CODA STILL HERE IN THE BAHAMAS 2025 (63).

 CODA : Exploring West End, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas.

14 March 2025 

Old Bahama Bay Marina, West End, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas  

 

Sunrise at Great Sale Cay.

Marc-  It was another long travel day.  We pulled up the anchor at 08:30, raised sail, started the diesel, and off we went for West End.  The day was spent mostly on autopilot in light winds motor sailing.  There was not much to do.  We were outside of cell phone range (about 6 miles).  Initial contact with Old Bahama Bay was made by VHF radio with its 50 mile range.  

Sun and clouds as we left Great Sale Cay.

The last hour of travel required passing through a shallow area with some boat-eating reefs to avoid at all cost.  The shallows kept me guessing when we might hit bottom.  We have a very accurate depth finder and our boat has 5 foot draft when not loaded down for a voyage.  Luckily we were not fully loaded.  There were several readings of 5.2 feet on the depth finder.  We never touched bottom.  I had called ahead on the VHF radio to let the marina know we would be arriving about 15 minutes after closing time (17:00). 

The fuel dock was busy on arrival but we pulled in right after a catamaran left.  Sue asked if we could get some fuel.  The response was sure, if we were spending the night.  The response was "we're closed" to someone who just wanted to come in for fuel.  This was very helpful since we want to get an early start in the morning.

We walked about the resort and marina stopping for dinner at the local restaurant. 

Coda crossing the Little Bahama Bank.

Look carefully at our outboard: we have a stowaway.

Sue found our stowaway in a cozy spot.

Colorful residences at our marina.

Nice pool.

Enjoying the colors.

My attempt at a sunset photo.

The last stop in the Bahamas.

Sue's West End sunset.

Sue:  The neighbors who helped us in said the restaurant here has the best food in The Bahamas, and they said they are particularly fond of the grouper grilled cheese sandwich.  So, I got that, and I really liked it.  There is nothing good about it for you:  lots of butter, cheese, and fried fish.  But of course it was tasty.  I have not had any really great food in The Bahamas.  In Bimini we got Conch stew, and we liked that.  But since then, and before tonight, I remember good grouper fingers in Great Harbour in the Berry Islands.  Otherwise, the food is all fried, and everything has bread with it.  We got a BLT at The Snappy Turtle at the St. Francis Marina in George Town.  It didn't have any bacon, as advertised, the lettuce was yellow, the tomato was very thin and anemic, the turkey and ham were deli that was not good.  Basically it was a bread sandwich.

We did not get outside of the resort tonight.  The guide books say nothing about what is in town, so we have no idea what we may or may not have missed.  We got here too late.