Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Great Harbor – Stirrup/Goat Cay

It was a rolly night last night. We’re getting a later start today for Devils/Hoffman Cays. It’s not as far down the chain of islands about 19 miles. But as we hoisted the anchors (9:45am), I was ready to be under way. I was really glad when the engine started right up after not wanting to stop last night.

The cruise ships use Stirrup Cay as their playground. When we came in last night there were 2 cruise ships here, but they were leaving when we pulled in. This morning more replaced the two that left and there were about 20 – 25 jet skis or wave runners (whatever you want to call them) invading our anchorage. Buzzzzz buzzzz, rinnnnn dinnnn dinnnn dinnnn…

Wind Quest hailed Azaya and they’re on their way. I guess they left at midnight, and will rendezvous with us at the Devils/Hoffman anchorage.

Winds and seas are almost on the nose this morning but are supposed to change a little this afternoon. Azaya caught the first fish, and then we caught one. We both caught mackerels, but ours decided that it didn’t want to stay and at the last minute got out of Wayne’s grip and back into the ocean.

 One Mackeral and one Jack of some kind

Azaya caught another fish and thought it was a tuna, then it was our turn. It turned out that we both caught the same kind of fish but we couldn’t identify it with our books. Boy I could use my Sis – Diana’s fish knowledge about now! So we got 3 fish coming into Devils & Hoffman Cays.

Our Jack :)

All three boats pulled in about the same time (Azaya, Wind Quest and us). We dropped anchor in 20 ft at 1:30pm in an area that was kind of “surgy” and I gave a great sigh of relief when the engine turned off at the push of a button! An hour later, we started the engine back up and re-anchored in an area that was calmer in about 6.5 feet. We thought it was about low tide so 6.5 ft should be sufficient. The chart showed it being 8 ft at low tide. Perfect! So after resetting our anchor, we put the dinghy in the water and got the little Colman outboard mounted.

 Oops Long pants instead of shorts

 Me and Wayne

Wayne, Mary and Axel

We visited a couple beaches, collected a few shells, disturbed a sea snake, and watched the sunset over the water – looking for that elusive green flash. We didn’t get one, but enjoyed the beach walk and the sunset.

Our outboard wouldn’t start, so Azaya gave us a tow back from the beach and as we got to the boat, Wayne got our outboard started… Laughing… Oh no! Here we go again…

Once back aboard Kolibrie, I felt a bump, bump, bump… Oh oh… I turned on the instruments. We were bottoming out…6:30pm isn’t it low tide? I checked my notes again… Low tide wasn’t until 7:35pm… I don’t know where I got 4:30 from… I think Mary… Wayne said 6:30pm… Oops that was yesterday’s tides. I think tonight’s then is around 7:40pm… We sat wondering how much further the tides were going to drop and which way we’d heal over… at 7pm it was time for bed for me… Nothing we can do but sit and listen to the sound of scraping in the sand and bumping… We’ll have to re-anchor again in the morning.