Hub of the Abacos

Before leaving picturesque Green Turtle Cay, we had to sample the fare at the Green Turtle Club—especially the signature drink, the Tipsy Turtle. It’s one of those fun, coconut, fruit punch things. Very good! Far too easy to drink! Captain Ron fans will be thrilled to learn that the sister ship to the one in the movie is located at the Green Turtle Club Marina. If you are not a "Captain Ron" fan, you are a true misonaut! It doesn't look a lot like Wanderer since it is tricked out with cockpit curtains and awnings.

On to Guana Cay. Our trip through the Whale Passage was uneventful. The Whale Passage is where the deep water of the Atlantic Ocean meets the shallow waters of the Sea of Abaco. Depths in the sea of Abaco are as little as 6 or 7 feet and rarely as much as 15 or 20. When the winds and the currents are right, the water in the Whale can be like a washing machine with breaking waves that can trash your boat. When we crossed, there were gentle swells, light winds and not a breaker in sight.


We arrived at Great Guana Cay in time for the weekly pot luck dinner at Grabbers. Folks from the many boats in the anchorage gather for food and fun. One of the main attractions on Guana is the great snorkeling on the ocean side. The 3rd largest barrier reef in the world is located at the foot of the bluff below Nipper’s famous and very colorful bar and grill.



Then, on to Marsh Harbor, the hub of activities in the Sea of Abaco. Some cruisers make this town their pied à terre for the winter. It is a quick sail from Marsh Harbor to Man o’ War, Treasure Cay, Hope Town and other places of interest. The cruising community is active and friendly. Sunday sees the weekly bocce ball tournament at Strawberry Field. It’s an event sponsored by the Strawberry Monkey Yacht Club.





Interestingly, we have something in common with the SMYC—Kentucky. In 1854, Elias P. Fontroy IV, on a sabbatical voyage up the Amazon, discovered a new species of monkey. He named the species fragaria ateles geoffroyi (strawberry monkey) for its unique antics when presented with any red fruit, particularly strawberries. Upon capture of an excellent example of the species, he returned to his home in Monkey's Eyebrow, Kentucky on the banks of the Ohio River, and to his job as a riverboat captain and bartender.

Elias' monkey became a fixture in his bar, and in the pilot house of his riverboat. His pet became so popular that people came from as far away as Zinc, Arkansas to see the monkey's antics when presented with strawberries. Eventually a collection of local river sailors and strawberry monkey aficionados became regulars at Elias' bar. The Strawberry Monkey Yacht Club (SMYC) was born. http://www.strawberrymonkeyyc.com/

The bocce ball was fun. Even though Peter got into the semi-finals, his performance did not merit an inscription on the Golden Coconut.




Great fisherman! Trophy fish!










The Marsh Harbor anchorage is well protected from storms and offers temporary shelter to many cruising boats.