Berries to Nassau to Allen Cay

Piere showing the kids a starfish

We managed to pick up a mooring ball at the Berry Island club for the second night, and other than being awaken by the ball hitting the side of the boat when the tide shifted, everything was good.  We had a glass of wine with out Belgian friends, and said goodbye for now, they have elected to stay another night, something about lobster for $18.

We started off sailing from the Berry Islands on a close beat with Falco, almost like a race, it was a lot of fun even though he ended up rolling us after about an hour, We started off in the lead and ended in second place ( out of two) The rest of the trip to Nassau but the wind was a little too south easterly, and we ended up motor sailing the whole way.  Falco was an hour ahead of us by the time we got to Nassau, but the harbor was closed because two enormous cruise ships we exiting(Lucas was probably the root cause of that issue).  We waited outside the harbor for about an hour and then made our way to Nassau Yacht Haven.  It is a little rough, which is the same as everything we saw on New Providence.  We when and did the tourist shops and tried to get our immigration status updated from the 30days they gave us.  No luck other than the taxi driver who took us for $40 bucks.

We made several trips to the grocery, and got the boat ready for the trip to the Exumas.  Then we had a surprise for the girls.  We left Nassau Yacht Haven for the Paradise Island  Marina at Atlantis.  The kids on Falco enjoyed the same treat.  It was really one of the bargains (if you call a bunch of $100 bills a bargain).  So far at $4/foot/night, which is about $180 a night, but tickets to the Atlantis were included for everyone.  They cost $105 each if you go to the counter and buy them.  The place is truly spectacular, and we enjoyed a couple of relating days intermingled with terrifying rides.  The wave pool was not as dramatic as our night sleeping on the Great Bahamas Bank.  They printed the name of the boat on the “room key” so the staff kept saying things like “Have a nice day Mr. Diamond”.

We left Atlantis at about eight, stopping to get fuel on the way.  Half way across the harbor the chart plotter went out completely, just like it had when we delivered the boat from Mobile to Houston a year and a half ago.  Then the fog rolled in and we could not see 1/8 of a mile.  We called the Nassau Harbor Club to get a slip so that we could make repairs.  They were really busy so while we were floating outside, I used some magic electrical spray on the connections to the chart plotter and wala, problem fixed.  We decided to press on as the fog was not as bad.  We exited cautiously but about 5 miles out I heard a noise and a 70 –80 foot tourist boat doing about 35knots came straight at us out of the fog.  He turned at the last minute and missed us by about 75 feet.   That put the fear of god into me, I stayed glued to the Radar after that.

Halfway between Nassau and the Exumas is a series of coral head, and we got there at noon just like the books say.  It was a non-event, only had to steer around one.  The anchorage at Allen Key was fairly crowed, and there is significant current requiring two anchors, and still within yards of rocks.  We went and saw the Iguanas on the beach, which is big tourist attraction for those from Nassau in the season.  I am glad we are not in the season. 

Emily called a friend on skype