Join us as we travel North America's rivers, waterways, and canals; visit U.S. and Canadian cities, historical landmarks, national parks and river towns. We may even take you to the Bahamas.
Highbourne Cay Marina, Exuma
March 10-13: Big Major to Highbourne Cay: Today’s run: 52 miles
Highbourne Cay, a privately owned island, can accommodate up to 180 foot/55 metre yachts at their docks.
To refuel, we had to slip between 2 giants.
Coincidently, the dock that we were allocated, lay between two Back Cove yachts. Dockage costs were $5 per foot per day including power, plus 50 cents per gallon for water. (A reverse osmosis system, provides the island with fresh water.)
A Back Cove owner docked next to us, was responsible for posting the video that had, just the night before, saved us from grief when we learned a switch at the back of the generator, had been tripped.
PRIVATLY OWNED YACHTS AT ANCHOR:
Beachfront: 103 ft/31 m.Vibrant Curiosity: 135 ft/41 m. Notice the helicopter pad on the amidship deck.Infinity: 383 ft/117 m; carries 43 crewmembersThis jazzy cruiser is a tender for one of the mega yachts at anchor. It’s about the same size as our boat, but with no living quarters. It is the only express cruiser I have seen with 6, yes 6, outboard engines!
Nurse sharks congregate near the cleaning station waiting for fish scraps.
Above, a sign hanging over the cleaning station where fishermen fillet and clean their catches. Poking fish eyes out, helps to sink the carcasses; nurse sharks are bottom feeders.
Nurse sharks use a vacuum technique when scavenging for food. They can create enough suction to suck a Queen conch out of its shell.
Highbourne Resort offers free bicycles to ride around the island with.Or you can wait for the bus, like this poor soul did. Mmm…, I guess there isn’t an island bus.The lee side of the island offers beautiful beaches.And views.And quiet spaces.
PATHWAYS LEAD TO THE WINDWARD SIDE:
The resort has a restaurant, and a grocery store:
Broccoli: $6Yogurt: $15
After a 3-day stay, we left Highbourne Cay.
During our passage to Great Abaco Island, we met the Emerald Express, a 190ft/58m cargo vessel. She was en route to Haiti. Among other cargo, she was delivering a fully constructed shed. ( Seen on the foredeck).)
In 2015, , while sailing Bahama waters, a storm surge resulting from Hurricane Josquin was so powerful, that it lifted the Emerald Express (495 tons), over 21 miles/34 km of mangrove marshes and reefs, and left her stranded in a mangrove swamp on Crooked Island.
To rescue her, six miles of roadway needed widening before she could be lifted onto inflatable rubber tubes. Heavy machinery was used to haul the vessel over the six miles while labourers created a moving line of airbags along the way. After arriving seaside, she was carefully towed 15 miles through 6 feet/2m of water, before being refloated. Her bow draughts 6 feet/1.8m, her stern 7 ft/2.1 m. (vesseltracker.com).
Traveling the Great Loop 
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