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.