Green Cay with sharks
So we arrived here at Green Cay (pronounced “key”, by the way) yesterday and are staying put today and likely tomorrow. We are waiting for the right conditions to cross the shallow water to Pipe Cay. We have beautiful sunny and warm weather but also a brisk easterly breeze that is the opposite of what we need. The forecast is looking good for a Sunday crossing, however. Then onwards south to Georgetown on Monday to pick up Axel and Sixten, though we may end up being a day late, weather depending.
In the meantime we are enjoying the heck out of this isolated island right on the edge of the deep, deep blue of the Tongue of the Ocean and the shallows of the Great Bahama Bank. When I scan across the bay I see four or five shades of blue and green, ranging from the dark intensive blue of the deep waters, through sky blue, shimmering blue-green, turquoise and aquamarine as the waters get shallow towards the beach of the island. (Pictures will follow when we are off satellite connection only.)
We had a great swim around the boat in clear 12 foot water yesterday. Chris had a reason to get the hookah scuba gear out (oxygen tank remains onboard and the diver goes below with a long hose and breathes through a ventilator). This was due to our first line-in-the-propeller mishap. It was a classic rookie mistake where we had the fishing line out while making our way down here, turned into the wind to get the sails down and, presto, fishing line caught in the propeller. Fortunately it didn’t interfere with the operation of the propeller, and actually, even if had, we could have made do with the other engine and propeller (catamarans have an engine on each hull).
Our first shark excitement came after the rest of us were done swimming. Chris was still working on the prop and all of sudden got out of the water with considerable speed and alacrity. Sizable shark sighted right under the boat. Only then did Chris mention that he had been on extra lookout since he had cut his finger ever so slightly at some point earlier. Maybe sharkie would have come visiting no matter what, but it’s also possible he smelled chum in the water. Propeller work done for the day.
Then today, Eva, Chris and Justus got the spearfishing and snorkling gear together and took the dinghy to a small reef a few hundred yards away from the boat. Justus hopped in and Chris followed. Eva stayed put in the dinghy. I was watching them through the binoculars and couldn’t help chuckle when I saw first Chris, then Justus, come back out of the water like shot out of cannons. Several sharks had gathered rather quickly and were expressing more curiosity at a closer distance than seemed healthy. Eva caught some of this on video, will share later.
Now we are gathering up courage for another propeller fix mission while the sun is still high in the sky. Chris will go in with the hookah, Justus, Eva and I will be in the water keeping a 360 degree lookout. To seasoned Bahamas cruisers this is probably kindergarten, but to us it’s exciting, a little scary and fun, all at the same time. If you haven’t heard another report by this time tomorrow, send out the shark patrol!
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