The Whale

This was so exciting it deserves its own blog. Our last leg before reaching the ultimate destination of Hope Town, Abaco was around the Whale Cay. Since it is too shallow for our boats to navigate inside the islands, it is necessary to venture back out into the ocean to get around Whale Cay. The problem is that the water can get very rough at the entrance as it gets funneled through a very narrow cut in the reef. When the conditions are just right, with winds from the North, the crashing waves are called "The Rage". The cruisers say you must respect the Whale and we now understand why (not that we didn't; we just know why...). We left just before day break and slowly made our way to the channel where we discovered that, although there were breakers, it appeared to be reasonable to pass through. As we neared the reef the waves grew until they were about 14 feet by our estimation and very steep. They were not breaking but were definitely cresting. The other boats would disappear in the troughs of the waves. We felt like the boat in the perfect storm as we would ride up the face of the waves. I started thinking that I never imagined taking my whole house on a roller coaster ride! It only took about an hour to go around the Cay, but it was definitely one of the more exciting experiences in my life.

Once we got back into calmer water Lynn said he was bored, but we weren’t about to let him go again! Gini commented that she would never feel nervous about executing a golf shot after that. We arrived in Hope Town not long after, an incredibly picturesque harbor crammed with sailboats. Maybe because the Bahamians don’t really follow strict rules, the mooring we thought was reserved was not. We spent the better part of an hour calling the various marinas hoping for a spot. We were eventually successful, but had to take a slip…the last place in town. Gini commented that she now knows how Mary and Joseph felt when there was no place at the Inn!

Lynn and I are ecstatic to have achieved our goal and to have discovered how seaworthy our boat is. We made it!!! And just in time for Christmas!

The pictures don't quite do it justice...but almost!! Hey, where's da boat doc?