Allens
Pensacola has what real estate agents call “location, location,
location.” It is 24 n. miles west of Green Turtle Cay and 30 n.
miles east of Great Sale Cay. Everyone who travels the western
reaches of the Little Bahamas Bank stops here eventually.
The
entrance to the anchorage is wide open. The anchorage itself is
generous. We arrived too late to “read the depth”; but no
problem, just follow the Garmin chart plotter all the way into 7 or 8
foot depth. Holding is good in sand (which is rare in this part of
the Bahamas). There is excellent coverage from the north through the
east. Since White Pepper's
wind was 20 knots out of the NE, we were golden. This would not be a
good place to be in southerly or westerly breezes.
White
Pepper spent a comfortable
night here. In the morning several beautiful beaches beckoned. We
dingied in. The beaches are indeed exquisite, but “no see 'ums'”
(gnats) drove us off after a quick walk and a bath. We did see a
gratifying large amount of sea life on the beach and rocks.
Jan's Toes in the Crystal Clear Water of Allens Pensacola
There
is said to be excellent snorkeling on the Atlantic side of the cay.
There is also an abandoned NASA missile tracking station further down
the island. White Pepper did
not have enough time to tarry.
White
Pepper includes this stop in
the blog for completeness. Anyone passing this way when the wind is
out of the north through the east should consider stopping and maybe
staying for a few days.
