There are always unknowns when we head offshore, but our recent transiting of Whale Cay Passage was riskier than most of the passages and cuts we’ve encountered.

At Whale Cay the water is too shallow and there is too much current to stay in the safe and relatively calm waters in the lee of the islands. This route requires venturing out into the Atlantic for a few miles and then cutting back into the sound.

Whale Cay Passage is notorious for especially rough seas and wicked current. When conditions are bad, it’s called a rage. A couple of weeks ago, in unsettled conditions, a 36’ sailboat sank when it was pushed against the rocks of this fair-weather-only passage.

Aboard Dagny, when faced with these tricky parts of our voyage, we read what we can, talk to fellow cruisers who have done the route before, and listen carefully to the VHF radio for up-to-date information on tides, currents, and conditions.

After waiting for days for the wind to settle, we joined a parade of boats heading out of Marsh Harbour toward The Whale. We all were mindful of arriving at The Whale at slack tide to minimize the effects of the current. Although it was windy, the conditions generally looked favorable for passage, and we timed the tide almost perfectly.

We experienced crashing waves on the ocean reefs to our right and into the island to our left. In between it was rough, but we kept a careful watch, reading the water as we went. We steered clear of a close reef just under the water and eventually made it through. Afterward, we both remarked that the anticipation was way worse than the actual passage.

So, we chalk this up as another accomplishment, increasing our experience, seamanship skills, and ability to read the water. We never really know how it will turn out until we do it. We may not have caught any fish yet, but we conquered The Whale.