The wind picked up today and that was especially evident when we were passed by a sailboat! Geez! Midday we passed Mangrove Cay where our sailboat friends had anchored last night. With the forecast of increased winds/rougher seas today, they when farther before anchoring than us to have a shorter trip to West End today.

Mangrove Cay is a non-descript lump of mangrove and rock at the midpoint of the Little Bahama Bank but it provides a convenient spot to rest for vessels making their way to and from Abaco.

The Cay is oriented north to south, but it is too small to provide any meaningful protection, so the anchorage is basically an open roadstead. It is possible to anchor anywhere around the island and it is not uncommon to find vessels on all sides in settled weather. Holding is good in sandy mud.

We reached West End, Grand Bahama Island and The Old Bahama Bay Marina in the later afternoon. West End is only 56 miles from Florida (our destination tomorrow).  Old Bahama Bay is a full-service marina and resort and is the only night navigable port of entry on Grand Bahama Island, Old Bahama Bay offers quick and efficient on-site Bahamian Customs and Immigration.

After settling in our slip we headed out to the resort pool to meet up with our friends. The conversation revolved around the weather for the next few days and our plans for transiting the Gulf Stream. The forecast is not great but tomorrow is the least wind for the next 5 days. A decision is made to make the trip tomorrow or we would be stuck in West End for AT LEAST 5 days.

We had a great farewell evening knowing this was goodbye for this season. Steve and I are heading to Stuart tomorrow and our sailboat friends, who will be making transit slower, are anchoring in Lake Worth and passing Stuart the next day eventually reaching their destinations in Southport, NC and beyond.

Getting passed by a sailboat

And another motor yacht

Glass bottom, sides, stern, bow, seats….