Saturday, April 11, 2009
11 April - Day #38. The day dawns bright on Green Turtle Cay. The winds have finally laid down. After paying a courtesy call on our boat neighbors, who'd kindly directed us to a mooring the day before, we headed out of Black Sound. Ahead lay the challenges of 'The Whale'. The protected waters of the Sea of Abaco shoal just south of Green Turtle Cay. To continue south one must go outside and round Whale Cay; an open ocean passage surrounded by rocks. This notorious bit of water dismasted a sailboat just last week. 'Never on a north wind' is the local advice and there's even a special "Whale Report" given on the VHF radio each morning. Today's weather was perfect and we saw many boats going through. Once back inside, and over a sandy bottom, it's a straight shot to Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco Island. Marsh Harbour is the third largest town in the Bahamas, population 5000. About 50 boats are anchored here and there's still room for a lot more. With the hook down at 1230 we head ashore to check out the local culture and find a place for lunch. 23nm today: 1225nm total. DBH
