Back to Great Sale Cay

Today, wed about 40 nautical miles to go. So we left Crab Cay early in the morning. It was a nice sailing - at first. Then the forecast 10 to 14 knots of wind soon became history. The wind picked up and we were sailing in 20 to 25 knots of wind. This wind helped us to cover the distance rather quick. But it was not what we wanted for the night. The wind direction was unfavorable for the anchorage at Great Sale Cay, the only anchorage in that area.

Like every day, I had the cuban line out, not expecting to catch a fish on our last couple miles in the Bahamas. But right at the Northern tip of Great Sale Cay, a Cero Mackerel hit the lure, and i managed to reel it in. This fish was about twice the size of the Mackerels, we caught the other day. I just managed to reel the fish in and send him off to heaven, before I had to furl the sails and getting ready to set anchor.

A beautiful and fantastic tasting Cero Mackerel

After cleaning the fish, Sherry and Bob rowed over in their dinghy. We had to discuss the weather and  our next moves. Of course it made good time to prepare the fish and serve another fresh fish snack.

We decided, to stay another day at Crab Cay, then to proceed to Mangrove Cay. The weather changed once more and a crossing on the Saturday was not recommended because of a front of thunderstorms and squalls. Sunday should bring wind from the north over the Gulf Stream, which would make for a very unpleasant crossing. So the crossing was postponed until Monday.

The two nights at Great Sale were a bit rolly and bumpy. Many cruisers anchored at Great Sale Cay and there was a vivid discussion on the radio, what the weather will be, when to cross, etc. Some fast moving boats can work with much shorter weather windows, the a sail boat or a trawler.