Trip Report #11:  Man-O-War Cay

Filed from Marsh Harbor, Abaco, Bahamas

26  32.84  N   077  03.56  W

April 12, 2006

Photo:  Tom, Libby, Andrew, Clara (back row), Jessie (front), Erin, Deborah, Andy and Gil (hiding) in Hopetown

    Man-O-War Cay is a place in the Abacos that we have visited many times.   Years ago, Tom would fly down to go fishing with a business associate and friend on a sport fishing vessel called The Boat.  He spoke so highly of Man-O-War that his sister, Deborah, and her husband, David, stopped here while cruising the area. They liked it so much that they bought a house and built a guest cottage on the Sea of Abaco side of the island. It's a great place to have little family reunions and get-togethers; and Deborah is a wonderful, welcoming hostess who always makes us feel right at home.

    The weather was stable and the wind calm when we anchored the first night outside at the north end of Dickey's Cay.  We wanted to take the family to Hopetown the next day and did not want to deal with the tide.  We dinghied out to Starboard Home and motored in calm winds the few miles over to Hopetown.  On the way, Tom's grand-niece and -nephew, Jessie and Gil, got a lesson from their Dad, Andy, on steering the boat.

Photo:  Gil handles the boat like a seasoned sailor 

Photo:  Jessie keeps her eyes on the course ahead

Photo:  Andrew catches some rays

Photo:  Clara & her mom, Libby, enjoy the view

Photo:  Erin relaxes in the cockpit

Photo:  Jessie and her dad, Andy, on watch

    We were celebrating Deborah's birthday (won't mention which one) and had a great lunch at the Harborview Restaurant in Hopetown, where they make the best conch burgers.  We walked through the quaint village, past pretty pastel cottages with blooming flower gardens, and stopped to pick up a few loaves of delicious homemade wheat bread at Vernon's Grocery.  

Photo:  A Hopetown thoroughfare

    And we spent some time on the long white sandy beach, snorkeling and swimming and jumping in the waves.

Photo:  Gil is very glad to be at the beach

Photo:  Jessie basks in the sand

Photo:  Clara and Libby get ready for a swim

    After a great day in Hopetown, we motored into the narrow entrance to the harbor at Man-O-War Cay with an hour to go to high tide (having learned our lesson at Hawk's Nest Creek) and tied up to a mooring in the Eastern Harbor.  During the night a front came through, eventually producing squalls with heavy rain and hail and high winds, forcing us to cancel a trip to the Mermaids outside of Marsh Harbor.  The next few days were fairly pleasant, but continued with periods of cloudy and rainy weather, which gave us opportunities to read and play some indoor games.

Photo:  Jessie relaxes, watching the movie, Ice Age

Photo:  Clara & Debbie get set to play Poker

Photo:  Our Poker expert, Andrew, ponders his next move

Photo:  Andy loses his shirt to Uncle card shark, Tom

Photo:  But takes it like a man!

Photo:  Clara and Libby play Boggle

Photo:  with Andy and Erin

Photo:  And Gil (who likes to 'wuf-house') gets the best of Andrew

    A good time was had by all, in spite of the so-so weather and it was great to be together.  We are now waiting eagerly for Nathan and Avery, Becky & Tim.  And no matter what the weather, we always have a good time with family in the Bahamas.

                   73s, 88s, love & hugs-

                   Peg & Tom Maynard

                   s/v Starboard Home

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