Hopetown is one of the most interesting and picturesque towns in the Abacos. It was founded by Loyalists in the 1780’s and is readily identified by its iconic candy-striped lighthouse, built in 1863.
We had a motorboat ride down from Green Turtle, but it was so beautiful. The sand in the Bahamas is white, white from the coral and literally reflects the sunlight from the bottom, giving the water its gorgeous blue color.
The Sea of Abaco tends to be relatively shallow, about 10-20 feet deep with a good number of sand shoals. We navigate with GPS, using a computer and handheld GPS unit. We plot a course on the computer from waypoint to waypoint, using the Explorer charts, (developed by Sara and Monty Lewis); the computer screen shows us where our boat is in relation to our course. We also follow a paper chart, marking our lat and long as we go. It’s important not to be so engrossed in the electronic navigation that you aren’t looking around at the real world – in the Bahamas the water is so clear that you can learn to read the depth by just looking. The bluer the water, the deeper it is; if it’s white/yellow, (Pinot Grigio looking), don’t go there; coral heads are black – and you really don’t want to hit one. The colors are easiest to read with a high sun behind you and can be skewed by grass on the bottom or clouds blocking the sun.
Although it’s well marked, the entrance to Hopetown harbor can be a bit tricky because the water tends to be a little thin, but we entered on a rising tide and had no problem.
We are in a marina so we’ll have power until our alternator bracket is fixed. Dockage at the marina is ridiculously cheap, but showers are $4/each; water is $ .35/gallon, laundry is $10/load to wash and dry, and we pay for electricity by the kilowatt hour. Internet is free; so is the water taxi across the harbor to town.
After we tied up, we got a ride on the marina taxi to Captain Jack’s for lunch.
Do you believe that we ran into a friend of mine from work there? Neither of us could believe it either! She’s here with her artist husband, who is part of a painting workshop and gallery opening at Hummingbird Cottage Art Centre. BTW, it was bingo night at Captain Jack’s. Apparently loud arguments had broken out during trivia night over some disputed answers – hard to say what’s in store for bingo night.
After lunch, we strolled around town until we found a spot to relax with a view of both the lighthouse and the harbor entrance.
It was a long day on that beautiful Bahamian water and we needed some time to sit.
And admire. (The water, not our feet.)
Oh, yes, and savor a piece of freshly made coconut pie from Vernon’s. Not kidding – huge chunks of fresh-off-the-tree coconut in it. Yum, yum.
Pie can be dinner.
SAIL MOTU ITI 
Beautiful weather! I really like the picture with the lighthouse in the background. Glad you are taking some time away from the alternator bolt 🙂
Wonderful post! First, loved the info on navigating. Second, fantastic pictures. Last, but hardly least, sounds like you are relaxing and enjoying the location, weather, scenery, etc. What a great place to wait on a repair. Looks heavenly as I sit here looking at snow and it’s only 4 degrees. Sun is shining here at least.