Hello, Abacos!

After two seasons of trying to get to the Abacos but having to wave off due to COVID, we have FINALLY made it! We departed Spanish Wells via Ridley Channel and had a full day of somewhat rolly sailing through Little Harbour Cut in the Abacos. Frank reeled in a mahi mahi along the way (and another got away with one of our favorite lures) and we settled in for a peaceful evening off of Lynyard Cay. We had arrived in the Abacos! Lynyard Cay provided a nice spot to wait out some really stormy weather and we enjoyed a little beach right near where we were anchored. 

Good (albeit rolly) sailing and GREAT fishing! We ate well!

Once the lightning and storms cleared, we had this sweet beach to ourselves.

Once the weather chilled out we took a little day trip down to Little Harbour. While you can get moorings in the harbour, we didn't want to be slaves to the tide and weren't planning to stay too long. I really wanted to check out Pete's Pub and Gallery, the local art gallery and foundry that used the lost wax process to cast bronze sculptures. As we entered the harbour we were utterly shocked at how busy it was! It was about a week before Easter and a weekend so we guess that we might have hit a spring break crowd, but it was a shock to the system after all of the peace and quiet we've had. So many boats, so many people, and so much music blasting from empty boats. We did manage to get past the chaos and visit the gallery (the work is exquisite!), braved the crowd for a rum drink, and hiked out to the lighthouse ruins. I'm glad we went, but hope to return when it's a little less wild.

Pete's! And we celebrated 13 years aboard Lehe Paine that day!

From there we made our way up the southern Abacos, stopping off of Channel Cay (We Did Not Set the Hook) and the north end of Tilloo Cay. This is where we first really started to see some of the damage that remains from Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Having never visited the Abaocos pre-Dorian it's tough to really say how recovery is going compared to what it was like before, but we see old ruins alongside new construction, visitors zipping around in boats, and even the local floating bar is serving at Tahiti Beach. Recovery seems to be well underway. More to come as we continue north!

First real glimpse of Dorian damage on Tilloo Cay

Hanging at the Thirsty Cuda on Tahiti Beach

~Jo, 1st Mate