Nassau to Norman's Cay

Date: Monday, Jan 20, 2020                        

Arrival Time: 1630 ET, Jan 19                       

Location:  Norman’s Cay

Weather:  69-78               

Sea State:  3-4 ft seas, Jan 19; Flat seas Jan 20

Destination Tomorrow:  sit tight for weather

Engine Hours:  1463                                                        

Crew:  Ruth and Greg    

Mileage Log:  1296

Aviva

Comments:  We pulled up anchor from Nassau, West Bay, at 0645, yesterday.  The Albany Marina, on the south side of Nassau, about 3 miles SE, opens their fuel dock at 0800.  We pulled into the dock at that time and were greeted by a very nice attendant.  The Albany Marina tends to super yachts so I expected to be treated feebly; however, that was not the case.  Joe Lewis, not the boxer, has his 300+ foot yacht, Aviva, anchored outside the marina but his 200 footer is inside.  Aviva’s tender (pictured) is a 43 foot powerboat.

This boy didn't come to play

The 45 miles across the bank to Norman’s Cay went smoothly until we were attacked by a 4 ft barracuda.  He hit the green skirted lure pretty viciously making the reel scream.  I first thought it to be a wahoo, which would have fed us for a week.  The barracuda fought me and when I realize his 1 inch teeth were resting near, and a snap away from my knuckles while trying to remove the hook, I decided to cut the line and let him have it.  I did manage to keep the skirt.  We pulled into the channel on the south side of Norman’s Cay near 1630. 

With another norther arriving Tuesday night and bringing 30 knot winds, we thought we would leave for Warderick Wells in the Exuma Land and Sea Park this morning.  However, before we exited the channel and knowing there is much to see at Norman’s, we decided to drop anchor on the NW side of the channel and stay.  (Slow Down, Greg!)

A few hundred yards from our new anchorage is the sunken wrecked plane of former drug lord Carlos Lehder.  It seems one of his pilots missed the runway.  We snorkeled the plane then dinked to the west side of the island for lunch at MacDuff’s, the only restaurant on the island.  After walking the beach, we jumped back into the dinghy and back through the channel to the east side of the island.  From there we went north, then through the cut into Norman’s Pond.  The pond, known to be a hurricane hole, is a large body of water in the middle of the island.  It is extremely beautiful! We spent time there walking the beaches and exploring the caves. 

We’re hoping to pull up anchor and turn south into the Land and Sea Park, just a few miles away, as early as mid-day Thursday.  Until then we’ll continue to enjoy Norman’s.