Leaving Albert Town we went to the very south of Akinson Island, to the small Castle Island. Along the way we made three CTD casts in Datum Bay, reaching a depth of 100m. The island itself was also home to lighthouse keepers. Unfortunately, this lighthouse has also been abandoned and only the remains of buildings around speak of a bright past. Having anchored in a small bay next to another yacht, to which the owners – a young Polish couple with two children – soon returned from the shore, sailed across the Atlantic and are now exploring the Bahamas. The guys Pawel and Maria invited us to an evening bonfire with fried fish from Pawel’s “catch of the day.” Thank you guys for a pleasant time spent in your company and safe travels!
Track of sailing to Castle Island with 3 CTD castsA new kevlar 150m line set on the winchCTD cast with hauled sailboatPlot of data for CTD cast#1 Plot of data for CTD cast#2Plot of data for CTD cast#3Approaching Castle IslandCastle Island abandoned lighthouseThere were better days…Rusted lighthouse stairsWreck near the lighthouseTwo shadows walking on a beachTalk with Pawel with the kids starting a bonfire CTD cast with the lighthousePlot of data for CTD cast on the anchoring near Castle Island
Traveling across the islands of the Bahamas from the prosperous north to the decaying south offers a complete picture of the life within these island communities. Life here has been largely shaped by the basic necessities required for survival—when certain forces, including natural disasters like hurricanes and economic declines based on local resources of salt, lead to the disappearance of once-prosperous towns. One such place is Albert Town, which at one time had up to 4,000 inhabitants. Now, it is home to just a few residents, whom we never saw.
A grocery shopHurricane shelterRuins of Sts. Augustine and David Anglican Church For whom the Bell Tolls?CTD cast in the Albert Town Anchorage Plot of CTD cast dataSunset
After leaving Clarence Town, we set a course for Pittstown, the northernmost point of Crooked Island. Despite what the names suggest, these places are actually small villages, each home to only about 50-100 people. Thankfully, these are still communities—far from the completely lifeless ghost towns that awaited us further along our journey.
After six hours of sailing, we arrived at our anchorage off Pittstown only to discover that half the houses were empty, abandoned in the aftermath of the 2015 hurricane. Among the buildings, only the new marina and a distant lighthouse caught our eyes.
The Bird Rock Lighthouse was both an architectural marvel and a poignant emblem of isolation. Built in 1876, the lighthouse featured a beautifully designed structure with a wide veranda supported by columns encircling its base. The tower itself rose from a mass of desolate rock that jutted abruptly from the Caribbean Sea, a crucial beacon for vessels navigating to and from the Bahama Islands.
There is a tragedy that happened on this lighthouse, you can read the full story here: https://www.lighthousedigest.com/Digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=4101
Sailing the oceanIryna is on the helm – so confident!Clear waters of Crooked IslandCatch of the dayView on the Birds Rock Lighthouse from the shoreClose up on the Bird’s Rock LighthousePtitstown MarinaRenting houses in the marinaHawkOceanolog and Lighthouse in blueSunsetArrived by dighny through the raff seasTechnical buildingLighthouse keeperBreaking wavesLighthouses architecture marvelOsprey built his nest atop the lighthouseDoors after doors….Main entranceAnother side of the verandaMillion dollars seaviewView from the baseCorroded stairsCorrosionOil storageVeranda with a sea viewTwo on the LighthouseCTD cast with the Birds Rock Lighthouse on backgroundRuskin plot of CTD cast data
