Sunday, January 15, 2012

01/12/2012 HOLD ON BOYS!

01/12/2012 A ROCKY PASSAGE FROM ACKLINS TO MAYAGUANA


THURSDAY

48 NM

ANCHORED AT BETSY BAY ON MAYAGUANA

SUNRISE AT ATWOOD HARBOR: 6: 38 AM

SUNSET AT MAYAGUANA: 5:27 PM

With last night’s light show done and the storm passed we were ready to start our travels again. After watching a few cavorting dolphin in the bay (the first we have seen in ages) we pulled up anchor and left the shelter of our two night anchorage in Atwood Harbor. Wham, Bam! As soon as we exited we were pummeled with winds and choppy seas. Guess the remnants of the passing storm still linger.

THE SUN RISING IN ATWOOD HARBOR

Only while passing to the north of the little Plana Cays did we realize a little calm then it was slamming us again as we crossed the Mayaguana Passage. The couch was sliding, shells were flying, my “not-so-teak” tables went crashing and I pretty much settled myself on the floor for the duration. Even though the winds were only about 23 out of the SSE we were getting tossed about in 6 to 8’ waves from two directions. Not a pretty picture but it was over by about 3:30. We were going to seek shelter in Mayaguana’s Abrahams Bay but decided not to attempt the shoal studded entry channel. Instead, we dropped the anchor just of Betsy Bay and resigned ourselves to put up with the surge.

Mayaguana is the halfway point in the cruising route between Acklins Island and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos. Nothing much here, just a couple of small settlements scattered on the island. In years past Mayaguana housed a complex that was part of the USAF missile-tracking system. The 11,000 foot runway still exists and 7,700 feet of it are still usable today. Betsy Bay sports a 104’ BTC tower and Abrahams Bay has one that towers 175’. Cell communication is the way on the islands.


BETSY BAY'S 104' BTC TOWER
KEEPING THE BAHAMAS CONNECTED!


Enhanced by Zemanta

No comments:

Post a Comment