We left Big Majors Friday for a short, very pleasant sail to the anchorage at the abandoned DECCA Station on Pipe Cay. We don’t know what DECCA stands for but it apparently served as a navigation system post World War II, prior to the advent of LORAN. The abandoned transmitter towers are still there and resemble large channel markers.
While we explored the nearby beach we met Franciose from the only other boat in the anchorage. He told us that the snorkeling off of a point at the northern end of the anchorage was good. We were able to pull the dinghy into a small shallow cove nearby and put on our snorkel gear while standing in the shallow water. The snorkeling was fantastic, with numerous fish of many colors and varieties. Several were fish we had never seen before. Franciose had also invited us to join him and his partner onshore at sunset for a bonfire. However, by the time we returned from snorkeling, showered, and ate dinner we ran out of time.
The next day we enjoyed another great sail further up the Exuma chain to Shroud Cay. There we planned to meet Tony, who had purchased Dawn and Ray’s boat, Azzurra, four years ago. It just so happened that Tony and his fiancé, Sharon, had planned at brief trip to the Bahamas at the same time of Dawn and Ray’s visit with us. Azzurra looked so pretty as we approached her sitting in the anchorage. After we dropped anchor Dawn and Ray took the dinghy to Azzurra to visit and tour their former boat. Early the next morning Tony & Sharon came over for coffee and muffins before whisking Dawn and Ray off in Tony’s fast center console dinghy for a ride through a mangrove creek. After they reached the other side of the island they walked along the beach and climbed up to Camp Lookout. It is said that US federal agents used this spot to spy on drug runners at Normans Cay. In any case, the view is beautiful. George and I took the dinghy ride and hike last year so while they were gone we ran the water maker. The timing was perfect, we had just finished when they returned. Tony later hailed us on the radio to tell us about a fresh water well a short hike from the nearby beach. Buckets and ropes are provided so that you can use the water to rinse off. We spent some time swimming at the small, gorgeous beach and watching a small school of fish following us around. George and Ray took the dinghy to search for potential snorkeling sites but did not find any that would allow us to swim from a shallow beach.
This morning we raised the anchor early and sailed over to Palm Cay Marina on New Providence Island just south of Nassau. The wind had picked up over night and we had quite a brisk sail over lumpy water. Our average speed was 7 knots. It was quite a challenge to get into the slip with an 18 knot cross wind but we managed without going sideways or banging up the boat. Tonight is Dawn and Ray’s last night with us. We will play a few more games of Mexican Train and eat at the marina restaurant to celebrate a great week.
Dawn and Ray
Azzurra at anchor
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