Day 37
After pondering the weather, we decided to go out of the pass and see the sea conditions. We battened down all loose items, had breakfast, and packed lunch. I readied the boat while Bill took the drone up for some last minute shots of Little Harbor.
Fired up the engines and loosed the mooring lines and left Little Harbor, starting our journey south to Eleuthera. The swells were 3.5 feet at about 6.8 seconds. Winds were 8-10 knots. Was a bit rolly, but we were taking the seas on our quarter bow so it was not bad at all. Decided to make a go of it!! The swells were supposed to diminish as the day progressed and the periods between waves lengthen.
Here is Bill with his wide leg stance to steady himself from the action of the seas on the boat.
We watched as Great Abaco Island gradually disappeared as we headed 185 degrees to Eleuthera. We had a number of sport fishing boats out with us first thing, trolling for a catch. In our first hour we ran depths of 9840 feet!
In the second hour, waves went down to 2.5-3 feet and the water is such a deep blue. Found depths up to 13,123 feet. Now have a few sailing vessels out to join us this morning. Afraid not many shots today, as everything is so far away.
Our third hour, we finally passed the SV Cheyenne, which we had been following since we left the cut. Waves and sea conditions are the same.
In the fourth hour, we traveled past Great Abaco Island's last community to the south, Hole in the Wall, and then entered Providence Channel. It is still over 13000 feet deep and the swells have settled to 2-2.5 feet. Also came upon this 180 meter freighter.
In the fifth hour, we are traveled in the last bit of Providence Channel and we can see the outline of Northern Eleuthera. Land Ho!! Water depths begin to decrease out of the thousands.
In our last hour of travel today, we got behind he eastern islands off Eleuthera and get protection from the east winds and waves. Sea conditions are quite calm. We travel past the outer Egg Island's reef and Egg Island itself. We opted to travel through the Little Egg Island channel to turn north into the bay formed by these out islands.
We cruised past Royal Island and its harbor that can shelter smaller boats.
To come behind Russel Island and anchor with about 12 other sailing boats. Here is our anchorage.
Was nice to turn off the engines and take a deep breath. Was a long day and we celebrated by taking a nap!
Spent the evening reviewing all there is to see on Eleuthera, so we could explore starting tomorrow.
