By Kevin

On January 2nd, 2013 at 8 am in the morning we raised our anchor at Rose Island and set a southeast course for the Exumas island chain 30 miles away.

Our pattern for doing sea legs has become: listen to the Chris Parker weather from 6:30-7:00 am; make a final go/no-go decision for the day; tidy up both down-below and on-deck; raise the dinghy onto the stern davits; pack food and water bottles appropriate for the leg; raise anchor (with me working the windlass and Jennifer on the helm; and, head out.

Typically the kids are both asleep when we leave. We lay out their life jackets and harnesses on the salon seatee and when they wake up they peak their heads up into the cockpit to see where we are. Occassionally, though, the motion is so smooth that they don’t realize we are sailing. This trip was one of those days. 

We had a 30 mile sail ahead of us on the Bahama Banks, which averages only 20 feet of water. It was so glassy calm that we could see individual fish, coral, and marine life at the bottom even while traveling along at 5 knots.

About halfway in-between Nassau and the Exumas is the Yellow and White Banks. These are areas strewn with coral heads. Some are massive and lay just under the surface of the water awaiting the keels of unaware boats. Since our course took us over the southern end of the Yellow Bank, we stationed Madeline and Zach, one on each side of the bow, as lookouts for the 90 minute sail through this dangerous area.

They were on the lookout for what appears to be an oil slick. Black, splotchy water. This is the tell-tale sign of a coral reef sitting under the surface. Usually they are harmless, sitting 10 or more feet deep. But, there are a few that will get you, such as this one that we passed over just a little too closely.

We avoided the coral heads and made good time with the diesel engine and mainsail. We spotted Allens Cay–Land Ho–at 2 pm and were anchored in the nicely protected cove by 3 pm with 8-10 other boats nearby.