Bellatrix

22 January 2015Harbour Island, Eleuthera

We sailed from Marsh Harbor to Little Harbor home of a artist colony which was started by Randolph Johnston a artist known for his wax sculptures in bronze, his son, Pete continues the tradition. Little Harbor is a pretty little harbor, well protected. We visited “Pete’s Pub” and had a few drinks, lots of friendly people.

We sailed Tuesday morning from Little Harbor, Abaco. We left at 0630 to catch the tide and to make the 60 miles to Eleuthera. We had good sailing for most of the day but had to start the motor when the wind came around to the bow. It is interesting that for much of the crossing the closest land was almost 3 miles straight down. 15000 feet deep, hay you can drown in a bathtub.

We caught a Mahi on the clothes line rig, fresh Mahi Mahi for dinner. We arrived at the Harbor Island Mouth around 1700, anxious to get through the reef before dusk. It was a bit exciting with the surf behind us, though the reef and a narrow entrance. We got through without hitting anything and rounded into pretty Cistern Bay. It was flat calm and good anchor holding. We cleaned the fish, had dinner and a welcome nights rest.

Wednesday we moved to an anchorage just off of Valentine’s Marina and went to the island town of Dunmore Town, Harbour Island. It is known to be a haunt of the “Rich and Famous”, we haven’t seen any. Things are pretty expensive here, a beer is $6.50 and a drink $11. Last night we went to a locals bar and paid $7 for the same drinks. The dinner menu’s at the resort type places have appetizers around $16 and entrees between $40 and $50. We’re eating on the boat…

We went to the beach, wow. The sand is pale pink and the water crystal clear. You can see through the waves as they approach you. We’ll go back today.

Bella had a ball chasing flocks of birds on the sand flats.

Tomorrow we expect to head to Spanish Wells then down Eleuthera to jump off to the Exumas. The passage from Harbour Island to Spanish Wells is through a long reef called “Devil’s Backbone”. We will hire a local pilot to take us through. More later.