North Atlantic: Abacos, Bahamas

Easter Sunday April 23
Abacos Bahamas

I am taking a well deserved rest after sailing around the world in under 11 months. I have decided to spend a month in the Abacos group of islands and Cays in the northern Bahamas.

My first stop was Little Harbor after entering the treacherous 'Little Harbor Cut' from the Atlantic Ocean. With 8-10 foot seas and 20 knots of SW winds the entrance is less than 100 feet across and less than 20 feet deep. Anything more than that is then what the locals call, a 'Rage Sea', and entrance is discouraged.



Once into the Cut and the Sea of Abaco, I tried to enter 'Little Harbor at High Tide. Even with high tide there was not enough depth for my deep keel and I touched ground in the middle of the narrow entrance. I had to anchor out off the beach for the night.




The next morning I continued up the shallow and sometimes narrow passage inside the reefs and Cays towards 'Marsh Harbor'. On the way I passed a grounded fishing boat and dropped my anchor for the night outside of Boat Harbor Marina on the south side of Marsh Harbor.


The next morning I went around the peninsula and entered Marsh Harbor itself, which is beautiful. There are a lot of cruising boats at anchor or tied to the docks of the 4 marinas. This is the "Hub of the Abacos" and most cruising is based here as well as the Moorings and Sunsail Charter Companies.


With only 6 feet of water to anchor at low tide, my 6' 8" deep keel is in the soft silt sand for about 2 hours twice a day. I will look for a spot maybe 1 foot deeper but I spent the Easter weekend anchored off the "Curly Tail Restaurant" named after the local Gecko variety.



This coming weekend three friends are coming for a visit and I have the huka and dive tanks ready. My good buddy Tom-the-Pilot and another friend Kimberely with her girl friend will spend a long 4 day weekend exploring the Man-O-War Cays and Hope Towne with me.

I'll take photos and report after they depart.

Mike Harker
s/v Wanderlust3