We were up at 5:30 and away from the dock by 6:15. The first hints of dawn provided enough light to confidently exit the narrow marina channel. Then we met the mailboat, as it was making a u-turn in front of us on its way to North Bimini. We enjoyed a great sunrise as we headed north. Golden light bathed the clouds and ocean and contrasted nicely against the cobalt blue sky. At North Rock we turned east and set our waypoint to guide us across the Great Bahama Bank. We saw very few boats out today. SeaMorr, a 52-foot Nordhavn, snapped this picture of us as they passed by heading west. Love the bow wave.
Around noon, we passed through a band of showers. Crossroads got a needed bath while we closed up the windows, doors, and hatches. After 30 minutes, the sun was back out and we enjoyed a nice, easy day with low winds and small waves. As we approached the Berry Islands the first discernible items on the horizon were three large cruise ships. Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Sky was docked on the back side of Great Stirrup Cay, their private island. Royal Caribbean owns Little Stirrup Cay (aka Coco Cay) and its Allure of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas were docked side by side next to Daredevil's Tower, the tallest waterslide in North America. The passenger capacity of the three ships combined is in excess of 13,200.
We were happy to continue on to Great Harbour Cay and enter through a narrow channel into Bullock's Harbour. This tight, rocky passage reminded us of many miles spent on Canada's Trent-Severn Waterway last year. With a big blow predicted for this weekend, it was no surprise to find a full anchorage. We made our way back to the marina and pulled in just as the "catch" from today's fishing tournament was being weighed behind our slip. While Barry was checking in, I met up with Pete, Fernando, and Judy who are here aboard Spartina. It was great to see the smiling faces of long-time friends from our home marina. Goombay banners were lined up in the grass, and had me going to Carolina In My Mind. Rebekah loves the Bahamian soda so I just had to send her a picture. A few reports came in that it was snowing in Clemmons. There was a dock party and dinner as part of the fishing tournament, but we had dinner onboard, got some chores done, and called it an early night.
We will meet up with Pete, Fernando, and Judy tomorrow morning and tour the island by rental car. I'm hoping to get in a good walk to the beach as well before the weather turns windy and rainy.
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