| The Jumentos Sample Chart |
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Flamingo Cay, Jumentos, Southern Bahamas
The chart and following text are from The Southern Bahamas Guide by Stephen J. Pavlidis
Water Cay to Flamingo Cay
Flamingo Cut-¼ nm W of:
Flamingo Cay-1 nm NW of: Just south of Water Cay lies Melita Cay. Anchored at Water Cay in moderate to strong easterly winds, you can watch waves crash into the eastern shore of Melita Cay and shoot skyward to fantastic heights. Southward of Water Cay to Flamingo Cay lie Melita Cay, Lanzadera Cay (Chart JU-4), and Torzon Cay (Chart JU-5). These cays offer little to visiting cruisers except a lee if caught out in heavy east/southeast winds.
If you choose to sail down on the banks you can head west of Water Cay about 1½-2 miles before taking up a course to parallel the cays southwestward to Flamingo Cay. This is a better route if the wind is kicking up. The only hazards when leaving Water Cay are the reefs just southwest and west of Water Cay and a small reef (6’ at MLW) not shown on the charts in this guide, at 22º 57.00’ N, 75º 50.56’ W. For skippers using the banks route, a waypoint at 22º 54.30’ N, 75º 53.10’ W, will place you just northwest of the anchorages that lie along the western shore of Flamingo Cay. If paralleling the western shore of the cays from Water Cay southwestward, watch out for the large reef that lies just north of the small cays that stretch northwest of Flamingo Cay as shown on Chart JU-5. From this waypoint pass south of those same offlying cays and enter the anchorage area. From offshore, a waypoint at 22º 54.30’ N, 75º 51.00’ W, will place you approximately ½ mile to seaward of Flamingo Cut. The only obstruction is the two large rocks that are awash at low water in the center of the cut as shown on Chart JU-5. These rocks usually break in any seas and can be taken on either side. Once past these rocks head northwest until you can clear the reef system lying northwest of Flamingo Cay. Then turn and head southward until you can make your turn towards the anchorages in the lee of Flamingo Cay. You can anchor anywhere along the western shore of Flamingo Cay in winds of any strength out of the northeast to southeast. At the northern end there is a small cove, which would be suitable for a small, shallow draft vessel, say, perhaps a catamaran, to enjoy. In the cove south of it is the wreck of the John Davis. Just south of the John Davis is a pretty cove, my favorite, with a trio of palm trees ashore, and deep water very close in to the beach. This anchorage has good holding (its still a good idea to dive on your anchor folks) and is the least prone to surge along this western shore. Ashore and to the north you will find the ruins of small house, a dry well, and a burial site. Just behind the well is a small cave that leads down about 10’ to a small room that has enough room for four or five people to enjoy a sit down dinner. There are some other ruins in the area including some old graves, but one must cut a trail to them and the area is thick with poisonwood.
What You Will Find Ashore At the northern end of Flamingo Cay is a beautiful beach and a good anchorage in winds from southeast to southwest. In strong winds from east to southeast there can be a bit of surge. You will obviously not want to be here in any northerly wind. To enter the anchorage you can turn to port as you come in Flamingo Cut and steer right up to the beach to anchor in 6’-9’. From the west you can pass north of the offlying reef northwest of Flamingo Cay or pass between it and the small rocks stretching northwest of Flamingo Cay. There is a dinghy channel between Flamingo Cay and the first rock leading off to the northwest. On the beach at this anchorage you will find the wreckage of a small, single engine amphibious plane. At the southern end of Flamingo Cay lie two very conspicuous, large dome shaped rocks. Between them and Flamingo Cay is a pocket of water 15’ deep at the end of the creek that separates Flamingo Cay from its southern tip. Between these rocks and Flamingo Cay a shallow draft vessel of 2’-3’ draft could find protection from a frontal passage in about 3’ of water. Care must be used if you attempt to tie up in here. The anchorage shoals quickly to the north and is quite rocky. Check it out by dinghy first or head south to Buena Vista Cay if a front threatens. This area is a breeding ground and nursery for nurse sharks that frequent the area in May and June. Divers will want to check out the numerous small heads lying along the western shore of Flamingo Cay well out into the anchorage area. Just northeast of the small cays lying northwest of Flamingo Cay is a beautiful elkhorn and staghorn coral reef whose top dries at low water.
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