To Compass Cay

To Compass Cay – January 26 to February 5, 2011

After another fish feast with Phil & Nikki on Ajaya, who had by then caught up to us in Georgetown, and confirming with Chris Parker that the weather pattern would hold for a good trip north we pulled up anchor and left Monument Beach.  The sky was mostly overcast with high clouds and the winds were light from the southeast.

We put three fishing lines out in the hopes of filling the freezer before the day was out. As we approached Farmers Cut after five hours of motoring we pulled in the lines without having so much as a nibble.

I can’t blame the fish for not wanting to chomp down on this ferocious looking contraption.

We picked up a mooring ball from Farmers Cay Yacht Club and joined the crew of Talisa on shore for a couple of nice cold beer. We were able to get a good enough internet connection at the Yacht Club to do a quick check of email and some of online banking before a dinner of whole red snapper served local style (Joyce explained that she usually removes the heads when she cooks for tourists.) with sides of peas ‘n rice and salad. We were served the same meal that the crew of work men had just eaten.

I'm here for you. Just in case you need some help getting out of the water.

Morning at Little Farmers Cay. We woke to an absolutely still morning with sound effects. Roosters crowing on shore and the musical chatter in French  of a young child on a nearby boat flying the Quebec  Fleur de Lis were periodically accented by a barking dog and an island hopper plane. There were even birds singing, something that we have not heard often in other locations.

Sunrise at Little Farmers

 

The water was absolutely still and so clear that the tackle from the mooring was clearly visible. You could almost count the grains of sand.

Talisa and Renaissance at Farmers Cay Yacht Club.

 Heading north from Little Farmers. Where does the water end and the sky begin?

We made a brief stop at Black Point before continuing on to Staniel Cay for a couple of days.  Our friends on Cookie Monster had done some fundraising over the summer to purchase books and supplies for the Black Point All Ages School. When we met up with them at Vero Beach in Florida in November we volunteered to help out with the transportation logistics and carried a box in our aft cabin for delivery to the school. Our single box delivery was dwarfed by the delivery of 30 boxes on another cruising catamaran that pulled into the anchorage just behind us.

In addition to Cookie Monster’s contributions to the school at Black Point there is an organization called Project Bahamas that has been supporting a number of Bahamian schools on an ongoing basis. They are always looking for cruisers with a little extra space to transport books and other supplies.  There just does not seem to be enough money in the government coffers to provide even the basics to all of the schools.

Children in the Bahamas may not have access to the best education facilities in the world but they do receive something just as valuable that will serve them well in their futures. They have very good manners. When we meet them on the street we are almost always greeted with a polite and friendly “Good morning” or “Good afternoon”. Their parents and teachers should be proud of what they have done. And the rest of the world should take note.

 Teachers residences at Black Point.

Our arrival at Compass Cay was like floating into an aquarium. As Preston and Loan took our lines Polar Pacer was surrounded by nurse sharks, yellowtail jacks, little sergeant majors , bonefish and tarpon, triggerfish, balao and several other species that I was not able to identify.  We were in about 20 feet of perfectly clear water with small low coral growing along the bottom. It was like going snorkeling without getting wet.

 A stingray swims over a shark sleeping on the bottom.

Compass Cay is a beautiful, truly Bahamian owned and operated resort island. It is the only island we have seen in the Bahamas that actually has a garbage management program. Visitors are asked to sort their waste before it is put in the garbage cans. Paper and plastic are incinerated at a remote location on the island. Glass and metal are taken out to the deep ocean water and properly disposed of by breaking up the glass containers and puncturing metal cans so they will sink to the bottom. Food scraps go into the sea to become food for the fish and crabs. Unlike most of the islands we have been to, there is almost no debris to be seen.

Tucker Rolle, who was granted ownership of the island after it was abandoned a number of years ago, has embarked on controlled development with minimal environmental impact. There are a few modest and well spaced rental cottages with lots of walking trails and a beautiful long crescent shaped beach.

 Curlytails on guard at the beach.

The remains of Hester’s House – abandoned by a previous resident of the island.

The well protected, deep draft marina can accommodate boats of all sizes. If you wan to mingle with the mega yachts you can join them at the dock or if you prefer, there are anchoring options within a short dinghy ride. A visit to the island is well worth the nominal landing fees that are charged if you are not at the dock. Burgers and beer are available at the small dockside store that also carries a few grocery items.

Swimming with the nurse sharks is a popular attraction for visitors.

 

 At high tide they like to rest on the dock.

Sunset at Compass Cay. Yes, I have now seen the green flash!

Good Idea – Wind Generator Modification

During our stay at Compass Cay Tom had an opportunity to make a modification to our K.I.S.S. wind generator. In light winds it would often not be able to get itself pointed in the right direction to make the blades turn and send amps to the batteries.  Using a piece of ¼ inch starboard that we had on board, leftover from some other project, he installed an extension to the tail on the back of the unit.  With a surface area of about 35 square inches the starboard was made slightly thinner where the extension overlaps onto the original material and attached with four small bolts. The end result is better power generation and as a bonus – less vibration.  Now as long as the wind is blowing we can watch more than one episode of Six Feet Under or even a full length movie after dinner.