Spanish Wells to Marsh Harbour

Before departing Spanish Wells, we refueled and topped up the water tank.  I had checked a couple days before and was told that diesel was $5.00 per gallon, but they had an increase by the time we were ready to leave so we paid $5.42 a gallon for 86 gallons. Still not too bad as it was the first fuel we had bought since Nassau in January.

Crossing the Northeast Providence Channel from Eleuthera Island to Great Abaco Island the water is over 4000 meters deep in some parts.  Deep water allows for big waves, so we picked a good weather window for the 50 mile crossing.

Picture by Sari and Pete on Coyote

Sari and Pete were kind enough to share this picture they snapped as Serenity went by them.  We had been motor sailing with 10 knots on the beam making 7.6  knots.  The wind then started diminishing and clocking aft.  As this picture was snapped, I am dousing the head sail to prepare for dousing the mizzen then rig for wing and wing using a whisker pole on the head sail.  Pete said when he first noticed us on AIS we were three miles behind him, but when we turned in at Little Harbour, we were three miles ahead of their Catalina 320.  They ended up in the slip next to us at Mangoes in Marsh Harbour.  Pete asked, “What size engine is in that boat!”

After a fast and comfortable crossing, we anchored behind Lynyard Cay (26 22.65N/76 59.64W). Evidently this a popular anchorage for boats crossing between Eleuthera and the Abacos as there were about 10 other boats in the anchorage including Wind Dust, a Nauticat 44 we met in Spanish Wells.

Our next stop was Marsh Harbour. Because the Abacos are close to Florida, one gets the feeling that you are returning to civilization. Unlike the previous islands, we now have a choice of restaurants, grocery stores, and marine supplies.

At the recommendation of some cruisers we met in Cape Eleuthera, we checked in at Mangoes Marina, and found it to be a charming “boutique” marina.

Only one dock

Small pool

Because I had received an email pointing out that Serenity’s teak was looking a little ratty, we gave her a thorough cleaning and recoated the rails and doors with SEMCO.

This is the first place where water wasn’t 45 cents per gallon, so we took advantage of it.  Following our scrubbing, Mother Nature hit it with 50 knot winds and buckets of rain water.