2016 Bahamas Adventure: Royal Island, Eleuthera

To get home we need to get to the Abacos, the Northernmost and closest Bahamian Island group to the U.S. To get to the Abacos from Nassau is 2 hops off the banks in open and deep water: first, a 35 mile run Northeast to Royal Island at the top of the Eleuthera Island group followed by a second 50 mile hop due North to Little Harbor at the bottom of the Abacos.

As mentioned in the last few blogs, the weather has been unsettled for the last week or so due to Tropical Storm Colin. While it has been gradually improving, today’s forecast still indicates that thunderstorms are possible, if not likely. Since the skies looked relatively clear and the winds were favorable (South) and relatively light (5-10) we decided to take the chance and headed off for Royal Island.

It turned out to be a good decision – we had a very nice and comfortable 6 hour run up to Royal Island even though were hit by a nasty squall about three miles before we arrived: 35 mile an hour winds and zero visibility rain socked us in for about 20 minutes. Fortunately, there was little lightning and thunder (all of a long distance away) and the storm had mostly passed by the time we arrived at the harbor entrance. We were happy o be able to motor inn, drop our hook and just hang out for the rest of the day.

Next morning was June 11, Kerry’s birthday – Happy birthday sweetheart – hope you have nothing but the best on this special day.

Today’s wind is out of the Northwest – not at all favorable for the hop to Little Harbor – besides, we try and not put two long sail days back to back. So today was a hang out and relax day – we did some snorkeling around Royal Island (mostly soft coral gardens with small fish and one wall at the Island’s edge) and did a little exploring at a resort that Roger Staubach and Jack Nicklaus had invested in on the Island – t was to include a Jack Nicklaus Golf Course (that was never built) -- the resort failed and is currently being marketed as a rentable “Villas” ( http://www.villainbahamas.com/rentals/villas-in-bahamas-royal-island-112289.html) – there are 5 “luxury” villas (1500 square foot each), a Bar/Restaurant, a fitness center and a pool, docks, beach, etc. No customers or staff were there – the place was well kept and we even saw a caretaker or two in the distance, but otherwise no sign of life. A little spooky, I’d say.

Leaving Nassau, we passed the south end of Paradise Island, the (in)famous home of the Atlantis resort –the south end is residential and looks like parts of Long Island and/or the NJ shore from the water

One of our chart books got soaked in the squall – its plastic protective envelope had a hole in it. We inserted paper plates between the pages (after we carefully went through and wiped each page dry) so the book could finish drying without having the sheets sticking together