Always be ready for anything

[Pascal]

We ve been in the Exumas for a week now with the usual scattered summer shower and thunderstorms…

Last night we got hit by a 35kts squall at Big Majors, Staniel Cay with winds blowing out of the west, in other words zero protection. It was a reminder that you have to be ready for weather overnight, especially in summer. Dinghies, jet skis and toys… all as safer back on board.

This morning there was a 60’ Sea Ray washed ashore… along with a 20’ tender, 2 jet skis and a few cushions. Another 50/55 footer dragged half a mile has well and finally got its anchor to hold about 300’ from the shore.

The SeaRay ended up hard aground stern on beach and hard against the rocks at the beach end. It has IPS and one pod sheared sitting in front of the bow. This may actually save the boat …

Here is a video of our encounter with two of the boat that dragged, the sea ray missed us by a couple of feet as I used engines and bow thruster to slide out of its way. Very lucky his anchor didn’t snag my chain. Our anchor, a 400lbs Poole I bought from Sam’s a couple of years ago held very well.

The Bahamas are wonderful but can be unforgiving as well.

https://youtu.be/4iP4p6jLnEE?si=U_Rlea47Vb9dP4xC

 

[madhatter1]

I didn't anchor anywhere (except for the day to go to Grabbers) as once I had made the crossing I decided we have a lot to learn and our first trip was the wrong time. Anchor grabs right away and holds good but still need more chain and a bridal. So crossed that off the list for the trip and tied to a dock every night.

Your video validates my decision but the other boats scare the crap out of me. If I do it wrong I'm a projectile. If I do it right I'm a target. Thanks for posting.

 

[zigzag930]

We just returned from the Exumas yesterday. We were down there for the last month.

While in Staniel, we took a mooring ball for exactly that reason. Too many boats anchored on the west side of Staniel. I was not comfortable with all those boats on the West side of B Major.

In the past we have anchored between the Majors for best protection from just about any wind directlon. We get into an area with under 10' and put out all our chain (275') in just to sleep better.

I was surprised how many boats were anchored W of B. Major. Way more than I remember in the past. My fear of weekend skippers keeps me away from situations like that.....

 

[Pascal]

Anchoring is safe, over the last 15+ years we must have averaged 50 nights in the hook per year mostly in the Exumas. Last night was the second “rough night” in all these years, so that’s about… what… 0.3%?

What you get in return is privacy, views and more. There is nothing like it.

 

[Freestyle]

Nice evasive action while at anchor!

It must have been tough to decide whether to weigh anchor in that mess to dodge them or to do what you did that worked so well.

You probably have experience, or gave a lot of thought to, what happens if he snags your anchor? Could you share our thoughts on that with us?

I would rather plan for this possibility from the comfort of my house than midnight at Big Majors.

Thanks.

Bruce

Freestyle

1986 62 CPMY (54MY with ext)
Tampa

 

[CGHOST4]

We are tied up at Little Farmers Yacht Club, and a large boat that was anchored just north of Little Farmers Cay also broke loose. The tender was washed ashore, the locals from Little Farmers were able to get it off at high tide yesterday, but the big boat is firmly up on a hard rock ledge. They tried again last night at high tide but could not get it to move.


Caesars Ghost
1980 58YF #472

 

[Pascal]

With 35kts sustained, 3 footers, a firmly set anchor, night and reduced visibility in rain, many boats around and shallows about 1/4 mile to the north, raising anchor wasn’t really an option. Too risky. And by the time we noticed the incoming, they were already on top of the anchor anyway.

Had one of them snagged our chain, there is nothing much to do beside setting fenders and try to secure the other boat alongside. Then put out max scope, hope the anchor holds the extra load, assisting with engines as needed. Worst case scenario obviously.

 

[Pascal]

We are tied up at Little Farmers Yacht Club, and a large boat that was anchored just north of Little Farmers Cay also broke loose. The tender was washed ashore, the locals from Little Farmers were able to get it off at high tide yesterday, but the big boat is firmly up on a hard rock ledge. They tried again last night at high tide but could not get it to move.
View attachment 74988View attachment 74989

Caesars Ghost
1980 58YF #472

Not surprised there more incidents in the area. That thing isn’t going anywhere soon.

The holding is really bad between little farmer and great Guana. Not a good place to overnight in unsettled weather.

How is LFYC? For some reason we ve never been there. Been to TYs Sunaet grill many times instead.

 

[Freestyle]

I have had a lot of fun at Little Farmers YC. Food and drinks flow real well.

The docks do not look terribly sturdy and I trust my Rocna more.

We did see two LRC's tied up there once during a little storm in 2023 and they were having more fun than us that evening.

Bruce

Freestyle

1985 62 CPMY (54My with ext)
Tampa

 

[Bugsy]

Some years ago, we were anchored off the beach at Allan's Cay ( north of Highbourne) when a major squall went through. We started our engines and lain on the cockpit floor watching the rocks. We held but a local fishing boat went on the rocks and a LOT of boats on the north side of the entrance dragged.
A few years later, we're anchored off BM when another storm came thru at night from the West similar to Pascal's video with waves 3'-4'. Again...start the engines and hope we hold. There weren't too many boats around us ( thank God) but we held. However, a friend on a GB was at the SCYC docks. I'm told they get you off the dock if a storm approaches from the West. They didn't do that for my friend. He sustained a LOT of damage.
As Pascal suggests, much better on a well-anchored boat than on a dock for those few atypical wind events.

 

[Pascal]

Allan’s isn’t a great spot unless you anchor on the west side. Inside is shallow and tight with marginal holding like thru all cuts.

Indeed SCYC will clear the dock with westerlies, usually for fronts in winter. Summer time squalls are not forecasted.

Between the majors has good protection but current makes swinging a bit hard to plan. Could be some surge too. We weather the Derecho of Jan 2016 there with a 70 footer.

 

[CGHOST4]

Farmer's Cay Yacht Club is a great stop, we have been stopping here for years, their docks are sturdy and electric is good.
They have 120' charter yachts tied up on the outside sometimes. We always ask for one of the 2 inside slips which keeps us off the dock in prevailing easterly winds. But, come in at slack tide as there is a current due to Little Farmer's Cut. The southern, inside slip is only about 18' wide so be careful.
We slept through the storm that caused so much havoc the other night. We heard that several boats at Black Point also broke loose.


Caesars Ghost
1980 58YF #472

 

[Bugsy]

Two years ago, we were at Cave Cay...all alone...just south of LFC and you want protection from all quarters??? But....I believe it was purchased by Safe Harbour and is not yet operational.
In another thread, Pascal mentioned Great Harbour Cay. Talk about a few miles of empty sandy beaches!!
We spent a few weeks there in May. It was one of our best trips to the Bahamas and inside the harbour is as protected as Cave Cay. Imho....old Bahamas character.

 

[Pascal]

Not sure who bought cave cay but it s been closed for almost two years now.

A great spot to hide from a storm is Norman’s Cay Marina, but it is $7 a foot… they re still working on the landscaping but it is very beautiful. Restaurant and bar are open now, docks are excellent and so is shore power

Highborne and compass are the only other marinas in the Exumas with good protection

 

[IOLANI]

Well that was scary to watch

Nobody aboard that second boat? Didn't seem to be reacting ? That horn should have knocked them out of bed...





.

 

[Dan Mapes]

You never know when it will happen. We were on a mooring ball off Pete's Pub in Little Harbour and decided to head in with the dink for lunch and some Blasters. The S.O. looked out the wing door and said that boat is drifting over there. We flagged down a CC that was coming in and trying to catch it but he had an adolescent girl working with him. I flagged him down and I hopped in. I grabbed the line hanging in the water and we slowed it down eventually getting moving back to the vacant mooring ball.
Dude wakes up and comes out on the bow and accuses us of trying to steal his boat. Realizing that everyone is watching, and deciding we were on the level, he says Pete tied me up himself!
I said, you have cheap slippery nylon lines and it pulled right out of the cleat.

So, you never know when you may have "company". Could be good calm weather or a nasty squall.

 

[bostonhatteras]

So ironic that at least one boat had its running lights on! Technically correct they were, I suppose. The dragging boats were absent crew or owners? Thanks for the video. Really nice and smooth wipers btw.