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March 2008
The front is safely to the south of us and we find ourselves anchored in the lee of Man-Of-War Cay. This another Abaco Island with two central lagoons with a thriving community of boat builders. One of the first immigrants from a shipwreck was John Albury and he married a local girl. As a result almost everyone is an Albury and there are several boat yards producing mainly fibreglass open fishing boats with a central console and solid bimini top. These are very popular and there is even an agent in Riviera Beach in Florida.
As ever there is a Queen’s Highway running along the centre of the island and a good number of old wooden houses. The character of the island is dominated by retirees who maintain beautiful gardens and drive everywhere in golf carts. Needless to say this all feels much more affluent than most family islands we have visited.
Florida sadly beckons for both boats now as we have to go to our son’s wedding in the UK and the crew of Misty also have things to do in the US. We decide on a night in the Orchid Bay Marina on Great Guana Cay and a meal out at Grabbers. A monumental thunderstorm visits us and we wade back to the boats from the meal out.
Off to Green Turtle to sit out a front and then on to Great Sale Cay and Old Bahama Bay and the Gulf Stream. Fishing near Old Bahama Bay nets us a barracuda and a beautiful four and a half pound Spanish Mackerel to share with misty.
The Gulf Stream crossing was a nightmare! The stream started 10 miles off the Bahamas at 2 knots and ended 3 miles off West Palm Beach at all of 5 knots! No amount of course planning accounted for this and we ended up pushing south along the shore to make West Palm Beach at the end of the day. Yuk!
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