Boat Buddy

True, John, very true :-)

Pascal, we're not sure yet. Between all the storms and the forecast sea conditions, I don't see a crossing window any time soon. The original goal was the Abacos, but I'm not sure if that's going to work out. Is it worth the trip to spend some time in Berrys via Bimini?
 
I like the Berrys. While it s not the exumas there are some really nice spots and they re often overlooked. The area north of hog / bird has great sandbars and amazing starfishes everywhere. Hoffman and its Blue hole are worth a couple of days, along with the great harbor cay area.

Especially with a shallow draft boat
 
Just don't expect much as far as amenities are concerned (in the Berry's). Last time we were at Great Harbour the marina pool was green and had frogs in it. Seriously.
We made it to Green Turtle yesterday, the wifi is pathetic on Green Turtle. Best guess on a calm crossing is Thurs. (5/9) or Friday (5/10). Seems like quite a bit of vacation time to spend on a window. If you are open ended sure. But otherwise.....
 
Via Monty Lewis (Explorer Charts) on 3/3/13: "What a pleasant trip to Great Harbour Cay! The marina is clean and well-staffed. There is a laundry onsite and the village is a pleasant hike where two modestly stocked grocery stores (Whitewater and A&L) and a variety store with local straw work and several smaller shops can be found."

Perhaps things have changed since you visited? We won't waste many days for a window to West End. If something doesn't open up by early next week, we'll have to go to Plan B. The Berrys sound like my kind of spot. If we could spend a week at anchor there I'd be very happy.
 
Hmm. No mention of restaurants though at Great Harbour. I'll recommend reading the reviews on Active Captain for the Berrys and leave it at that. Certainly, there are some very good beaches and anchorages. The marina there is fine, but depressed. Hopefully they have recovered. Deb and I did some good walks and dinks while at Great Harbour. But you will not find a place like Firefly, On Da Beach, Garbonzo etc. there.
And yes, we owe you!
 
I agree, the Berrys are really about anchoring out and enjoying the remoteness, not shoreside attractions. We enjoy cooking and grilling and rarely eat ashore, Staniel being the exception, we love that damn bar!

As mentioned the area around Hog, Bird and Whale is overlooked by most people and really worth a couple of days
 
At this point, who knows. Chris Parker seems to think early next week might settle down for passage. We'll see. If so, we'll head over with Jerry and Christine and give them a whirlwind tour of what we know of the Abacos (they can stay longer, so they'll see more after we leave). But if not, we may very well opt for the places in the Berrys Pascal mentions. I do enjoy a good restaurant, but I just cleaned the Magma and I've got a freezer full of food that can keep us for weeks at anchor.
 
It sounds like you are good to go no matter which way you go. We took the dinks up to Manjack from Black Sound today and hit several beaches along the way. On Manjack towards the North end there is a beach on the West side. Good anchorage. The picnic tables have "reserved for Brenal's" painted on them. This is where there is a path to the most beautiful beach we have seen in the Abacos. You can just make out the path across the cay on Google Earth, Stop in, anchor out. Enjoy.
 
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