Departing In The Dark

     We had another early start today so that we could cross Grand Bahama Bank to Chub Cay.  (In the Bahamas, cay is pronounced key.)  The alarm went off at 5:00 am for a departure at 6:30 am.  The journey took 12 hours and 15 minutes and we traveled 89 miles.  One of the interesting points of the trip was that the Grand Bahama Bank crossing was 58 miles long and the water depth averaged 14 feet deep and every mile of that was beautiful clear water and you could see the bottom.  As we left the Grand Bahama Bank we entered the Northwest Channel where the water is charted at depths of 500-2500 feet deep.  Our depth sounder will shut down when it reaches 200 feet of depth.  The deep water is of a blue color that I have never seen  before.

      Early in the journey we spotted a large shark around the boat.  Shortly after spotting the shark we hailed our friends on Monk's Vineyard to learn they left the marina at 7:30 am.  They informed us that most of the boats at the marinas had left by that time.

     We dropped anchor at 6:45 pm and will be departing Chub Cay in the dark.  Our planned departure is 5:00 am so that we can beat the winds as we cross the Northwest Providence Channel to Spanish Wells.  I guess we will be setting the alarm for 4:00 am.  I am sure it will be worth it.  We arrived in the dark at Chub Cay and we will be departing in the dark.