After over three weeks of being anchored in one spot, we were forced to move on Thursday due to the weather forecast. The same storm that dumped snow across Texas, Louisiana, and Florida trailed an intense cold front into the Bahamas. Our "weather guru" stated that the track of the low was very unusual, and he had not seen a low track so far south in the past decade. So, THE CREW really paid attention to the predicted gale force winds and squalls packing 50 + knot gusts (think about driving your car at 60 miles per hour and sticking your head out of the window that's what a 501knt squall feels like !! ) So, we did the prudent thing and moved Persephone across the harbor to Crab Cay. The charts show that the natural harbor at Crab Cay has depths of only 3 feet (we need 6 ½ to float) BUT, a marina had been started on Crab but never completed..what they did accomplish, however, was to dredge the cove down to depths of 9-16 feet !! This change is not shown on the charts. This is not a picturesque spot do to the abandon construction site for the marina, but it is very snug. Of the couple of hundred boats here at George Town, only FIVE boats came to Crab to weather the blow. Apparently, they believed their charts !!
We spent several hours yesterday (Friday) preparing for the weather, including setting our "back up" anchor. So, we had two anchors in the water to share the load in high winds of shifting directions. All the boats in our anchorage did the same, as we all helped each other set the second anchors. (The second anchor has to loaded into a dinghy, and the rode (rope) is let out while the dinghy takes the anchor and rode out at a 45 degree angle to the first about 150 feet and then dropped.) It is a three person operation to set the additional anchor; so help from other cruisers is really appreciated.
As for the blow, it was a fizzle. It came through Saturday morning at 4 am, with the predicted wind shift, but it blew "only" 25+ knots. The squall lasted about 20 minutes with tropical, driving rain..just enough to wash the decks. Gotta love non-events !! We peeked out, saw we were riding nicely, and went back to bed..the cove was nearly flat calm, as the wind whistled through the rigging. GREAT spot to weather a blow !!
We just hung out yesterday, doing some boat projects. Much of the day was spent deciding / planning what and where we were going to next. We have been in G/T now for one month and it is time to make plans for moving on. More to follow...
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