We decided to head to Marsh Harbor to ride out the next stretch of bad weather. We really wanted to go to Hope Town but it is tricky to get into the harbor. There are moorings there but no clear way to reserve one and we would have to enter the harbor and then, if no moorings, leave again and find an anchorage. There is an anchorage off the lighthouse but there are some horror stories of hooking underground cables with your anchor and the cables are not in a charted position. So we headed to Marsh Harbor with the idea to visit Hope Town by ferry from there.
David and I left early. We had to wait for tide in the afternoon to get into Marsh Harbor so we had the morning to explore. We wanted to snorkel around Sandy Cay and the Pelican Cays. We anchored off Sandy Cay and took the dinghy over to the reef. There are very large reefs there and some beautiful beaches off the Pelican Cays.
We entered the water and were immediately amazed by the bright blue fluorescent small fish schooled up in great numbers in front of bright yellow coral. I was mesmerized and almost did not notice as 2 giant spotted rays came swimming by me. David urged me forward and I saw them. Then a turtle swam by and we watched him for a while and then another spotted ray came swimming along. We turned our attention back to the reef and there were beautiful purple sea fans and staghorn coral that looked healthy which we have not seen on the trip. The reef fish were plentiful. We saw a rather large shark swim by, and had the usual staring contests with baracuda. It was an amazing reef, we were so glad we stopped.
We passed the Pelican Cays, Lubbers Quarter where the Marx family has their house and saw part of Elbow Cay on our way north. It is truly a beautiful area. There is an anchorage called “The Perfect Spot” that looks good for exploring Hope Town, Tahiti Beach and some other choice spots. Another time.
We heard a Pan Pan on the radio warning us that a waterspout was trying to form off Tiloo Cay. Shortly after I took this picture it just disappeared.
We entered the Marsh Harbor channel. At some points we had less than 2 feet under our keel. Jeff and Deb got to the marina before us. We both had reservations but when they arrived there was a boat in their slip. A boat called Satellite Office had called on the radio and the marina thought they were Nautilus. They found another slip for Jeff and Deb but it was smaller and they scraped their arch with solar panels on the way in. Luckily, no damage.
When we arrived they did not answer the radio so I called on the phone. There was a boat in our assigned slip as well. They asked if we would mind waiting on the T dock. We pulled up without difficulty. They could not find a slip so they offered to have us stay on the T which was fine with us. We think it will be ok in the predicted winds and it will be much easier to exit.
We got situated and Jeff and Deb came down to ask if we wanted to go to rib night at the restaurant. They had made a reservation for four. We took our garbage to the dumpster, took a fresh water shower that felt great and headed to dinner. All of us completed our meal of beans, potato salad, Cole slaw and perfectly grilled ribs. They had a singer there who sang to background music. He had a good voice. He pulled out some crazy tunes. I had not heard the Rhinestone Cowboy in a long time.
Boat chores tomorrow.