing. Our first Wahoo! But it cut the line with it's sharp teeth and was gone.
We tacked like sailors, following the swells until it was time to backtrack to our waypoint at Conception Island. An uninhabited island, it is part of the Bahamas Park Trust. Twenty boats lined the shore and we were getting ready to turn in when our 17th mahi hit. Stopping the boat, we hauled it in, much to the delight of the anchored boats. I made a smoked mahi fish dip for the happy hour on the beach that evening. Jim and Janie from "Pirate" were already here, as well as several other boats we
knew.
After a calm night, we made plans to dinghy around to the north side of the island and find a beach we'd been to before. We'd take the look bucket to see the many reefs that dot the island. Maybe have a picnic. First, we might move the boat a bit closer to shore to get out of the slight swell that came up.