Manjack to Matt Lowe's Cay

4/2/10
We have been going to sleep about 9:30 or 10 pm so I am always awake before sunrise. I am almost finished with Solitaire when I hear my father. We get up and rustle up some breakfast from our supplies of cereal, milk, crackers, honey, jam and dried fruit. Again we are ready before the other crew so off we sail. We head out into deep water and around the sandbar off Green Turtle Cay and then head for the shoals at the entrance to the Whale Cay Passage. When we cross the waypoint for the track we radio base that we are going through. We are going to have to tack through and my father and I debate motor sailing through but we weather is nice and Todd is getting to be a good hand so we sail close hauled towards Whale Cay.

When we water starts getting shallow we make a perfect tack and head for the rocks on the west side of the passage. There are a couple of boats sailing though from the other direction but we have some sea room . Also we have the right of way on our close hauled tack … as long as they know the rules! When we get close to the rocks we tack again. Not so smooth this time and we lose some ground. We are still looking good and can tack again if we have too. We then lose a bit more ground to one of those sailboats who didn’t give us the right of way. Better to give a little than a collision!

We get some good puffs and ride up on them and soon we slid past the tip of whale Cay and fall off onto the next leg of the passage. We are though the difficult part and have another sailboat following us though now. We call into base that we are through and head on a broad reach out of the channel past an island that was created when they dug a channel for cruise ships to get to Great Guana Cay. It’s didn’t work out for the cruise ships but the channel and the spoil island remain. The tide is high and we have plenty of water and snack on the last salami and cheese and dried fruit as we sail on though and past the Fish Cays. They mighty fisherman has been trolling but no real bites. We have one but the fish gets off. Then we head for Fowl Cay which has a protected (marine park) coral reef. We have never been to this one. We tack towards Fowl Cay with Dave at the helm but the wind is picking up and it’s get to be too much for him so I take over. The wind is really blowing again and we get over-powered by our sail so we haul in the jib and zip in under just the main.

We get the main down and motor into the protection of the lee of Fowl Cay which is pretty tiny. We try to anchor in one spot but are blown down onto another boat. We pull the anchor and try another spot. This time we are holding but a little close to different boat. I stay in the cockpit and read and watch. We are in solid and they pass me ham sandwiches, and PB and honey crackers. Soon the other boat hoists his sails and off he goes. We get a call from Tranquility that they are through Whale Cay passage and where are we? They come close but decide to go onto Man o War Cay for some shopping. We have called into base and they reminded us that most shops will be closed for Good Friday. We decide to brave to waves and try to snorkel the reef. We get our gear and a dive flag and head out.

It’s wavey but we find the reef and tie our dinghy to a mooring buoy. Takes us a while o get the inflatable dive flag to work but soon we are snorkeling on another beautiful reef. The fish are not a fearful here. I guess they have gotten used to people and understand that they’re protected. I get some really nice pictures here as I can get really close to the fish. I m really curious to see how these pictures come out! When we are cold we motor back around the other side of the island and get ready to sail. We realize it’s getting late and try to reach Tranquility but no answer so we quickly motor across the bay to Matt Low Cay where there is a little anchorage which will give us protection in this wind and is about an hour from the Sunsail dock. It’s cold in this wind so I end up in my rain gear and warm hat! We get a call from Tranquility as we are pulling in that they are coming. But no sign of them by dark so they must have stayed at Man o War. Too bad as they have tonight’s dessert!

Todd motors into the beach to looks for shells for his kids but there are private island signs on the beach. Todd passes on a swim and he makes up the last of the vodka and lemonade for he and his father while I make black beans with the last of the Virginia ham The last of the fresh veggies and angel hair with clam sauce. It’s a true finish-ups meal! For dessert we scrounge up the last of the crackers with honey and jam. After dinner I get all my gear packed for the trip home. We are holding nicely with plenty of anchor chain out and are snug in our warm cabin with a chilly breeze blowing when I make a last check on deck before bed. And I climb under a blanket in my warm bunk. Good night!