Sailing to the Bahamas

Raccoon Cay is located between Hog Cay to the south and Buena Vista Cay to the northin the Ragged Islands and has a beautiful sandy beach along the anchorage. There are old ruins up on the beach and coral heads that make for good fishing. The anchorage at Raccoon Cay Sunset with a chance for green flash as sun sets over open water Sunrise over Raccoon Cay as we pull anchor Rainbow after brief shower while under way Captain Duckie pulling lobster traps before season ends on April 1 Skiff off Long Island fishing boat, Captain Duckie

Southside Bay, Ragged Island is the most southern major anchorage in the Ragged Island chain. Duncan Town is the only settlement in the entire island chain and was devastated by a hurricane. The police station, clinic, and school have been abandoned. A church and a bar and grocery store remain open. Our boat neighbor skimming about in his sailing dinghy at Southside Bay Our welcoming committee as we head into town Tamarind pods used for making jams Flowering vine along the road into Duncan Town View of channel back to Hog Cay Cut The abandoned Police Station after damage from the hurricane Outside grocery store, conch hung out to dry with salt ponds in background Chicken with chicks and rooster wander about Church has been lovingly restored after hurricane Beautiful blooms along houses The school abandoned and all children moved to other islands Walked by salt ponds on way to the beach Rock hopping and beach combing out from

After Nurse Cay cut, we passed Buena Vista Cay and Raccoon Cay on our way towards Johnson Cut to the anchorage at Double Breasted Cay now in the Ragged Islands. Enjoying the sunset after a long day's travel The full moon rose as the sun set View from the top of the split between the island A look to the other side of the island Plenty of rock hopping and beach combing in search of hamburger sea beans The lumpy sand bar at low tide on adjacent Maycock Cay we hiked Jelly fish caught in the sandy pools

The second island along the Jumentos chain with a sandy beach anchorage is Flamingo Cay. There is an old beacon still on the hill and a cave you can go inside with your dinghy. View of the anchorage at Flamingo Cay Approaching the cave by dinghy Inside the cave with sky light Double rocks guarding the lagoon where we searched for conch While wading for conch, we found live helmet shells Both anchorages have sandy beaches Hiking across the island we saw barely blooming cactus Walking across the iron stone, you can spot red shrimp in the rocky pools Egret in flight Beautiful water colors off beach on back side of island Scared off birds in flight as we searched for conch