About a month ago we started picking up the Abaco's Cruiser's Net on the VHF radio each morning. At that time, we started hearing about "the whale". Every day someone would call in and ask if anyone could report on the conditions in "the whale".
All along the barrier islands (cays) off Great Abaco Island's north, northeast and east coast are channels that allow the (inside) Sea of Abaco to meet up with the (outside) Atlantic Ocean.
In order to continue heading northwest in the sheltered waters of the Sea of Abaco one must pass through the Whale Cay Channel. For 4-5 miles it is necessary to travel in the Atlantic Ocean parallel to Whale Cay while being effected by the wind, wave, swell and tide conditions of the Sea of Abaco. The coming together of the wind and sea state of the ocean and sea coupled with the 1 meter tidal flow can result in a very rolly ride.
We "staged" nearby and planned our approach carefully.
On April 14th the Sea of Abaco had a light breeze (14kts) coming out of the east-southeast. The Atlantic was calm with a very small swell. We made the passage at slack water.
The weather window we chose was in the calm before the approach of a cold front. (thanks for that weather course John Kabel) We took the chance that we might encounter rain and indeed it did rain upon us twice during the 3 1/2 hour passage.
We dropped anchor in the lee of Green Turtle Cay and picked up our emails only to find the transmission parts we ordered had cleared Customs ......in Nassau. (?) Should they find their way to the marina in Marsh Harbour we may have 2 more passes through the whale in our future.
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