NAVIGATING AND CRUISING

APRIL 25, 2012

The course is sometimes tricky. On this particular day, travelling between Royal Island and Highbourne Cay, we first had to go through “Current Cut”.

Capt'n Fred at the helm watching the charts and water

As you can see, it is very skinny going through here and the passage has to be timed so as not to hit the tide at the wrong time. If the tidal flow is running with you, you could be pushed off course and run aground. You want to be passing this area at either slack water or against the tide. It seems counter-intuitive the way you have to go – you must keep very close to the coral in order to be in the channel.

Pretty close...but this is where the "deep" water is...

There are so many islands in the archipelago of the Bahamas that you are often in a situation where you have to go between islands through a narrow passage. You really have to pay attention to the tides, currents and winds to navigate these areas.

On the same day we transited between Middle Ground Bank and the west side of Eleuthera. This area is full of coral heads and you have to stay alert to be sure you do not run into one. There was only 8 or so feet of water under us as we went across, and we needed all eyes on deck to keep a close watch for any heads not marked on the chart. It was a tense 30 minutes and we made it through fine. (Obviously, or this post would have had a far different tone!!!)

Hard to tell in the photo, but the dark spot toward the top is a coral head.
These are what you have to look for as they cannot all be charted.
You find them scattered all over the place -- pay attention!