After four lovely days moored mainly alone on West Caicos a low with N-NE winds of gale force was approaching and only shelter found in Sapodilla Bay just south Providence.

That meant entering the Caicos Bank for a 4hr passage to the anchorage. Navigating the Caicos Bank means creating waypoints that follow known (and hopefully safe) tracks over the bank . The tracks can be found with suggested waypoints in the Bahamas Waterway Guide (including Turks&Caicos) but also in Navionics updated charts.

There might still be unknown scattered coral heads so eyeball navigation is recommended and then with the sun behind you.

We had depths ranging between 2,0-3,5m all way up to Sapodilla Bay where we dropped anchor in the afternoon. Being in company with 10-12 other boats made us realise Sapodilla Bay is one of few protected anchorages for gales coming from the north.

Before the wind started to pick up and rain falling we did a dinghy drive around the bay. This is a bay full with beautiful beach houses. Like many other British overseas territories one major income is from the offshore financial sector and loads of money invested in real estate on the island.

From a cruiser perspective the backside is high prices on everything.