Green Turtle Cay had a hydroponic garden that supplies locals and cruisers with fresh veggies. Norm and Terry took us for a walk to see the sights, and we stopped by for basil and salad greens.
In the Abacos we enjoyed the daily swims, paddle boarding, mangrove dinghy tours, and fresh Conch Salad, while anchored around Manjack Cay with the boats Crazy Love and Aquavita. We didn’t see Peaches, the 11 foot tiger shark that was known to visit the area, but that was OK with us!
By the middle of May, all the boats were busy checking weather for travel options. Squall and thunderstorm frequency was increasing, and we were all needing to get somewhere for hurricane season.
We headed up to Powell Cay, which had beautiful beaches to walk on, and met up with Steve on his boat Windsurfer. Todd had known Steve from back in his windsurfing days in college. Steve had just crossed from FL and was planning to work his way down to Georgetown in the Exumas, where he’d leave the boat for short stints while he went back to work. There were moorings in the hurricane holes around Elizabeth Harbor that could accommodate boats up to 45 feet, so that was an option for his 44 footer.
Beach Walking in Sugar-Fine Sand, Powell Cay Abacos
Our kick-off point was Allans-Pensacola Cay, and that was another short hop up from Powell Cay. From there, it was about 2 days/nights to Brunswick Landing Marina in Georgia.
It took four days for the weather to settle for the passage, and we were delayed by squalls and thunderstorms for 6 hours the day we left. It was worth the wait though, as we didn’t have any significant weather and the few cells we saw managed to miss us. We did get our props tangled in a fishing net just before sunset on the first night. We were able to clear the port side with the gaff, but Todd had to dive and cut the starboard side free… nothing you want to be doing during the “evening bite.” It was a very efficient procedure!
We entered the gulf stream the next morning and it was like a magic carpet ride! The boat was scooting along doing 10-11 knots with only an occasional sail up. We could tell you wouldn’t want to be out there if there was any wind on the bow. The most we saw was 12 knots but it pushed up short steep seas causing a hobby horse motion…we were still trucking along in the mid 9 knots though, but we were happy it didnt last long or get windier.
Sun up on arrival day saw us closing on the mouth of the estuary at Brunswick. There was a predominant light house near the entry and a tall bridge to pass before turning into the marina, a good distance Inland. The marina was located in an old Naval hurricane hole with land on 3 sides and an attenuator.
We got to the dock and tied up with a few hours to spare before the blow arrived around 5 pm. It was rainy and windy for the next week, so we couldn’t get the sails off until a few days before we were due to leave. It came together though, and the canvas, cockpit cushions, guest mattresses, and extra gear, got put in climate controlled storage. It’s darned humid down south and we were hoping that we could avoid mold.
The marina staff were very helpful and the facilities top notch. There is free laundry, and thrice weekly happy hours with beer and wine included! We may never leave!
It will take us a bit to digest the last 9 months, but for now we are happy to have had a pretty fantastic journey, and to be back in the States, making lists already of parts and maintenance to be done before the next season!
yyyuuuuummmmmmm conch salad!!!
A great wrap up to your fantastic voyage! Thanks for taking us along the journey via your blog. Wish I could have gotten up the nerve to do something like an Atlantic crossing … maybe in my next life 🥴. You have my admiration 👏🏼🙏.
Well done Todd & Virginia!!!!!!!!!!
I am enjoying your wonderful blogsite and re-living the many memories of the liveaboard lifestyle through your posts! Great to see you recently and hope our ‘wakes’ cross again before you head back south. Fair Winds!!