We had one last day in the Exumas before crossing back over to Rock Sound and we were putting it to good use by finally going to do the washing machine. We had missed doing it on our first visit to Shroud and kept hearing how fun it was so we were determined to give it a go before we left. High tide was at around 10 am and it was a long paddle to get there so we were up, fed and in the dingy before 9. Which for us is a real feat.
The paddle from the anchorage to the washing machine is long but beautiful. It’s through mangroves and full of birds and sea turtles. The current was light and Jesse has become a very strong rower so we made really good time and got to the spot we were aiming for right around high tide slack.
It’s a really neat natural water park. There is a deep narrow cut surrounded by a sand bar that the water from the mangroves rushes in and out of. On a falling tide the current runs really strongly though this spot creating little whirlpools and counter currents that you can ride on. When it finally spits you out on the ocean side you can just stand up on the sand bar walk over to the beach and hop back in.
It was so much fun that we spent several hours swimming and playing in the current. Even getting stung on the scalp by a wasp didn’t dampen Aria’s enjoyment for long. It was the perfect way to spend our last day in the Exumas!
Dad and Aria floating around in the washing machine
We got up early Sunday morning since we needed to be off by 8:30 am if we were going to hit the cut at around slack tide. Before we left we took the time to change out our headsail from our big Genoa to our smaller Jib since the winds were supposed to be pretty strong and on the beam all day. We always build changing out the headsail up to be a big deal but it’s really not that much work and we should do it more often (don't be a lazy sailor)
We sailed off of our mooring ball right on schedule for once, and headed for the cut. There was another boat doing exactly the same thing and we ended up sailing beside them all the way across the Exuma Sound which was fun.
Our timing for the cut wasn’t bad but even so the waves were pretty big on the sound. It had been blowing hard all night and so they were bigger and steeper than we’ve been used to in the Bahamas. Even so the sail was really nice our Jib and double reefed main kept us barreling along at 6 knots without ever feeling over powered.
It turns out lots of other boats had decided to wait out the blow in Rock Sound as well. At one point I could see 9 boats heading into Rock Sound with us and several more behind us visible on AIS. We’ve spent so much time here now that it kind of feels like coming home. By 6pm we were anchored up in our usual spot and more than ready for some dinner and sleep.
