Great Harbor Cay, Bahamas (Berry's)

Feb. 10 – Feb. 27

The cold fronts kept coming thru every 3 or 4 days. We are so glad we decided to come into a marina. Everyone keeps saying this is very unusual weather and that the cold fronts usually come every other week. Oh well, we are enjoying ourselves anyway. It’s sunny almost every day with temps. staying in the 70’s.

Jack Nicholas's 125' yacht (Sea Bear). He came into the marina for 3 days to fish. 

We didn't get a chance to see or meet him. 

 

We rented a Tracker and spent one day touring the island, checking out several beaches and the town of Great Harbor. The town boasts 2 grocery stores, a police station, several churches, and restaurants. The grocery stores are the most interesting. Once a week (Weds.) the mail boat comes in with supplies and food so if there is anything you want or need you better get there early or it will be gone.

Cave by Sugar Beach.

Shell Beach

 

Beach Club restaurant.

Jim, Sharon, & Randy at the Beach Club.

 

 

 

Mail boat bringing in supplies.

 

 

Finally after Feb. 22 we started having days with light wind and warmer temps. We took advantage of the weather and took the dinghy out exploring the area checking out some neighboring Cays, walking the beaches, snorkeling, & fishing. One area, called Shark Creek, took us thru a very narrow cut thru the mangroves, where we found dozens of sea turtles and ended up at a beautiful beach.

 

Shark Creek.

 

Spotted stingray (about 5' wide tip to tip).

We are really getting into the island life. Mon. is potluck night, Tues. Happy Hour by the pool bar, Wed. boche ball, Fri. “Chill & Grill” (for $10 you can buy a meal which is grilled by a local and you bring your drinks while you wait for the food).

 

"Junk a Roo" (locals dress up and play drums and bells) during one of the Chill n Grills.  

 

 

Alice Town, Biminis to Great Harbor Cay, Berry's

Jan. 29 – Feb. 9

We left Biminis, crossed the Great Bahamas Bank (very large shallow body of water between the Bahamas Islands) anchoring for one night, then moved on to Frazer's Hog Cay, Berry's. Once there the winds picked up so we stayed on anchor for 4 days. The Berry's are made up of lots of Islands (Cays) stringing from north to south. The Atlantic Ocean is located on the east side where all boats travel. If you stay about a half mile off shore you will be in several thousand feet of water. The west side of these Cays (which is part of the Bahamas Bank) is very shallow with 90% of it being too shallow for boats to cruise in. The other 10% is where we tuck into behind Cays and anchor to get off the deep Atlantic and hide if there is any wind.

Chub Cay, Berry Islands, Bahamas

Frazers Hog Cay anchorage.

 

 

After Frazers Hog Cay we moved north and anchored among a cluster of Cays, the largest 2 called Hoffmans and Devils Cays. Once again the winds picked up so we stayed put. Most of these Cays are uninhabited and have white sandy beaches where we can take the dinghy. The water here is so clear at 14 feet its like looking thru a window. After beaching the dinghy on one Cay we took a walk thru the vegetation to what’s called a Blue Hole. A Blue Hole is a water filled sinkhole with the entrance below sea level. They can be formed by rainwater soaking thru fractures of limestone bedrock.

Coast line between Frazers Hog Cay & Hoffmans Cay.

Hoffmans Cay anchorage.

Stingray

Blue Hole, Hoffmans Cay.

Trail to Blue Hole.

 

After several more days of windy weather we decided it was time to move to a marina. We pulled up anchor and moved 35 miles north to Great Harbor Cay marina. Since the forecast is calling for more cold fronts (which bring on the winds) we may stay here for a month. Now don’t feel too sorry for us when I say “cold front”. A cold front here might be windy, but the temperatures are still in the 70’s.

Crossing the Banks to Great Harbor Cay. (water is 12' deep)

Entrance to Great Harbor marina.