Low Bay, Barbuda

On the 2nd we sailed north to Barbuda from Jolly Harbor. We initially had trouble staying high enough to keep our angle but we received a lift and made good time passing a few boats on the way. We anchored in Low Bay and were amazed Hurricane Irma had taken out a one mile section of the beach that opens to Codrington Lagoon since we visited here in 2015. The ground swell vs the wind produces large breaking waves in the new pass so going through in the dinghy is problematic. Our initial spot was very rolly so we moved further north the following day. Jim launched the SUP to visit the beach but it developed a seam leak on the return trip in the same spot it was repaired so it is probably down for the count.

On the 4th we made arrangements for a tour of the famous frigatebird sanctuary with George who has been taking care of cruisers for decades. He picked us up plus another boat and carefully piloted his Boston Whaler through the new pass to the settlement of Codrington. We paid a park fee at the dock and we were off on the tour. George gave a great narrative of the island’s history and geography before we entered the mangroves. George showed us a container that blew a mile away during the hurricane that was heavily loaded with a generator and other equipment giving us an idea of the strength of the storm. We were amazed with the amount of frigatebirds in the sanctuary. Apparently, this is one of just three of their home bases in the north Atlantic. We were also amazed at the clarity of the pristine waters of Codrington Lagoon and learned it is a nursery for all sorts of fish. After the tour we purchased some lobsters from George and he took us back to the boat. Jim processed and prepared the creatures since Amy, the former farm girl, did not have the heart to harm them. Stay tuned as we plan to move south to another bay.