Highborne Cay to Shroud Cay – February 2025
13 NM • 2.5 hours
A Short Sail with a Twist
From Highborne Cay to Shroud Cay, it was a quick hop, just 13 nautical miles and barely two and a half hours on the water. Easy, right?
Well, kind of.
We headed southwest, out and around the shifting sand, then back in toward land. The water was calm, the sun was out, and everything looked good on the chart. Until it didn’t.
One Anchorage, One Lesson
As we made our way toward Fresh Well Bay North, it looked like the perfect spot to drop the hook. Peaceful, protected, and tucked away. But there was one clue we couldn’t ignore.
Only catamarans were anchored there.
If you’ve ever cruised the Bahamas, you know. If there are only cats in an anchorage, it’s probably too shallow for a monohull. We draw five and a half feet, and the second we saw that, we realized we’d misread the chart.
No need to test our luck. We spun the boat, followed our track out, and gave a silent thank you to the shallow water gods for the warning. Lesson learned.
Plan B
We headed farther south to a safer bet, Southwest Shroud Cay. There, we grabbed a mooring ball, dropped anchor, and settled in for some much-needed rest. That anchorage became home for the next few days, and turned into one of our favorite stops.
Sundowners
It was here we met our first real cruising community, a fun and easygoing group of people who felt like instant friends. Conversations were as familiar as they were comforting.
What’s the weather doing?
Where are you heading next?
What time are sundowners tomorrow night?
Everyone had a different story, but we were all sharing the same rhythm. Check the forecast, chase the calm, swap stories at sunset, and move with the wind.
Dinghy Trip to the Washing Machine
One of the highlights of our stay was a dinghy ride through Shroud Cay’s winding mangrove creeks, heading to the Washing Machine.
We invited our new friends Steph and Jojo from SV Radiant Spirit to join us, and off we went. The tide was perfect, the water was still, and the whole ride felt like magic. Mangroves curled around us like a green tunnel as we followed the current out toward the beach.
At the end, we landed on one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve seen. White sand, crystal water, and a natural rapid that flows out onto the shore. That’s the Washing Machine.
We docked the dinghies, splashed in, and soaked it all up.
Weather Watching and Spanish Practice
We stayed a few more days and rode out some good blows. In the Bahamas, you can’t let your guard down. The moment you do, the wind will remind you who is really in charge.
We had our daily rhythm. Wake up, sip coffee, check the weather as a team, then spend time working on our Spanish. We knew we’d need it soon.
Final Thoughts
What started as a short trip turned into one of our favorite memories. Between the lessons learned, the friendships formed, and that unforgettable ride through the mangroves, Shroud Cay gave us a little bit of everything. It was the kind of stop that reminded us why we’re out here in the first place.
Cheers,
Patrice & Rodney