Conference unifix::sailing

    Sail Magazine (Feb 1990) page 62 has a four page article on Abacos.
    It's interesting reading and centers around Man-O-War and life there.

It'll be fairly late for them, but if you get a norther, you'll want 
sweaters, socks and windbreakers.  Abacos weather is *not* the same as the
Caribbean, especially in winter and to a lesser degree the shoulder months
as well. 

J.

My sister in law just returned from a wonderful (too short)
vacation in the Abacos.  She's into good food, and weould
be happy to share her info with you.  She'll be in Sudbury
this Saturday (normally lives in New York).  Her name
is Alecia Edwards, and can be reached at (508) 443-4789 Saturday morning.

I moved a boat some 8 years ago from Abaco to Miami.  While the
memory cells are rusty (impregnated with salt water!!??)  I remember
a wonderful bird sanctuary island we anchored off one night that
has to be the most beautiful sight in the world.  You can (wouldn't
want to) land there, the birds fluying around at night against the moon
were something spectacular.

Don't consider getting out over the Grand Bahama bank.  We ran aground
on a coral head (the boat drew 6') at 3 a.m.. When the sun came up
(we were 20 -30 miles from Miami at the time, on open water) off in
the distance some 150' was a broken off mast sticking up from a derilict
boat.  Someone was not as fortunate as us to get out. 

Food may be a problem. I remember being charged 50 cents for a potato
back then.  I'd take anything interesting you may want to eat, if
you're interested in anything but 1/2 inch thick steaks that have been
refrozen several times.  My sister in law will discount this, but they
ate at restaurants and didn't have to buy local canned food.


All in all the islands are super wonderful fantastic.  There are lots of
little hidden, well protected coves, and the people back 8 yrs ago were
superb.

Have a ball, and keep a sharp eye out for those coral heads!

Beau
 

    Had the great fortune to spend 2 wks cruising the Abaco's 4 yrs ago
    with my 2 children - 
    
    My parents retired 6 years ago, sold the house and (boat-building)
    business, and moved onto the last boat that dad made - a 36' sloop,
    spending their summers on the Chesapeake and winters in Fla and the
    Bahamas.
    
    Dad started building wooden one-designs (ie moths, comets, lightnings,
    stars) back in early '40's, switched to glass design when it became the
    thing to do, then started making 30 and 36' cruising/racing sloops that
    my brother designed in '76.  Dad had been racing competitively since a
    boy and was world class in both Comets and Stars.  (we'd grown up on a
    54' Amsterdam built yawl which dad referred to as a floating
    dormitory!)  
    
    I had explicit instructions to pack some london broil and chicken for
    the trip (available island meat was both expensive and questionable!) 
    Nassau managed to get 3 of our 4 bags to Marsh Harbour with us - the
    remaining bags arrived over the next 3 days - the last one to arrive
    contained the meats!!! Surprisingly, as I cautiously opened the bag, I
    found the meat to be still cool, with ice crystals inside!  (I'd frozen
    the meats together, then wrapped in newspaper, foil, more newspaper,
    then double plastic bags.)  
    
    We enjoyed island hopping to Man'o'war, Hopetown and Little Harbour. 
    L.H. was my favorite - the entire island was Randall Johnston's home
    and sculpting foundary.  He's a world renowned sculptor who moved his
    family to the bare island in early 50's and raised his kids there while
    setting up his business.  The original cabin top of their boat served
    as the main part of "Pete's (his son's) Pub".  When Pete was ready to
    serve he'd stand on the beach and blow his conch horn to invite anyone
    in the cove.   I remember some real good times there... it was a great
    place to meet folks from all over and share stories.
    
    2 things I found strange throughout the whole area was (1) you could go
    to several islands before finding a place to dump trash - we ended up
    towing it in the dinghy a couple times. and (2) water to fill your
    tanks was EXPENSIVE!
    
    We attended an Easter Sunday service and were invited to race in a
    local regatta - it was quite different from my CBYRA and DRYRA
    experiences!!!  The marks were islands (cays!!!) - and mostly with less
    than 3' depth surrounding them.  Thank God for the beautiful clear
    waters, but it still made you a little leary of cutting any mark too
    close.  
    
    I'm rambling,... reliving the trip and wanting to return!!!  Maybe
    someday soon...
    
    Enjoy your trip... would love to hear a trip report when you return to
    earth!!!
    
    .....Beth

    
    God am I envious!  I spent two years skippering Hinckleys in the
    Bahamas and Virgin Islands back in 1976-1978.  Most of the work we did
    was in the Abacos.  Some of the previous replies offer good advice.  
    
    Fly in your food (I assume you are flying into Marsh Harbor via
    Mackey), but leave some time for conch chowder and rock lobsters and
    grouper (monk fish) ashore.  When in Green Turtle Cay go to Miss
    Emily's Blue Bee Bar and order a Yellowbird while watching the red sun
    descend over the tourquoise banks.  Don't wear yellow tinted sunglasses
    for this colorful event.
    
    Get a copy of Mr. Walinsky's book on cruising Abaco Sound.  I don't
    remember the publisher but I may have a copy of it at home.  There is a
    lot to know about navigation in the Bahamas that you can't find out on
    the few charts that exist.  Don't expect to see navigational aids such
    as buoys or lights.  Navigation=Piloting by eye.  Learning to read the
    colors of the water to avoid coral takes a bit of practice, but the
    charter companies are good at telling you where you can go and where
    you can't.  Pay attention to them.  Make sure that your piloting and
    dead reckoning skills are good before you go.  It does not make sense
    to try to re-learn while you cruise.  Confidence in this are will do
    more to assure you of a good trip than almost anything else.
    
    Rat Cay is a good place to dive for rock lobsters, but is north of
    Green Turtle and may be out of your cruising range.  
    
    Treasure Cay is the tackiest tourist dive in the Bahamas but has
    a rocking disco and fast women from slow boats.  (Sorry, my mind was
    wandering).
    
    Conserve water.  Yes, it can get cold.  You won't need a wetsuit for
    snorkeling.  You won't need a swimsuit either, except at Man O'War Cay
    which is populated by (very decent!) Evangelical Methodists (most of
    whom are named Albury) of Scottish stock who build great boats.  Check
    out the Man O'War schooner, the William S. Albury if she is still in
    service
    
    There is a lot more to tell.  Give me a call if you have more
    questions.
    
    Richard D. Buchanan; Civic::Buchanan; DTN- 264-3664
    
    Enjoy! 

    Dan, I'd like to hear your trip report...we have a party of four
    to charter this coming New Year from BYS (who_have_changed_their_name_
    to_Sun_Sail)./Mark