Litterbox, Red Shanks, Great Exuma

Given that there is a major blow heading our way (tropical storm force winds and 20 foot seas in the Atlantic), we took Ralph’s advice and headed on a high tide at 7am into the Litterbox, an anchorage with a very shallow approach just N of Crab Cay. There were only five other vessels there, so we both got good spots. Over the next two days other boats have filtered in, with a rush in the evening before the high winds. Our spare halyards are wrapped about the furled jibs, flags are removed, dinghy is stowed, etc. Now we have dinner and wait to see if we get 30 knots or 60 knots.

The front arrived with little wind, but massive rain. When that passed around 11pm, we could see a huge lightning display nearby to our southeast. While we stayed aboard during this, 4 other boats had decided to go ashore to the nearby Rusty Anchor and have drinks (they were full for dinner). They said it was an excellent choice - “What storm?”

Well, all of us in the Litterbox survived very well, thanks! Now and Zen’s anchor dragged at 2:30am after the wind shifted and rose sharply. I was on watch just in case we had a problem, but we were solidly anchored. But the next morning we discovered via the VHF cruiser net that 5, then 7 and then finally as many as 11 boats were either struck by lightning or had suffered nearby lightning damage. We got very lucky,

With the storm passed, we had a rare chance to move SE under sail, so Ashling and Now and Zen decided to move together,Read more