Highbourne to Hawksbill to Warderick Wells

     We have been keeping tabs (through SPOT) on Robby and Carol, and saw that they were at Hawksbill Cay on Sunday night, so we decided to head for Hawksbill Monday morning.  We finally reached them on the VHF when we were about 9 miles away and verified that they were still there.   We picked up a mooring ball right next to them around 1:30pm.  We were moored right off a small inlet that was a vast beach at low tide and had a channel back into the middle of the island at high.  Jess and Sam went adventuring while Ben napped (near low) and Dan and Martha did the same much later and got a very different view.  We had dinner with Rob and Carol aboard Brunelle and were eerily impressed with our well lit neighbor. 
     In spite of strong winds, we decided to move on to Warderick Wells which is the center of the Exuma Land and Sea Park.  Both Arete and Brunelle sailed with jib alone and made 6-7 knots along the lee of the Cays and had to power straight into it to reach our moorings. We checked in with the Park and took a hike to Boo Boo Hill (so named for the ghostly noises the waves make in the porous rocks) to see where cruisers leave their boat's name carved, painted, woven or otherwise affixed to a piece of driftwood.  We also got a good view of the windward side and were glad we had stayed on the bank in the lee - the wave spray could be felt at the top of the 70 ft. hill!  We plan to spend another night here to do some more exploring and to celebrate Ben's FIRST BIRTHDAY!  - - -Big party tonight!  ~~~(\_~~~D&M, J,S&B, C&R
Google Earth track file for 2/23
Google Earth track file for 2/24

Sam and Jess adventure ashore at Hawksbill. Arete's mast is visible
over the hill to the right.

Our eerie neighbor at Hawksbill used more amps in one night than we
use in a year!

The mooring field at Warderick Wells; an amazing cut through some very
shallow bars!

The trail to BooBoo Hill takes you through a mangrove nursery.

Jess and Ben check out the 52' sperm whale skeleton on the beach at
Warderick Wells Cay.

Nassau to Highborne Cay

Today was really like CRUISING!  Easy day, warm sun, light winds and a great crew.  We left Nassau about 10am and headed for Highborne Cay.  The sail across the bank was relaxing and fun.  We dodged a bunch of coral heads easily and arrived at the Marina at Highborne a little after 4pm.  That left time to watch some lucky fishermen  on the dock clean fish and feed a LARGE school of sharks, mostly nurse sharks, but also a few reef sharks and one large lemon shark.  We also all took a swim off the beach in the just slightly chilly water.  Ben enjoyed his first dip in the ocean.  We chose to shower in the outdoor cold water shower, because the official warm water one was $4 a shower!   We will continue south tomorrow, but not before enjoying Highborne Cay a little more. ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file


We were glad to get Sam aboard to fix the computer, but we were REALLY glad to get a new winchman!


Ben (with a little help from Mom (Jess) was the first to spot Highborne Cay.



Feeding frenzy.