4/4/24
8 Miles
One of our quickest hops to date. Staniel Cay is just down the way from Compass Cay. If you ever find your way to the Exumas, chances are Staniel Cay will be a recommended visit. Close by is the famed Thunderball Grotto where many movies have been filmed, most notably James Bond's Thunderball, Splash and Into the Blue. In addition to the Thunderball attraction, this tiny settlement has a festive vibe with the Staniel Cay Yacht Club at the center of it all. There are two restaurants; one casual, one more formal and then there is a bar. The Staniel Cay Yacht Club bar is the perfect spot to have a Rum Punch or two and just maybe have a celebrity sighting! Previous visits we have stayed on the dock and on a mooring, this visit we elected for a mooring. Moorings can be found just in front of the yacht club as well as all around Thunderball Grotto a quick dinghy ride away. The wind and seas were pretty wild while we were there, with a rain squall one night - so no grotto visit for us this time. We did get plenty of time at the yacht club and found some good provisions.
COAST on a mooring in front of Staniel Cay Yacht Club.
Mooring field around the Thunderball Grotto. Our last visit in 2022 we dove the grotto, a really cool experience. Timing is everything to get inside the cave. Some may be apprehensive to do it, but if the tide is low and you can sneak in, there really is nothing like it!
Dinghy parking at Staniel Cay Yacht Club - it gets crowded!
Staniel Cay Yacht Club entrance.
Bathing suits and flip flops attire welcome!
Staniel Cay Yacht Club Bar before its standing room only!
Yacht Club flags from around the world covering the Staniel Cay Yacht Club ceiling.
Cute stuff in the gift shop.
Staniel Cay Yacht Club has a limited number of brightly colored bungalows
if you want to stay on land.
Lime green tree bungalow
Pink shell bungalow
Purple orchid bungalow
Its always a treasure hunt when you need provisions along the way. Staniel Cay is a great place to provision with two small grocery stores, ironically right next door to each other. The Pink Shell or "Pink Store" and the "Blue Store". To support both we divide our grocery list between the two.
Pink store first
Blue store next
What a view!
Walking back from the grocery stores.
This photo doesn't do justice to the waves and wind.
I absolutely needed that noodle to stay close to the boat that day!
This image perfectly sums up why they call the waters here Exuma Blues.
Up next Exuma Land and Sea Park
4,164 Miles to date since August 1.
All our best from the vessel COAST, Captain Walt and first mate Aimee.
