Day 62. May 23. On to Bimini. MIles. 88.3 Total Miles. 970.3

 Day 62

Woke at sunrise to weigh anchor retracing our steps back down the channel to turn west and go around Chub Cay's south shore.

Leaving the Berry Islands behind, the water depths change rapidly from 60 to 600 to over 1200 feet as we travel the next miles in the Northwest Channel - the deep bluewater between Andros and Berry's.

We had one freighter, four large yachts, and several fishing boats to keep us company this morning.  The seas are less than one foot and wind is light on this bright sunny day.  Weather says its suppose to rain mid morning, but for now we have bright bluee skies.   We will see!

One hour into the trip we have lost sight of the Berry Islands.

At 9:00 we passed the mark that leads us through the shallow reef, leaving the Northwest Channel behind and enter the Great Bahama Banks along wiht a 110 foot yacht and a 90 foot fishermen.  Makes us feel pretty small!

For next 58 miles we will travel in the Banks almost due west heading to Cat Cay.  Water depth is 10-16 feet and the water color is aquamarine.

Had thunderstorm clouds ahead so we packed up what we didnt want to get wet and went below.  But by the time we got to the storm it had dissipated.  Al we got was a few sprinklers, so back up to the flybridge we went.

 At noon, we crossed into shallower water with sandy bottom and the water color became a beautiful turquoise.

As we get closer to Bimini, the water calms even more and we travel in 8-10 feet of water.  The water is so calm and clear that you can see conch shells and reddish brown starfish on the sandy bottom as we cruise past.

At 3:00 we can make out Bimini Island on the horizon.  Also on the horizon is private island of MSC Cruise ship line and a very large cruise ship was in port.  

At 4:12, we made the Cat Cay waypoint and turned northwest to go around South Bimini.  

As we go around Turtle Rocks, we turn north and pass the west side of South Bimini which is mostly homes, many boarded up for hurricane season.  Most of the inhabitants of Bimini live on the south island and take the ferry to North Bimini to go to work.

This is Bimini's artificial reef which we passed on the way in.  It is quite popular with the tourists.  It is a sunken boat skeleton, the SS Sapona a Brazilian freighter, which the fish and coral have adapted as their reef home.

Bimini also has a famous wrecked rum runner boat from the 1920's Prohibition Era.

We  entered the channel into Alice Town on North Bimini which is filled with marinas.  As it is Memorial Day weekend the place is hopping with boats, music and tourists!!!

Bimini is considered the gateway to the Bahamas.  Bimini is actually a string of 7 islands on the western edge of Great Bahama Bank.  Bimini is known for big game fishing, rum running and Ernest Hemingway. The are two main islands -South Bimini originally settled for farming was first discovered by Europeans when Ponce De Leon left Puerto Rico to search the Fountain of Youth on South Bimini in 1513.

The second  island North Bimini became a refuge for pirates and wrecking and salvage. Later North Bimini's economy changed to take advantage to the sea -shelling and fishing and the islands endless sandy beaches. 

We settled into our dock and took off for a fresh fish dinner at a favorite Ernest Hemingway hangout- The Bimini Big Game Club.

It was sunset as we walked back to the boat so we enjoyed the beach views and found the ruins of one of the first resorts on Bimini -The Compleat Angler built in the 1930's.  It was a landmark on Bimini until is was burned to the ground in 2002.  The picture below is the remaining stone foundation and chimney from this iconic resort.  Sorry but took after dark!

Bimini has up to twelve fish tournaments a year.  Much of the artwork depicts the sea life and fishing of Bimini.

After a long day at sea and a good dinner, we were ready to call it a day!