June 9-16
D. R. Zaccone

Ports:  Ft. Lauderdale, Cat Cay, Berry Islands, Andros, Nassau

I met good friend and previous shipmate D. R. Zaccone in Ft. Lauderdale for a planned weeks trip to the Exuma's.  Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and we had to wait 3 days for the weather to abate enough to cross the Gulf Stream.  Hanging around Lauderdale in the rain and wind was not in the plans, but then that's boating as they say.

We were finally able to cross the Stream in good weather on Sunday.  Our first landfall being Cat Cay http://www.catcayclub.com/ where we cleared customs.  I had visited Cat Cay in 1998 aboard Seabird.  The resort on this private island had improved the facilities since my last visit, with the addition of a new dining room (for members only unfortunately).  We got a golf cart tour of the island which had a lot more to it than I had seen previously, lots of very nice homes many of which were hidden from view from the entrance channel and the marina.  We had dinner on the terrace of the original dining room and the food was good.  Also had some wicked rum punches at the waterside bar.

The next day we crossed the Great Bahamas Bank.  The water, normally crystal clear emerald green had been stirred up by the storms and was not as spectacular as my previous crossing.

The end of the day found us at the renowned Berry Island Club.  It was, unfortunately, even less impressive than my recollections from my visit in 1999.  The dock had no power so it was a tie up only and they wanted $2.25/foot for the privilege.  They did have some construction project underway, with bulldozer moving dirt next to the bar/restaurant, but so far no improvement to the facilities.  We were the only boat there.

Next day we visited Andros, first time for all of us.  The island does have an interesting channel of sorts inside some reefs between the north end of the island and ?  a bit tricky in places and unmarked, but pretty and somewhat protected by the reefs.  We over-nighted at ? in Andros Town.  The island is primarily a fishing destination and does not appear to have much appeal for the cruising boater.

On to Nassau for a night at Hurricane Hole Marina and dinner at Atlantis (need broadband).  DR and I flew back from there the next day and Luther and Debbie brought the boat back to Ft. Lauderdale a couple of days later. Luther resigned as a full time captain following this trip, but agreed to deliver the boat to Norfolk and do future deliveries as needed.