We left Bimini with a bit of ugly weather surrounding us, but a forecast that seemed reasonable, with 10 knots of wind and a swell of just one foot. It’s about an 80 mile run over to Chub Cay, so we left after having dinner alongside the Sapona, and set the autopilot for a quick overnighter. As tends to happen when cruising, once the lights go down, the wind and seas come up.
By midnight we were pounding head first into probably a six-foot swell with 25 plus knots on the nose. The boat can certainly handle those conditions, but we weren’t pleased one bit to be at it. The kids slept through most of it, but eventually the slamming got them up, and they spent a couple of early morning hours watching the boat explode through the waves.
We came into Chub Cay in the dark, aiming for the lit buoys, and very nearly sideswiped a big pole of an unlit buoy set further out to sea. We eventually anchored—about five miles short of where we had been headed originally—in the lee of the private island marina resort.
The big swell wrapped around the point, but after setting out a stern anchor we sat nice and comfortable for the next three days as the wind and swell continued. We didn’t go ashore (private beach, and fancy marina), but the kids still managed to spend the majority of their time off the boat—in the water.
Once they were given the okay for jumping off the bow, there was no end to it.
Trying to play outside, but find a place out of the wind.
10 Comments on “Chub Cay”
How wonderful that the kids are at home in the water.
Yes, they are amazing.
25 on the nose at 0-dark-30. Sounds familiar! Why the night passage? Guessing weather window?
Good to see the kids in the water. We’ve had a bit of weather here and kids your age are of course on their screens.
Yes, a weather window that didn’t work. 😉
The kids are on their screens in the morning as they are up a bit before the sun usually, but daytime use is usually not in their cards. They don’t even ask for them.
And another northe blew in last night (Feb17th)
The weather has been ugly since arriving. 19 days, but who’s counting…
Glad to here you guys got out of s Bimini !! We were pinned down there last year , If you are looking a good spot to wait out weather on the way to the Exumas and don’t mind a marina palm cay marina , on the south east side of new province is great ! Have fun !!
Funny someone else just told us about that marina as well. Trying to break out of Nassau today (after dropping $500 bucks yesterday, not including the marina!) it’s time to go. Exumas here we come!
Crossing the Tongue can be exciting. We hit rough seas between Bimini & Chubb. Approached Chubb in dark – came about and wrapped a loosened line around the shaft. Sailed across the point into a darkened anchorage w/o engine. Anchor held and we realized we sailed between boats that did not have mast lights on. Next morning we saw how we came in vs the correct way! Trip to Nassau was better!
The featured picture says it all: blue sky, blue water, warm weather and unbridled joy. Love it! Platano is enjoying her new home. We drove up to Weeki Wachee yesterday to play with the manatee, and Platano received a number of complements. Such a sweet truck. 🙂