Many Changes at Chub Cay

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

The trip from Faro Blanco Marina in Marathon to Chub Cay, Bahamas was very enjoyable.  The seas were mostly 2-3 feet and easy traveling.  We watched the thunderstorms on radar come across from Ft. Lauderdale area and chase us most of the way across Mackie Shoal. Luckily the storm stalled out some when it hit the Bahama bank.  We also watched the storms hang just east of Chub all afternoon. We made it into Chub and got fuel long before the storms finally arrived at about 9:30PM.  Once the thunderstorms arrived it rained heavily all night.  This worked well for us as the boat got a good washing and we did not have to do it and we did not have to use our water.  Mother Nature was good to us.  For those of you who may be unaware, water in the Bahamas is 40 cents a gallon or we need to use our water maker and make it.  Thus we consider water at a premium either way.

Depart - 6:30 AM

Arrive - 3:20 PM

Trip - 194.1 NM

Wind - E-SE 5-10

Seas - 2-3 feet

Average Speed - 25.6 kts,  Max. Speed - 28.4 kts.

Thursday, May 5th  A day of rest and relaxation

Chub Cay is really thriving since the last time we were here.  Mr. George Bishop recently completed the purchase of the whole island.   Mr. Bishop is a Texas billionaire who is the founder and chief executive of GeoSouthern Energy Corporation.  Mr. Bishop sold his interest in Devon Energy for $6 billion in cash when he started looking for a place to invest.  George purchased most of the private houses on the island along with all of the other facilities including the 110 slip marina. The large building by the beach is rapidly being finished as the Clubhouse with a new bar, restaurant and lodging upstairs.  There are several new one room bungalows in a the open are between the beautiful Marina and the beach.  It is estimated that Mr. Bishop will invest $38.6 million dollars into Chub Cay.




The Clubhouse





New Bungalows' on the beach



Walkway to Rental Units


Mr. Bishops boat is the C'mon Man.  There are many more boats here than our last visit.  The boats include Wheels and Reel Wheels, in which pizza Toni's former employee Aly is now employed.  Wheels is Hendricks Marine (Sports), it is a 2009, 139 foot vessel.  Reel Wheels is the 75 foot sport fish tender. 

Wheels and Reel Wheels

C'mon Man

Chub Cay is about 800 acres located at the southernmost tip of the Berry Islands of the Bahamas.  It is located about 35 miles west of Nassau and 125 miles from South Florida.   

We really enjoyed Wendy, head of customer relations and her husband,  who is the General Manager. They are very excited about the growth of Chub and I must say we have never seen a more beautiful and well done Marina.  For our boating friends, the smallest slip is 60 feet, the main walkways are 15' and the fingers are 8'.  All concrete Bellingham concrete docks.  The Harbour is also quite protected from storm surge.