2025-12-14 Rain in the Bahamas

Sunday was calm, but we knew the weather was changing, so we made plans to move.   Before we did, there was one more thing Dean wanted to check out, which were some swings out on a sandbar surrounded by deeper water.   We decided to dinghy over, even though it was high tide, so we knew the swings would not be on dry sand.   We were not expecting 4’ of water, though.

Dean is standing on the bottom

It's hard to get into a swing that is 4' tall above ground

 Dean got in and got on the swing, but getting back in the dink was a chore, as with no flippers or ladders, it was all upper body strength.  Didn’t help that Kris was laughing the whole time, making him laugh as well.  It was a good trip, even though swinging was out of the question.

Back at the boat, we got cleaned up and motored over to Royal Island, which has a nice protected harbor for all wind directions.  Found a good spot to anchor.  Spent two nights at Royal Island, just doing nothing.  Winds started from the southwest, and did a complete 360 over the two days.  We also had some rain, so Dean put up our rain catcher during the rainstorm and got soaking wet, but got a bit of water into the tanks.

We saw that NE winds were forecast from all 5 weather models for Tuesday, so we decided to sail down to Hatchett Bay.   All 5 weather models wrong, and had to motor into the winds for 3 hours to get there.  The entrance into Hatchett Bay is narrow, so always a bit stressed motoring in, but all was fine.

We did get shifting winds Wednesday, but also more rain.   Rain on Wednesday night and rain on Thursday morning.  The tanks are full, and we even ran the laundry to use up some water.  We have never seen this much rain in the Bahamas.  

Rain coming down in Hatchett Bay

We got off the boat Thursday afternoon and walked over to the beach.

Signpost by road in Hatchett Bay

Nice beach on the east side

Quite large surf from the strong offshore winds

Cut into Hatchett bay, from Hatchett Bay side

 

Friday we motored 7 miles down to Alabaster Bay.  Winds were forecast to be ENE so we anchored in the northern part of the bay.   Went for a nice long walk over to the abandoned naval station.  Not as abandoned, as they have a desalination plant running there now.   We were last there in April 2022.  Not much has changed, buildings even more run down.  Nice walk.   

 

Run down buildings

Overgrown roads

Nice beach with super soft sand

Nice sandy beach and pretty coast

Trees overtaking the buildings

The forecast was wrong again, and winds slightly south of east, so not a flat calm night, but not bad either.   Saturday we had for the first time in the Bahamas a nice sail.  Even put a reef in.  Sailed from Alabaster Bay to Rock Sound.  Forgot how the boat could really get up and move – hitting 8 knots frequently on the sail, with apparent winds around 60 degrees, and winds 15 to 18 knots.  Averaged 7.7 knots for the 30-mile sail.

Found a nice anchor spot, and relaxed the rest of the day.  More rain forecast, so Dean put up the rain catcher - that should stop the rain if past history is any indication.  We will stay here a bit, maybe get some projects done, as winds are forecast to be quite brisk until next Wednesday or Thursday.