CLARENCE TOWN TO ROCK SOUND

On April 2 we cast ourselves off the dock at Clarence Town, and motored over to the anchorage where we dropped the hook.  Then we could take our time putting up the main at anchor, and tidying up lines, etc.  These tasks are much easier accomplished before getting out in open water.

George was getting on the boat from the dock at low tide, and twisted his knee when he slid off the shore power cord.   A disadvantage of being tied to a dock is the constant up and down tidal issue, but we had such a good deal on dockage, and the anchorage at Clarence Town was rolly the entire time we were there.  Flying Fish Marina has a charming waterside café, immaculate shore shower facility, and a small but nice laundry.  It is less than a ten minute walk to town, and the dinghy docking facilities in town are rough, at best.  We counted ourselves lucky to be able to tie up for a while.

Winds were NE 15-17 most of the day, with a NE swell running of about 4-5 feet.  Conditions were worse for about an hour as we passed west of Rum Cay.  We saw lots of funnel clouds as we skittered beneath one gray cloud bank after another, with intermittent blue skies between.  Fished all day,. But no luck on the different lure. 

We arrived at Conception Island in the afternoon, and confirmed that this is a favorite spot.  There were not as many boats as there were during our previous visit, and we would liked to have stayed longer than one night, but we pressed on to Cat Island the next morning.

Our trip to Cat Island took about 8 hours.  We had 6 foot swells some of the way, but they were with us, which minimized the effect.  We lost a lure to a Wahoo, who jumped clear out of the water.  Later some Bahamian fisherman told Lynn that is what Wahoo do, they “jump the bait.”  This was a beautiful orange feather lure that Lynn’s Dad had made, and we hated to lose it. 

Even before we arrived at Cat Island, we met old friends.  We encountered Papi, with Ev and Nancy who we met last year in Green Turtle and points south, they were just out for a day fishing with their visitors - and Yankee was sailing across from Long Island.  We traveled in tandem with Yankee for a while, taking photos of each others boats under sail.

We anchored at beautiful New Bight, in clear aqua blue water about 7 ft. deep.  Tonga Time came in and offered us some extra mahi mahi, already cleaned and filleted.  That’s the best way to get fish! 

Papi came for drinks that night, and the next night we had drinks on Yankee.  Then we had a lovely dinner at the Blue Bird Café – Sunspot Baby, Papi, Yankee, Tonga Time, and Polar Bear, with after dinner music provided by Yankee.  The other boats took off, and we lingered in this favorite spot of ours for a few days.

April 7, we sailed 36 miles to Little San Salvador.  This was a Lynn kind of day on the water.  Winds were Southeasterly about 12 knots, and seas were 2-4 feet.  We fished all day but again no luck.  I really need a new pink lure!  Little San Salvador has been bought by Holland America Cruise Line, and they call it Half Moon Cay.  The anchorage is not the most protected, but it provided a good stop on the way to Eleuthera in a passage that would otherwise be about 75 miles.  There was a good swell running, and we had an exciting dinghy trip to shore with Toby.  No cruise ship was there that evening, but one arrived the next morning just before we departed.  There are many shore entertainments for the passengers:  Beach cabanas, water toys, even horseback riding, judging from the horse poop we encountered on our dog walk.

The Trip to Rock Sound, Eleuthera, was boisterous.  We did not stow the dinghy and it would have been difficult to do so, with the swell coming in at Little San Salvador, and it had a rough ride all day, in the 6 ft. seas and ESE winds in the 20 knot range.  This was our first trip to Eleuthera and the Rock Sound coastline was difficult to figure out at times, especially in the Chub Rock area, but we made it through fine.  We anchored in Charles Bay, about 2 miles south of the town.    We had showers, and a hot dog dinner, and crashed.

Lynn Stateham

Next Report: Rock Sound Report