BIG waves

BIG waves

Sunday 30th and Monday 31st March, 2025

Over the last two days, we have been moving Northeast through the Ragged Island.  Our plan is to position the boat ready to cross the “Comer Channel” on Tuesday April 1st (no this is not a joke). Previously we had been waiting out several days of very strong winds.  By Saturday night it was clear that conditions were moderating, so we planned to start moving on Sunday.  We have been traveling on the Great Bahama Bank.  Our expectation was that we might have to dodge some shallow areas but otherwise expected mellow conditions.  Talk about making assumptions!  When we started our 35 mile journey on Sunday, we were behind Raccoon Key and things seemed pretty mild.  We unfurled the genoa but thought we weren’t moving along that well.  We prepared to raise the mainsail, but by the time we got the sail cover off, we were making 6.2 knots.  We elected not to raise the mainsail.  As we progressed, the seas started to build and went right on growing larger with a short period.  Careful scrutiny of the paper chart indicated that large breaking waves could be encountered in this area when strong winds opposed the tide.  Naturally, we were on a falling tide—water flowing off the banks to the east, while the winds was blowing 15-18 kts. from the east!  Yep, we were seeing those large waves and plenty of whitecaps. After six hours, we anchored off Flamingo Cay.  

After lunch, we dropped the dinghy in the water (observing a sizable shark circling the boat), got the engine on the dinghy and motored off to explore a cave.  Some other boaters had mentioned it, claiming the cave was large enough to dinghy into and look around.   Sure enough we got inside and anchored the dinghy.  Mike hopped out into the water with his camera and clambered about getting photos.  Back on Cotinga, we showered (electing not to swim with the shark!) and got ready to join Benge and Debbie on Makarios.  Paul and Jo from Arabella also joined us.  There was a bit of swapping stories of our travels, some delicious snacks and an enjoyable evening.  Once we got back to our boat, we realized that there was an increasing sideways roll that we weren’t really enjoying.  It was seasick meds and off to bed.

In the morning, our buddy boats took off from the anchorage pretty early.  Probably they were motivated by a desire to escape the rolling anchorage AND avoid more wind over tide.  We elected to go for a walk on shore traversing to the east side of the island to enjoy a lovely beach.  Conditions did not seem to have improved now that we were past high tide.  We pulled up the anchor and set out.  Almost immediately we were back in the steep waves.  If anything the waves seemed larger than yesterday, although it’s possible our direction of travel was having an influence.  We were glad that this jaunt was only twelve miles.  Now we are anchored behind Water Cay, part of the Jumentos Islands.  I’m not entirely looking forward to the trip up to and across the “Comer Channel” tomorrow.  In theory, the wind is going to be 12-20 knots from the southeast.  That’s more breeze than we would like but waiting for calmer conditions would mean another week here in the Ragged/Jumentos Islands.  With food and water getting scare, it’s time to get moving.   

Gloria

23 01.746 N, 75 42.958 W

Arabella sailing up the banks from Raccoon Cay to Flamingo Cay (It was rougher than the photos appear)

The entrance to the cave on the west side of Flamingo Cay

Gloria and the 'Dainty Dog' inside the cave

Ditto

Anchored off Flamingo Cay - it looks beautiful ... it is beautiful, but by Monday morning it was miserably rolly

A gorgeous beach on the far side of Flamingo Cay ... still protected by some outer reefs

A wide angle panorama of the beach on the far side of Flamingo Cay

A short video of Arabella sailing up the banks from Raccoon Cay to Flamingo Cay (a 35 nm passage)