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June 18, 2005
N24.2 W76.3 Warderick Wells Cay, Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park
About 10 miles from Warderick Wells Cay, we called the park on the VHF radio to request a mooring (no anchoring in the park). They assigned us #3 in the south mooring field.
The cut is very difficult to find, and without our electronic charts we doubt we ever would have found it. As we entered through the cut, “Bonnie” called us on the radio to offer some advice. He asked if we could turn 53 feet of boat around in a narrow channel. We would have to pick up the mooring facing into the current, which was running north against us. No problem. Dave bragged on the radio about our bow thruster. Chis was on the bow with the boat hook, ready to pick up the mooring. Dave spun the boat around and put it right over the mooring. So close, that the mooring pennant was swept under the boat by the strong current, and proceeded to wrap itself neatly around the bow thruster. At least twice.
Albert from “Bonnie” hopped in his dinghy, and tied a second line to the mooring to secure us from drifting. Dave popped on snorkeling gear and went under the boat to unwrap the pennant from the bow thruster. The current was so strong, he could barely swim against it, with fins on. Successfully unwound from the pennant, Chis suggested we check the bow thruster for damage. Sure enough, the propeller was gone. Stupid bow thruster.
Dave will never brag about the bow thruster again.
We invited Albert, his partner, Linda, and their friend Gary, over to Platina for a couple of drinks at sundown. Lovely people, very helpful. We hope to stay in touch.
The south anchorage (where we are) was allegedly a hangout for pirates. Several small cays carry their names. Teach Rock after Edward Teach (Blackbeard), Ready Rock and Bonney Rocks (named after Mary Read and Anne Bonney, two female pirates of dominant character who wore men’s clothing).
With no fishing in the park, the snorkeling is excellent. At mooring #9 in the north anchorage, there is a burnt sailboat on the bottom, now home to a friendly 5-foot nurse shark. Bubba is a 4-foot barracuda that hangs around under boats and feeds on leftovers. Boo Boo is a 4-foot lemon shark and his 5½ foot brother Harbor Master have taken up residence in the harbour.
Posted by dave at June 18, 2005 01:55 PM