Current Cut and Royal Harbor

4/25/16    To 25 30.938N,    76 50.617W    Royal Harbor    38.6NM

We were underway shortly after 0700 and soon had the sails up, heading for Current Cut, the short, narrow passage out of the Bight of Eleuthera.  According to Active Captain, the best time to transit the cut is 1 1/2 hours after the Nassau tides times, with today's high at 1030.  Two boats were already sailing toward the cut a couple of miles ahead of us.  The wind was a bit more to the E than forecast, giving us an easy reach under full sail, heading to our way point a bit S of the cut. 

Sunrise at Governor's Harbor

We've been lucky this trip, getting better winds for sailing than in the past.  It's nice to record the fuel tank still hovering around the 'F' mark when I enter our daily statistics in the log.  We last took on diesel and water at the Exuma Yacht Club in Georgetown 2 weeks ago, and have traveled 215.6NM.  We've done well conserving water too, 2 weeks on one of the side tanks is the longest we've managed, which is impressive since we take daily 'Navy showers'.  True, we filled the solar shower and several 2 liter bottles when we took on water, but I keep expecting to hear the water pump announce that the tank is dry.  We should be good until we get back to the states with full port side and bow tanks.

Cupid's Cay at Governor's Harbor as we head for Current Cut

We listened as the boats head of us discussed 'the cut', the first one reporting an easy passage with a couple of kts of counter current when they went through around 1130.  The wind went light around noon, so, we motor sailed briefly to keep us more or less on schedule to arrive around 1400.  We watched the 2nd boat make the turn along the shore and then head into the cut as we approached.  Given how quickly they passed through the cut, Leonard had our arrival well timed.  When we went through, we were doing 8 kts over the ground, with the main up and drawing and the engine ticking over, just in case (knot meter was reading 5.3kts).  It's much shorter than Elliot's Cut S of Charleston, but the bight approach is full of sand banks with a few narrow channels, and the current rips through when the tide is running.  The deep draft channel approach is along a cay, with a 90 degree dogleg once you reach the channel.  It took less than 10 minutes to pop through, but it would be miserable fighting a 5 kts of current.

It's about 10NM to Royal Harbor once through the cut, so we ran the jib out and sailed.  I started a batch of bread after we cleared the cut and had lunch.  The wind piped up a few notches and blew a bit more NE just after I started, and I can attest to the fact that it's difficult to knead dough while heeled to port (galley up).  With only a few miles left to go, we dropped the main, making my task a bit easier and not slowing us significantly.

Dock remnants and ruins at Royal Island

By 1500, we'd joined 6 like minded sailors, already tucked into one of the nicest harbors in the Bahamas. Three more had arrived by dusk.  Over the years, there's been reports of a resort project  that would close the harbor for anchoring.  Like most projects in the Bahamas, it's a slow process, taking years (decades).  The original estate ruins are still visible, along with the crumbling dock on the N side of the harbor.  Another dock, for the work boats and supplies has been built in the SW corner of the harbor, and there is evidence of some construction underway, but not that much different than on our last 2 times here.  On our original trip, we went ashore and explored the ruins and part of the island while we waited for a weather window.  With the dinghy on the deck, we opted to spend a lazy afternoon on board, anticipating an early morning departure for the hop to the Abacos.

Back in Port Henry, NY there is what the locals call a 'Frankentree', a cell tower disguised as an over sized tree.  It's actually kind of interesting and even up close, resembles a tree.  In the Bahamas, I've been noticing Norfolk Island pines towering above trees, but they're just that, pine trees (and cell towers, while not as many as in the States, look like cell towers).  As we left Governor's Harbor I spotted a huge palm, towering head and shoulders over the ridge that sure looked like a 'Frankenpalm" and I couldn't resist taking a picture.  I should have taken pictures of the pines too!

Palm or 'Frankenpalm'?

Looks like a quiet night with the anchor well set and 12-15kts of E wind.  We'll do a last minute weather update to confirm what looks to be a good window with no recent storms to cause a significant swell for the 65NM run up to the Sea of  Abaco.

Lynnea