The weather calmed so we ventured out to the far out islands, stopping first in Conception Island. The waters here are something else entirely! Traversing waters over a mile deep to come on-soundings into a 10 foot anchorage makes for quite the dramatic contrast.
The waters could not be more crystalline… all the better to watch your anchor slide next to your boat as you float over it in a dead calm.
There were about a dozen boats in Conception who had the same idea as we did.
We ran into Jerry & Donna on their lovely new catamaran Blue Jacket, whom we last saw six years ago in the Jumentos.
That evening we watched one of a series of incredible sunsets, witnessing a green flash three nights in a row.
The next morning we were greeted by the sharp chirping of white-tailed tropicbirds flying overhead, chasing each other in some kind of morning ritual.
We took advantage of the calm and reduced ocean swell to enter the exposed north anchorage of Flamingo Bay on Rum Cay. There is a large reef system to the west and the entire bay is littered with coral heads, many that come right up to the surface. The navigation is tricky to say the least so a midday approach with good visibility is required to weave around all of the hazards and anchor in a spot with clear swing room.
Mark jumped right in to check out the structure around our boat but found these to be rocky outcrops, so we went to the western barrier reef to snorkel along the extensive reef system. The visibility was amazing (still no underwater camera ~ ugh) and a tiger grouper came home for dinner.
We later took a dinghy and beach tour and noted the 6 foot drop-off all around the beach. It’s possible that this is the result of hurricane Joaquin that devastated these and surrounding islands last fall.
An ocean triggerfish and lobster also made their way to the dinner table.
With some sour oranges and hot bird-peppers from Barraterre, we made a fantastic ceviche with the triggerfish whose firm meat is perfect served this way.
That evening we watched another incredible sunset that ended with a green flash…
After two days in Rum Cay we headed up to Conception Island again checking out the eastern anchorage as the weather was still calm.
The weather was changing with crystalline high clouds that showed off a moon ring and then a sun ring... indicating the end of our time in the out islands for now.
