Marsh Harbour

Many cruisers describe Marsh Harbour as the hub of the Abacos.  Eventually all cruisers in the Abacos pass through here, whether it’s for parts, food, water, fuel, etc.  Little would we know how true this would prove when we made our trip over from Great Guana Cay to meet my parents who were staying for 6 days at Abaco Beach Resort….

After Sabrina and I left Great Guana Cay on Monday I single-handed the boat across the Sea of Abaco while Sabrina baked bread in the galley.  The wind was light at 8 knots and I was having a blast sailing JV around 4-5 knots while tidying up the decks.  I dropped the sails outside the harbor and we motored in and dropped the hook. We knew some folks that were keeping their boats in the area, and I was curious if we might have a chance to meet up with some of them.

Sabrina and I untied the dinghy and headed for the public dinghy dock in town named the “Union Jack.”  As we pulled closer, we noticed that it seemed a construction crew was working on the dock.  As we got even closer we noticed that it wasn’t a Bahamian construction crew, but seemed to be cruisers working on the dock.  And as we touched the dock we noticed that one of the cruisers was Tom from Emerald Lady who keeps his boat on B Dock at Bohemia Bay where we dock our boat.  We waved hello and told him that we’d meet up with him when he was less busy.  We’d been in Marsh Harbour for 15 minutes and already met someone we know!

Since the “Union Jack” was under construction we headed around looking for a dinghy dock.  We fueled up with gas to ask a dock hand and he directed us to “Snappas.” On our way we passed a boat that looked familiar, it was Ankers Away, our good friend Jay and Tanya’s parents boat!

Our good luck continued as we tied up the dinghy and headed to the Abaco Beach Resort to find my parents.  The front desk didn’t know where they were and couldn’t reach them in the room, but assured me that they had checked in.  They suggested we check the pool area and there my parents sat enjoying lunch after their flight. We keep wondering how people managed before cell phones, but apparently in Marsh Harbour you just wander around till you find who you’re looking for.

On Tuesday we took JV to Treasure Cay Marina to check out what is reportedly one of the Top 10 Beaches in the World.  We grilled burgers in the harbor when we arrived and then dinghied into the marina. (There we saw another friend of a friend’s boat, but Steve wasn’t on Sundance.)  It was a quick trip, this is the slow season and there wasn’t much going on at Treasure Cay.  I can understand why people like the beach, but I’m more of a fan of Atlantic beaches with waves crashing ashore. For folks that like waves, I highly suggest Manjack Cay.  Unfortunately we had to motor both ways to Treasure Cay since the winds have been so light.

Wednesday Sabrina took the dinghy into town to hang out with my mom while my dad and I headed out the North Man of Way Channel to try some fishing.  I had picked up some frozen rigged ballyhoo and some other things that I was lacking when Sabrina and took our last fishing trip. I was determined that we would have better luck than the last time. Luckily we did, we had several good bites and I was able to land that Wahoo with our first hooked fish.  As he got closer and closer I tried harder and harder to keep from losing him, when I grabbed him and tossed him into the cockpit it was cause for much celebration. I filleted him while we were on the water since I didn’t have anyplace to keep him cold.  Sabrina and I had some pan seared last night (Nermal was ecstatic) and we all had grilled wahoo for lunch today.  (And there’s still a bunch in the freezer for later.) Dad and I also hooked a barracuda on a cedar plug as we were pulling back into the channel to come in.  On the way back to Marsh Harbour I thought I heard some other friends of ours from Tidewater on the VHF.  It couldn’t tell if it was Beth and Lynn’s voices, but I hailed Coyote to see if it was them and it was!  I had tried to email them a long time ago, but I couldn’t reach them.  I guess if you’re looking for someone in the Abacos, just come to Marsh Harbour and wait?  We’re going to meet up with them on Sunday for the Ravens game – Merrill and Larry, I’ll even root for the Ravens, but if they end up playing the Broncos, I’m rooting for Tebow.

Today we walked around Marsh Harbour, had the grilled wahoo on the boat, and then swung around to the Jib Room, Jib Room, Jib Room!  It’s a nice place and they have Bingo, Bingo, Bingo! on Thursday night. (The Cruisers Net here always says it three times on the net, it’s somewhat like their calling card or something?)  We didn’t stay for bingo, but the Jib Room seemed like a fun place and I can see  why it’s popular.

Tomorrow we’re headed for Hope Town before my parents leave, we’ll see what it has to offer.