Warderick Wells Cay

Warderick Wells Cay  - January 10 to 18, 2012

The distance to Exuma Land and Sea Park from Rock Sound is about 40 nautical miles. By 7 AM the anchors were up and we were on our way. As we passed through the Davis Channel the fishing lines were strung out and the second 2012 fishing derby was officially started. Sunday’s Child led the way and soon had three fish on board; a mutton snapper and two yellow tail jacks. Not long after, Amokura reported in with a mackerel. Once again Polar Pacer was destined to come up empty handed. We would not be fishless though. Sunday’s Child agreed to trade fish for water and we ran our water maker all day.

Exuma Sound was settled with waves less than one foot and winds from the ENE between 8 and 9 knots. We motor sailed with full main and jib for several hours reaching speeds over 6 knots.

Once we were within hailing distance of the park headquarters on Warderick Wells Cay Tom made contact and confirmed that space was available in the Hog Cay mooring field for all three boats. As we approached the park boundary we received an excited call on the VHF radio from Sunday’s Child. They had caught another fish – this time it was a large mahi mahi.

Ted shows off the big fish. Look at that smile.

We swam off the beach where there was less current and we would not be swept back out to sea and were treated to snapper ceviche and grilled fresh mahi courtesy of Sunday’s Child for dinner. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

 Hog Cay is a good place to be in bad weather but is a fair distance from the park office. On a calm day it is an easy dinghy ride and there are walking trails that cross the island to the beach near the office.

 Sunday’s Child still had more fish than they could keep without refrigeration on board. Dinghy loads of equipment and supplies were ferried ashore for another fish barbeque. The table was already there.

Once the sun dipped down behind the island, the nocturnal hutia were out in full force rustling in the palm fronds at our feet hunting for crumbs. They seemed to be much larger than the ones we saw here two years ago. They have no predators on the island and are not afraid of the humans that they recognize as a food source.

We sadly said goodbye to Amokura and Sunday’s Child as they left the Hog Cay mooring field for the Southern Exumas and points south.

 Amokura had people to meet in the Eastern Caribbean before being joined by their son for the trip back across the Atlantic and home. We can only hope to cross paths with them again someday.

The Exuma Land and Sea Park continues to accept cruisers with suitable skill sets to do volunteer work for the park in exchange for mooring fees on an ‘as required’ basis. One work day equates to one day’s mooring per boat regardless of how many hands are put to work. Tom’s ability to repair boats got him an assignment to replace and reinforce the front of the big work barge.

A joint effort with Rick from Me Gusta.

My sewing machine, a bag of grommets, plus my sewing skills netted me a patchwork project.

Miriam (Me Gusta) and I found enough pieces of Sunbrella in their stash to maketwo new T-top covers to replace the ones that Hurricane Irene had destroyed. 

 Test fitting the finished product.

When the work was done we enjoyed Henry’s hospitality and some Bahamian domino lessons.