Moving to the Exuma's

Sunday, April 29, 2018 - Day 18


Departure Time: 9:59 AM
Arrival Time: 12:45 PM
Travel Time: 2 hour 38 minutes
Trip Distance: 36.7 NM
Winds: 5-10
Seas: Yellow Bank – 1-2 foot waves, this made it fairly easy to see the large coral heads.  Our route this time seemed good as we had very few coral heads to navigate around even though we ended up crossing at a low tide.

Average Speed: 13.9 kts.
Max. Speed: 31.7 kts.

Alibi - Patrick and Laura Magers

Upon arrival in Highbourne we unloaded our dinghy’s and headed for the beach on the north end of the island, Horseshoe Bay. 

Monday, April 30, 2018 – Day 19

We packed a lunch, drinks, our mask and snorkel and headed back to Horseshoe Beach to spend the day enjoying the beach, snorkeling and just relaxing at the cabana.  


Upon returning from the beach we met up with another group of 5 boats from Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach.  This group call themselves – the Gamers.  Among them was Tony (and Karen), owner of Pincher’s Restaurants, Texas Tony’s and Deep Lagoon.  His boat name is Lazy Eye. 

That evening Mike Spiller from Mary Alice played another concert/comedy night on Mary Alice and we were joined by many others who enjoyed the music and comedy filled evening. 

Tuesday, May 1, 2018 – Day 20

The weather is extremely windy and the seas on the Atlantic side are at least 7-8 feet.  After a morning of everyone doing odds and ends, we all managed to either bike (Mike, Kerry and Rob), walk (Sandy and Jerry) or use a golf cart (Whit, Mary Ann, Debbie and Sandy) to check out the island by land from end to end.  We visited the power plant, herb gardens, turkeys and goats along with the ****.  I was really surprised at the new furniture, garbage bins, really clean grounds, umbrellas on the beach and in general the island has really been cleaned up and much of it new.  The hurricane must have really helped in the long run for this location. 

Wednesday, May 2, 2018 – Day 21

We were supposed to go to Warderick Wells and the National Park.  The weather is so windy and the seas on the outside are 7-9 plus and 3-4 feet on the inside.  Given the option we would spend another day or two here in Highbourne but they are full so we have to move on.  Staying on a mooring at the park for two nights in this wind does not really appeal to any of us.  In addition, due to the wind many people are not leaving the park so there are not enough moorings for us in the main mooring field at Headquarters.  We could get in at Cambridge Cay but we have never been there before and it is very close to Compass Cay marina.  I called Compass to see if we could get in a couple of days early.  As luck would have it, there were slips available so we decided to move to Compass two days early rather than chance finding our way through the shallows and islands to Cambridge Cay only to stay out on a mooring in 25-30 knot winds. 

Depart Highbourne:  9:24 AM

Arrive Compass:  12:30 PM

Travel Time: 2 hours 55 minutes

Travel Distance:  41.2 NM

Winds: E 20-25 with gusts recorded of 36 knots

Seas:  Varied depending on how close to the islands we could get around the shoals.  In some locations the seas were pushing 3-5 feet and close together.  

Avg speed 14.1 knots

Max speed 28.7 knots

Due to the sea conditions we spent quite a bit of time jockeying trying to find smoother water, especially for our friends in the Plucke Baum (house boat).  It was also a very difficult day for Alibi (the sailboat), their cruising speed is 7 knots and with the winds they were not able to put up sails and in fact when the front sail came partially deployed it made it almost impossible to control the direction of the boat.  They were not able to fix the sail at sea so they traveled about half the distance with a “floppy” sail.  Patrick Mager did an amazing job but this caused them a nine and a half (9.5) hour cruise in what should have been about 4 hours. 

Mary Ann and Debbie provided dinner for the evening.  It was served up on Argonaut.  

Thursday, May 3, 2018 – Day 22

The group was anxious to get the dinghies out and make their way to Staniel Cay for lunch.  The Howard’s and Connie Spiller also needed to make some departure arrangements.  Connie planned on flying home for a wedding on June 2^nd so she needed to know where she could fly out of and then also make arrangements fly back into Harbour Island to meet back up with us.  The Howard’s had previously arranged for their son’s and a friend to meet them in Staniel Cay but still needed to make slip arrangements and decide on whether they wanted to reserve a golf cart.   So although it was not the best of sea days, we all headed to Staniel Cay in our dinghies.  although many of us got quiet wet from spray. All of the plans were made, we ha It was a little rough where the Exuma Sound was open to the islands but it was all manageable a delightful lunch and headed back to Compass. 

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

Staniel Dinghy Docking

That was not enough riding for some so we decided to go to Rachael's Bubble Bath while the Exuma Sound waves were high (7-10 feet).  Everyone who went seemed to have a good time and enjoyed this unique swimming hole. 

Rachael's Bubble Bath

After dinner everyone enjoyed feeding the sharks from Marlin Striker. 

Friday, May 4, 2018 – Day 23

Rain, rain and more rain.  The wind has been endless the last few days so the morning was very slow and everyone did their own thing.  The girls spent the afternoon playing Mexican Train Domino again.

The group was invited to cocktails by Bill and Sharon Nuckolls the owner of La Sirena.  Bill was originally from Tennessee (now living in New Smyrna Florida) and was amazed that the Spillers brought their house boat to the Bahamas.  So through Mike we all got an invitation onto his boat. 

Connie and Sandy provided dinner.  What a nice treat not to have to prepare anything. Thank you. 

Saturday, May 5, 2018 – Day 24 (Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo)

Our hearts and sincere sympathies go out to Rob (and Kerry) Howard and all of his family of the passing of his brother, David Howard. 

Each of us spent the morning in our dinghy's just checking out the islands and riding around on our own.  In the afternoon, we met up with the group from La Sirena and EVERYONE went swimming with the sharks. 

Easing into the idea of swimming with Nurse sharks.

Kerry Howard pets a shark

Jerry Houlder

The entire marina here at Compass joined into a party night.  Each boat signed up to bring a dish to pass and following the dinner party, Mike Spiller provided music on the docks. The Viking, La Sirena and crew cam to join us by boat (in the background).