Long Cay, the Bahamas (The Bight of Acklins)

Long Cay is in the Crooked Island district of the Bahamas. Just over one mile wide and 9 miles long it marks the north-west edge of the very shallow Bight of Acklins waters.

The only settlement on the island, Albert Town, fell on hard times with the failing of the sponge and salt industries. A testimony to more prosperous times is the Anglican church, the largest built in the Bahamas south of Nassau (currently under partial restoration). Today 30 residents remain on the island.

We were saddened by the decaying sign at the dock welcoming one to Long Cay "the Home of Prosperity".

We anchored on the southeast side of Long Cay, miles off shore, in 4 feet of water and took our dinghy in past the mounds of conch shells marking the very shallow channel.

A hike along the dirt track to the other side of the island revealed the gorgeous beach off Albert Town. While we were there the wind was whipping the top off the surf as it crashed across the reef surrounding the town.