Manjack Cay to Powell Cay

3/28/10 7:00 am

We are up early to catch the high tide. Cereal, fruit , yogurt and tea or coffee for breakfast. Then we dinghy out through a shallow passage out to the ocean side to the reef. It’s very shallow in the passage but we have enough water. It’s all four from our boat and Randy and Richard from the other boat. They have a more powerful motor and a slightly bigger dinghy. It’s pretty wavy were the passage meets the ocean and my father is doubtful about the reef. I get Richard and Randy to come back to us. They say the waves smooth out just ahead.

I transfer to their boat to even out the weight and we head out. It does smooth out so we find a nice coral head and anchor our boats and go snorkeling. Richard and Randy have their spears and are going hunting. We all have wet suits including me in an old farmer john style wet suit my father used for windsurfing. I am glad to have it as the water is chilly. Then I realize I forgot my camera. Damn! I have the waterproof camera I bought last year and this is the perfect place to learn to shoot underwater. Next reef for sure.

I am floating along on top of the reef in about two feet of water, and I look to my right and there I see lobster right on top of the reef waving his spiky antennas at me. Now I really wish I had my camera. It’s rare to see them out in the open like this. It’s pretty small and I don’t have gloves on but I try to grab it.. No luck but I probably would have gotten spiked anyway. Todd is nearby so I call him over and show him the hole. He gets down for a peek. I swim on and am fascinated by a blue fish with glowing spots on his head. I have been here in 25 years and it’s sad to see that the staghorn coral is much diminished in 25 years. Soon I see that my father and Dave are cold and tired and back in the dinghy. I join them and we head back. I have a short swim and a salt water bath. Then a cup of hot chocolate. My father makes his famous Virginia Ham sandwiches and Todd make ramen noodle instant soup. My father loves these heavily salted and smoked Virginia hams so we ordered a boneless precooked one. Luckily they never check us at customs. I don’t recall them ever really checking but it’s been 25 years since I have visited. The sandwiches taste great!

After lunch we hoist sail and head north to Powell’s Cay.
When we get to the anchorage at Powell Cay we set a temporary anchor. Then we dinghy in to shore. Tranquilty did the same and her crew met us on the beach. We walked the beach and found hard hats washed up and wore them for fun. Then we hiked up to bluff. IT was a nice view, then back to the beach. We saw a large sting ray swimming in the shallows. Too bad I don[t have my camera again. Go to remember it. Then we hiked a different trail across to the ocean side. It was a longer trail and people have hung lots of flotsam from trees and bushes as decoration. They have also clipped a lot of the palmetto leaves into cool patterns! Very interesting. I wonder who did it! It’s a longer trail and goes all the way to the Atlantic side. There is big surf coming in and it’s very beautiful. Todd goes for an ocean dip. I soon follow. It’s a nice swim once you get out past the breakers. Not too much rip either.

Estill, Randy, Martha and Michele come over and walk beach. After w while we all walk back. Michele lost sunglasses. Martha, Richard and Michele retrace her steps to look. The rest of the crew pile into our dinghy back to the yachts. We have so many people that there is very little freeboard. It’s wavey and slow going. We eventually make it back to the yachts. We move the big boats more into shelter and closer to shore as wind is blowing pretty hard from the South East. Not much shelter here. Then we start on dinner. Getting the charcoal to light in wind is an exercise in futility. Todd goes begging next door. Tranquility has lighter fluid. Yes!!! Soon grill is alight. Chicken in olive oil and spices. Squash and onions and yellow rice on the stove. Very yummy dinner. Then we break into our cookies for dessert. We chat and eat fig newtons and pecan sandies until we are tired then into the rack for the night. Captain has a Restless night as the wind is blowing and bouncing us around a bit. Anchor holds thru the night. It’s pretty calm by morning.

As always pictures can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/allenloyd/AbacosSailingTrip32610?pli=1