March 7, 2011
It was very rolly overnight so we were anxious to be up and away to our next destination - Little San Salvador. Little San Salvador is 15 miles from Cat Island but is actually quite a ways away from San Salvador but that is because Cat Island was originally named San Salvador. Ted was up early and very excited to cruise and arrive at an area where we had been told and read about in the cruising guide to be a very good place to spear lobster.
This secluded island was purchased in 1997 by Holland American Cruise Lines and turned into an “Out Island Paradise” exclusively for the guests of the cruise ships. The cruise ships are usually only there 2 – 3 days a week and only for the day. But we discovered in the distance the tall stack of the cruise ship and realized we would have visitors for the day. No worries, lots of room for everyone. All of the beaches in the Bahamas are public up to the high water line so even though they own the island the anchorage waters and the beaches are all public property. The cruise ship asks that you anchor to the north of them so we oblige and find a nice spot away from the mammoth beast. The people from Cat and Eleuthera arrive to work on the island during the day but return home by boat before sunset. This is good for the surrounding islands because it provides jobs for many people and then that money is spent in their community.
Our first attempts to anchor weren’t successful but they anchor finally caught. The anchor dragged about 50 feet before it finally grabbed. In times like this it is my job is to jump in and snorkeled to the anchor to make sure it is set, tough job but somebody’s got to do it. I check out the underwater neighbourhood while I am at it. I find a beautiful pink shell but it has a hermit crab in it that refuses to let go.
We are entertained by all the activity from the cruise ship. The horse back riding, the makeshift pirate ship bar on the shore, parasailing and all the other activities for the cruise ship people.
Cruise ship with its tender bringing people to and from shore
We went spearing in the afternoon on the north side of Half Moon Bay but the surf was too strong to do alot of spearing. It was actually difficult to swim against the current even though we were finning like crazy. The whole north side of the island was littered with coral heads and reefs, some that were just below the surface and exposed in the troughs of the swells. We very carefully picked our way through this landmine of reef with the dinghy. We did alot of stop and go looking for the dark patches and exposed reefs. We got back to the boat safely with no altercations with the reefs. They cruise ship left at sunset and we had the place to ourselves for the night. We had drinks and a BBQ on the top deck watching the sunset. No internet access and no weather update so we could only pray for another calm night. The crossing from Little San Salvatore to Eleuthera is only 10 miles but we have been told that it can be very nasty with north or east winds. We have a calm but rolly night in the anchorage. Tomorrow we will be in the safety of Rock Sound.
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