After spending a night just outside the Spanish Wells harbor we raised the anchor yesterday morning and started out toward Devil’s Backbone and Harbour Island. Our pilot, Captain Neil, had arrived a few minutes earlier. He pulled his boat alongside Breeze On, stepped aboard, tied his boat and off we went. As he was climbing aboard he handed us a bag of fresh johnnycakes. So nice!
Pilot: Captain Neil Curry 242-557-7575
Captain Neil’s boat.
Before we left Spanish Wells one of the fishing boats passed by. There were three additional smaller boats accompanying it. Each of the smaller boats has a driver and a diver.
As we passed through the Spanish Wells harbor Neil pointed out that the wood piled on Breadwinner II will be used to build the lobster traps or “hotels.” They aren’t actually traps since the lobsters can come and go from them. They are platforms under which the lobsters hide. They will build the traps after leaving the harbor. Each fishing boat places several traps and records the GPS locations. The smaller boats go around to the traps, the diver dives down, lifts the trap, grabs several lobsters, brings them up and tosses them into the boat and repeats the process. They work very fast. Neil worked as a diver for 40 years but now works as a pilot or runs charters.
More wood that will be used to build the traps.
Ridley Head. It does resemble a profile.
The beach is very close.
The dark areas are coral reefs.
The Devil’s Backbone.
Our track.
Shortly after we arrived a turtle swam nearby.
Captain Neil was at the helm and took us through the Spanish Wells harbor. He pointed out the large fishing boats and said they were getting ready to go out and would be gone until the lobster season ends at the end of March. They catch the lobsters down in the Ragged Islands. George and I have seen them down there and have been amazed at how the divers will work in rough seas.
The portion of our trip that is called the Devil’s Backbone is so named because it is quite narrow, with a beach on one side and coral reefs on the other. It was high tide when we were going through there so none of the coral was exposed but we could see the dark color, indicating it was lying beneath the surface. I am glad we had a pilot at the helm for our first time through there. As we were approaching our anchorage Neil slowed the boat, pulled his boat up to Breeze On, hopped aboard, untied his boat and headed back to Spanish Wells to meet his next customer.
The Harbour Island harbor is quite large with several anchorages. We plan to move around according to the wind direction.
Pilot: Captain Neil Curry 242-557-7575
Captain Neil’s boat.
Before we left Spanish Wells one of the fishing boats passed by. There were three additional smaller boats accompanying it. Each of the smaller boats has a driver and a diver.
As we passed through the Spanish Wells harbor Neil pointed out that the wood piled on Breadwinner II will be used to build the lobster traps or “hotels.” They aren’t actually traps since the lobsters can come and go from them. They are platforms under which the lobsters hide. They will build the traps after leaving the harbor. Each fishing boat places several traps and records the GPS locations. The smaller boats go around to the traps, the diver dives down, lifts the trap, grabs several lobsters, brings them up and tosses them into the boat and repeats the process. They work very fast. Neil worked as a diver for 40 years but now works as a pilot or runs charters.
More wood that will be used to build the traps.
Ridley Head. It does resemble a profile.
The beach is very close.
The dark areas are coral reefs.
The Devil’s Backbone.
Our track.
Shortly after we arrived a turtle swam nearby.
Glad you were navigated safely. Interesting professions down there.
ReplyDeleteYes, and the pilots seem to stay VERY busy.
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