REPORTS FROM THE RIP: T and C

In the last few days, we have traveled from Nassau to Highborne, then to Hawks Nest at Cat, then to Flying fish at Long Island, then to Mayaguana where we anchored out, And now we are in the Turks and Caicos. For the last five days I have had the pleasure of having my son aboard as well as the boss. Its been a nice time. The first few days were cold and cloudy, but the weather has turned picture perfect and the seas became flat calm.
We did not catch much between Cat and Long island, Except for some nice Yellow Eye Snappers. But on the way to Mayaguana from Long island took us across the north side of the Auklins/Crooked island. We managed to catch some nice big fat Wahoo. We did have a Blue Marlin hooked for a bit but pulled the hooks. Two nights ago, we anchored out in Abrahms bay at Mayguana. It was beautiful. We arrived the as the sun was low on the horizon. But we still had to jump in to see the reef. The crystal clear water was to tempting. Right away, A nurse shark started getting frisky with everyone. I was on the back deck watching as Steve Tyler and Patrick hooted and squealed thru their snorkels. Tyler actually got bumped by one of the nurse sharks. It was not in a menacing way. It was as if they were wanting to be fed. The bay there has become popular as a place for yachts to overnight and the best we can figure is people have been feeding them. ( Mating season for them is not until August. )
Later we grilled steaks and marveled at the sunset and then the stars. It was one of those picture perfect evenings to anchor out. The sky was so clear that Patrick pointed out you could actualy see stars all the way down to the horizon and not just overhead.
Yesterday after pulling our anchor from a wonderful night on the hook, we did some deep dropping right outside Abrahms bay. We picked up some more nice big Yellow eye snappers before trolling our way to the eastern end of Mayaguana. we captured a few more wahoo. Patrick caught another real nice one. Tyler still has not got a wahoo yet. he thought he had one yesterday, but it was a small tuna. He will get his this afternoon.
This could very well be our last stay at Turtle cove marina in the Turks and Caicos. The entrance to the marina is sanding in again. I have been asked by other captains to report on how bad it is. In my opinion I would NOT come into this marina unless you are at dead high tide and with good overhead light. The sand has filled back in at the entrance and has claimed quite a few boats props as of late. I was able to squeeze into the cut. It will not attempt it again. The good news is, that the marina at Leeward cut ( Niki Beach) is reopening. It is under new ownership. ( ICY marinas) It is under soft opening now. The docks have shore power but no fuel. Fuel can be attained though via truck. There will be an on site customs house as well as immigration. The dockmasters name is Adam Foster. His number is 649-332-7676. Scooter bob, from scooter Bobs car rentals gave me all this info and said that if you need to rent a car while there to go to the IGA grocery While here, he will be glad to bring a car to you at Leward marina. His number is 649-946-4684. The Marina at Leeward has 20 feet of wather all the way into it at the esatern tip of Provodenciales. Its quicker and safer than crossing all the reefs to get to Turtle cove. The docks and Marina there are fistclass and designed to take mega yachts up to 250 feet. We will be going there from now on. They are opening April first. But like I said, you can go there now. We drove there last night, and there were two yachts there.
I love having my son along on these trips. Its great bonding time. Just hanging out together with him is wonderful. He knows is jobs on here and has no problem washing the boat and helping out anyway he can. Hell, he even jumps right in after dinner and does dishes!!!!! He's gown into a nice young man. We have had a few rums together on the trip and talked and laughed. Its been great. Last night I taught him a good life lesson. I gave him $20 bucks to put in a 25 cent slot machine. ( gambling is leagal all over the island) He burned thru the 20 in minutes. I doubt he will play slots in the future.
Today I am running to the Marine hardware store to get a few things. Then we are going to head around to East Caicos to Fish for a while before anchoring out. Then Tomorrow we will run to the Dominican Republic. The weather is perfect.