To Abaco

To Abaco or not to Abaco was never the question. Late start from SC with  Ernie up in VT until the first week of March, traveling down the coast, then just getting down to Exumaville would have taken all the available time we had, leaving no time to smell the flowers. We have lived with a June1 north of FL border insurance halo in the backs of our minds and it affects our plans. Next year will be our Exuma year with an earlier start.

From Bullocks Harbor on the northern end of the Berry Island group, we plotted out courses for heading out westerly around Memory Rock, then coming back east to the Abaco Island chain, as well as the eastward option around Southwest Point on Grand Abaco Island. At first blush, Southwest Point is the southeastern point of Grand Abaco. Maybe whomever named it was facing backwards and got their east/west turned around..( I digress to mention that I know someone , a boating pointman, who would cross up his port and starboard when he faced aft, back in the 1980 timeframe. LOL). Ah, but the spoiler, there really is another piece of rock even more easterly that is named Southern Point. Still looks odd to see Southwest Pt on the charts!

Beating easterly overnight got a bit rough as the wind developed over 25knots. With small gib and reefed main we went further faster than our projection. Rather than venture out to rough seas early and in full darkness, we opted to head backward 8 miles in the lee of SW Pt then 180 back around and head around Southwest Pt in the predawn light. We stuck our nose out around the corner, said "nope", and did an about face. We had passed a shallow bay whereby we'd have easterly protection for the rest of the night/day and there we fell asleep.

Today is much more civilized and we're able to sail up to our next anchorage. 

Ozzie gets a much deserved break and Ernie's on the helm.