Abrahams Bay,
Mayaguana,
Bahamas
22.21.553N
72.59.068W
As predicted, the weather continued to deteriorate throughout the day but we and the trimaran anchored next to us are anchored securely and weathering the conditions nicely. Unfortunately, the two boats that were anchored in Betsy Bay didn’t fare as well.
We first heard them hailing us on the radio about mid-morning when they asked about the conditions in Abrahams Bay. We relayed back to them that although we were registering about 20 kts winds with gusts to 25 kts, the seas inside the reef were only 1’ wind driven waves and that we were riding comfortably. The boat we were speaking with reported that they had an 8’ draft and were leery about tucking too far inside in shallow waters. They said that they were going to check their charts and most likely move back to the western side of the anchorage where the water was deeper. We assumed that meant within the next couple of hours.
However, during the day we would hear them talking to each other about getting together and reviewing charts together. It seems that the boat with the 8’ draft doesn't have a GPS and the second boat with the shallower draft, does have one.
As I described earlier, the day got progressively worse with pelting rain and visibility falling to a couple of hundred feet. About 5pm, with light fading, pouring rain, and the winds picking up, we heard them say that they were leaving Betsy Bay for here. With all of the reefs and coral heads around, we considered that a daring move in good conditions.
We listened as the deeper draft boat without GPS led the way into the anchorage, with the shallower draft boat with the GPS guiding him in from behind. At one point it got a little exciting when the lead boat apparently turned too soon and wasn’t responding when the other boat tried to let him know. With us being on the far eastern side of the anchorage and not being able to see them through the rain, we could only sit and listen. Finally, we heard them say that they were dropping their anchors. A couple of hours after that, one said goodnight to the other saying that he’d had a harrowing day. We’re guessing, of course, but we suspect that in view of where they were located, wind and waves, a bit of dragging might have been involved.
