On the 30th we departed Exuma for central Long Island. We had enough northerly component in the wind to sail over close hauled as the wind clocked throughout the trip keeping us hard on the wind in minimal chop. Last year we went to the northern tip of Long Island sailing through deep water. I was hesitant heading toward the center of the island with its many shallow banks and reefs. Most all boats cruising around here have under five feet of draft so it is no problem for them (we have 6’6″). We purchased the Explorer Charts for the Far Bahamas this fall and with some additional waypoints decided to make the jump. Our anchorage is in Thompson Bay off a settlement called Salt Pond. We are now officially in the tropics because our latitude is south of the Tropic of Cancer. There are no cruisers anywhere which makes us feel like we are on a remote atoll in the Pacific. Cruisers will start arriving after the new year. Long Island is about 80 miles long, a few miles wide and has around 3,000 inhabitants. Settlements are spread up and down the island on one road, so you really need a car to see anything. We rented a car yesterday from Stanley. He told us that most of the younger people move to Canada or the US after high school and the island is shrinking in population. We made a tour of the island checking out Clarence Town to the south, eating lunch at a place called Lloyd’s in the middle of the island, and going slightly off road to see the famous Dean’s Blue Hole. There is an awesome little store in the bay called Hillside Food Supply that has a selection to rival the Exuma Market in George Town. Long Island is a beautiful off the beaten path hidden gem with friendly locals worth a visit.
