Bahamas Sail to Inagua - Winward Passage

After spending some really fun time in George Town Bahamas, Rob and I said goodbye to our guests and set sail for the last, most southern island in the Bahaman chain, Inagua.

This whole island of Inagua and the only town on it, Matthew Town, are there for only one purpose, the Morton Salt Company has their 99.8% Pure Sea Salt Farm there. It is the only possible stop on the 'Old Bahaman Channel' along Cuba's north coast. I stopped here on my way from Puerto Rico back to the Miami Boat Show in 2003. I just wanted to sleep one night through in a peaceful place, not knowing it was such a small harbor with only a 35 foot wide entrance.

Because I had already been here once before, this time I could make a night entrance, not knowing there was the Royal Bahamian Defense Force flagship "Yellow Elder" in there already. Being only 120 feet square, the harbor was mostly taken up by this one ship. But there was just enough space on one wall to tie up and spend the night.

The next morning the 'Harbor Master' came to collect her $6 fee and show us their new shower facility, very clean with hot water.

We left shortly thereafter for the 'Windward Passage' between Haiti and Cuba with, as the weather service called them, 'boisterous seas'. We had 30 knots of wind and 12 to 15 foot seas.

It was a bumpy ride!

Mike Harker
s/v WanderLust 3