Day thirteen (6th September) we finally left Thessalon and are heading to Meldrum Bay under overcast skies and light winds out of the southeast, which is the direction we want to go. We motor sailed until we had cleared Bigsby Island then the wind picked up and shifted and we shutdown the engine and were able to sail again. We ended up tacking into the bay along with another sailboat. This is the first boat we have seen traveling other than fishing boats. Meldrum Bay is very small with three long piers and the area has campsites and a boat launch. There is a general store, which was closed but is under new management and will reopen in a few months. Also there is an inn with a restaurant that had only a few selections on the menu and the food was excellent. The whitefish is fresh caught the day before and is brought into the docks right here by the fishery.
Day fourteen (7th September) we woke to overcast skies and winds 15 to 20 knots out of the south. These would carry us swiftly to Gore Bay our next stop. We needed to turn the boat around in the slip to get out because of obstructions at the end of the docks, which were the pilings that the docks were anchored. They were leaning into our exit path. After we got turned around with help it started to rain, we canceled our departure because this became a pattern all day. A squall line would come thru every hour or so.
Day Fifteen (8th September) we woke to clear skies and after breakfast set off for Gore Bay.
Once we got out side the bay the wind was on our bow again with two-foot waves so we motored all the way. This was a very picturesque harbor with the town and homes starting at the waters edge and sweeping up the side of the hills to the bluffs about two hundred feet above. The bay is “V” shaped and somewhat narrow with bluffs lining the shore with pines and rock outcrops along the edges and a meadow at the inner most part. There are several bed and breakfasts and inns around the bay. New docks now take up most of the anchorage area, yet there is still enough room to swing at anchor if you choose.
Day Sixteen (9th September) we woke to a beautiful day and setout towards Clapperton Channel, which is full of rocky shoals. Although the channel is marked it looks hard to negotiate from the chart view because of the shallow water. After motor sailing again with the wind on the bow we cleared the shoals and set course towards Little Current. It seems like the wind is funneling around all the island and channels so it keeps changing direction on us, which is usually where we want to go. We docked in Little Current and walked around town, which is right along the waterfront. It was Sunday and most of the shops were closed or going to close. There was a nice restaurant open that had free WiFi. There were many people in there having dinner and using their laptop computers. This by far is the most populated town we have been in and many of the people are locals not visitors like us. Most of the towns it seemed like the visitors outnumbered the local residents.
Day Seventeen (10th September) we got ready early so we could make the 0900 bridge opening. There is a swinging bridge that opens hourly on the hour so our next opportunity would be 1000AM. We made the opening and went thru with two other sailboats. Once on the thru we set sail and were off at a fast pace heading for the Lansdowne Channel which I was certain we would be motoring up to get to Kallarny. Kallarny is in a river or channel that is very narrow between it and Georges Island. The only way to get on Georges Island is by boat or you could swim the 100 yards or so across the river. We had fish and chips at the famous Herbert’s Fisheries bus. We met the dock master at the Mountain Lodge and discover that he and his wife come here to work in the summer and have a boat in Florida where they winter. They also know the previous owners of my boat. We got a lot of good tips from them about sailing down in the Bahamas.
Day fourteen (7th September) we woke to overcast skies and winds 15 to 20 knots out of the south. These would carry us swiftly to Gore Bay our next stop. We needed to turn the boat around in the slip to get out because of obstructions at the end of the docks, which were the pilings that the docks were anchored. They were leaning into our exit path. After we got turned around with help it started to rain, we canceled our departure because this became a pattern all day. A squall line would come thru every hour or so.
Day Fifteen (8th September) we woke to clear skies and after breakfast set off for Gore Bay.
Once we got out side the bay the wind was on our bow again with two-foot waves so we motored all the way. This was a very picturesque harbor with the town and homes starting at the waters edge and sweeping up the side of the hills to the bluffs about two hundred feet above. The bay is “V” shaped and somewhat narrow with bluffs lining the shore with pines and rock outcrops along the edges and a meadow at the inner most part. There are several bed and breakfasts and inns around the bay. New docks now take up most of the anchorage area, yet there is still enough room to swing at anchor if you choose.Day Sixteen (9th September) we woke to a beautiful day and setout towards Clapperton Channel, which is full of rocky shoals. Although the channel is marked it looks hard to negotiate from the chart view because of the shallow water. After motor sailing again with the wind on the bow we cleared the shoals and set course towards Little Current. It seems like the wind is funneling around all the island and channels so it keeps changing direction on us, which is usually where we want to go. We docked in Little Current and walked around town, which is right along the waterfront. It was Sunday and most of the shops were closed or going to close. There was a nice restaurant open that had free WiFi. There were many people in there having dinner and using their laptop computers. This by far is the most populated town we have been in and many of the people are locals not visitors like us. Most of the towns it seemed like the visitors outnumbered the local residents.
Day Seventeen (10th September) we got ready early so we could make the 0900 bridge opening. There is a swinging bridge that opens hourly on the hour so our next opportunity would be 1000AM. We made the opening and went thru with two other sailboats. Once on the thru we set sail and were off at a fast pace heading for the Lansdowne Channel which I was certain we would be motoring up to get to Kallarny. Kallarny is in a river or channel that is very narrow between it and Georges Island. The only way to get on Georges Island is by boat or you could swim the 100 yards or so across the river. We had fish and chips at the famous Herbert’s Fisheries bus. We met the dock master at the Mountain Lodge and discover that he and his wife come here to work in the summer and have a boat in Florida where they winter. They also know the previous owners of my boat. We got a lot of good tips from them about sailing down in the Bahamas.
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