February 28 - March 1, 2009 -- Buckaroon Bay, Abacos

We made the “big” crossing (51.5 miles) from Eleuthera to the Abacos, leaving the “far” Bahamas for the “near” Bahamas. The seas were 6 foot, moderate rolling swells. We passed several sailboats headed the same direction, and several heading the opposite direction. There are charted “highways” in the ocean, where traffic concentrates.

We passed through the Little Harbor Cut, into the protected waters of the Sea of Abaco. Now, after being in water over three miles deep in the ocean, we were in six feet of water!

The passes from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sea of Abaco are often very rough – and sometimes dangerous – when the wind direction is unfavorable. We had an easy entry in favorable winds. Wise boaters wait for favorable conditions to transit these, and are aided by the daily morning “cruisers net” radio broadcast, which covers weather, sea states, international news, and local community and business announcements.

We found a calm anchorage in Buckaroon Bay, after staying clear of the prominent sandbar, which had a Moorings charter sailboat stuck on it, high and dry, awaiting high tide for an embarrassed exit.

Our only other companion upon anchoring was a catamaran sailboat, with no civilization visible ashore. We were glad to have made the safe passage in the Atlantic Ocean, as in the night the wind piped up and is predicted to continue strong for a week.