Turks and Caicos...

We cleared customs early in the morning and motored up Samana Bay in rough choppy seas.  

Once we headed around the Peninsula the main went up, the jib went out and we had a lovely downwind sail on the North Coast and overnight to Great Sandy Cay in Turks and Caicos.  

We caught a Mahi Mahi...

As we entered the Cay, we were greeted by two Humpback Whales and a Turtle.

Next morning, very close to Our Rose, was a Humpback Mum and her Baby

(The picture below shows the Baby Breaching and the dark shadow is Mum beside it.

The photo below is Mum

Next day we had a lovely light sail across the Turks Island passage to Caicos Bank – our first experience of very shallow waters and watching out for coral heads.

We made our way to Cockburn Town to clear in.  

Walking to customs, these photos show the houses, with the church and its crooked entrance

Customs is upstairs from the bank.  The bank is only open one day a week, where the staff fly in – People queue all day to get their wages.

 

Immigration turned up and offered to take us on the back of the truck to her office, 

however decided she would be happy to deal with us at the customs building

  At anchorage, while having a Sundowner, this spectacular sunset occurred, 

with Seismic Wave in the foreground

 then it intensified to look like something from a Sci-Fi movie...

  

We then sailed to French Cay and onto Sapodilla Bay.  

Here we hitchhiked into town to try to find a rental car – to no avail… 

so we stopped at “Da-Munchies” for Jerk Chicken, Jerk Pork and cold beer.  

The owner then kindly drove us back to our dinghies.

Brett managed to organize a rental car (which was delivered to us), so we drove the island.  

Next day was Teresas Birthday – we drove to Bay Bistro and had lunch, 

then went for a walk on the beach

We then headed back to Our Rose for Strawberry Daiquari's, Crayfish Salad, Panko Crumbed Crayfish with citrus ginger dipping sauce, Chocolate Cake & Chocolate dipped Strawberries.

Next day we cleared customs, sailed to South Caicos, 

ready for the early start the next morning to Mayaguana, Bahamas.  

When entering the harbour, a “HUGE” shark swam passed – not to be deterred, Brett & Richard headed off for a snorkel – no Crays, however lots of fish, lovely clear water and dramatic coral.