Bahamas Anyone?

C

C-Gypsy

New member
My brother-in-law and I are seriously considering a trip to the Bahamas once hurricane season is over.

Any advice from those who have made the voyage will be greatly appreciated.

Thought about taking my sailboat but have an urge to run C-Gypsy down. Besides, once we are there C-Gypsy will be much faster when exploring the islands.

Anyone interested in joining us?
 
Mary and I are planning to take the Cosmic C to the Bahamas for a week or two as part of our Great Loop cruise. We've been advised to avoid January and most of February and so plan to head over towards the end of February and into March.

Patrick and Mary Fowles
25 ft C Dory Cosmic C
Currently moored at the Midway Marina, Fulton, MS
www.the-fowles.com
 
We're still interested in making a trip to the Bahamas. The wife and the kid are trying to plan something for the kid's spring break in March (she's a teacher), to be able to meet us somewhere. Apparently this is all on a "need to know" basis, and I don't need to know, yet. My involvement will be allowed when it's time to buy plane tickets for the kid and her husband, I imagine.

We'll be in south Texas until December, then some non-C-Dory traveling, back to the boat by January. Then east to Florida. Then ???

I'll be watching this thread.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I too would like to take the trip, but not '07, maybe '08. Was there in 2000 with my 31' trailerable trimaran, great trip, I could even act as a guide on parts of the trip. We went a total of about 600-700 nm RT.

Problem I have is my son doesn't graduate until mid-June '07, a bit late to start a 4+ week trip including trailering when hurricane season has already started (although locals believe August is the start). Bottom line, I just won't go [again] without either one or both of my kids. However, my daughter is a possibility, she graduates from college this Dec'06....hmmm.
 
A friend of mine is a delivery boat captain & a sailing instructor. He knows the Bahamas fairly well, so I will ask him his thoughts on the best time to go.

Beyond that here are my thoughts...

November is out because I am tied up with business. Yes, some of us still work for a living. And yes, working for a living IS depressing!

December is out because if I disappear during the holiday season I will be shot, stabbed, killed and then executed. Probably in that order, although there may be some variation depending upon who gets to me first. Trust me, it would not be pretty.

My family puts up with Knot Rocker & C-Gypsy, but only to a point.

Cosmic C may have already suggested the best time frame, perhaps we should co-ordinate with them.

Nick on Valkrie is interested.

I know it is impossible to arrange a time frame to suit everyone, but am willing to go with whatever date suits the majority.

I will talk to my friend and post his thoughts & suggestions.

Al
 
This sounds like a dream trip, I would love to get in on the Bahamas, but I don't think I would return 8)
Rumors of a new Div. for my company in south FL. and I told them im game. don't think I will make 07 but 08 may just happen. I will be cruising from San Juan to Barbados in Dec but that will be on Royal Caribbean Serenade of the seas. Anyone care to join in they have it listed as a hot deal now :lol:
and I do sideline as a home based travel agent :smiled
I just love anything on the water and I will be picking up Hammerheads replacement on Nov 3rd. Was wondering if I should name it Hammerhead or choose a different name, oh hell im wondering here. Bahamas sounds so nice, wow never thought of doing a caribbean cruse with a C-Dory. Sounds like a ball. Just watch out for flying stingrays :bat

Smooth seas and tight lines to all :D
 
hammerhead-

Sounds like you've recovered nicely from your boat loss and are in good spirits again.

Good on ya'!

Good Luck with the new boat!

Joe.
 
Just did a Royal Caribbearn cruise from Baltimore to Mexico (and back).

Talk about fun! Now I am trying to figure out where to mount a slot machine on C-Gypsy!

The buffets damn near killed me though. Only needed one ticket to get on but thought I might need two tickets to get back off. :mrgreen:
 
C-Brats
The best time to cross the Gulf Stream is anytime the weather is perfect. The wind clocks from the north to the east to the south to the west. At no time do you leave when the wind is either from any part of the north. Keep in mind wind from the west will probably move to the north. Leave early in the morning. By the time you leave the lights of Palm Beach behind you start seeing the lights of West End, Or Bimini leaving from Miami. Getting across and arriving in the Bahamas by 9:00 A.M. is Ideal.
I wake at about 5:00 or 6:00 am and get on the radio,asking if anyone out there will give me conditions. If they say it is flat or close to it, I wake my wife and we leave peanut Island. Two and a half hours or so we are across. My wife complains about the early hours, but early morning is the best time. Wind may come up toward afternoon.

If the wind averages 10 miles an hour in the Abacos in the summer expect it to be twenty mph in the winter. Good for sail boaters. You can have good or bad weather summer or winter. Plan on waiting for crossing time up to two weeks coming or going. Do not become impatient and rush leaving. Early spring or late fall is the best although Jan and Feb can be ok too.

Capt D
 
Thanks Capt D, good info and rules to abide by. Our group of 5 boats were lucky, great weather most all the trip (not enough wind for our tri's, but 10 mph worked OK). I went mid-May to late June. Towards end we experienced a tropical depression pass through, over in about 3 hrs, no problems, we were tucked in a cut behind a small island, plenty of local weather forecasts predicting exactly where it was and when. The C-Dory's wouldn't have had a problem where we were, max 3-4 ft seas at anchor, but high winds -- all at about 78-85 deg outside temperature (and water). 2 anchors are mandatory at most places to anchor (cuts) in order to position in tight places, but easy to do. An unforgettably wonderful trip, I'm going back next opportunity I can muster.
 
OK, I am ready to go....it will take a while for da dog and I to get to Huston where we will launch...then over to biloxi and then bumble out way along to Florida....an across...but we are ready... we were thinking of making da jump somewhere late march or early april...unless we can find some friends willing ta go... the dog and I are flexable...

Joel an Roxie
SEA3PO
Camarillo Camarillo (this week)
 
SEA3PO":20otewxk said:
OK, I am ready to go....it will take a while for da dog and I to get to Huston where we will launch...\the dog and I are flexable...

Joel an Roxie
SEA3PO
Camarillo Camarillo (this week)
Click to expand...

Well, I know the Blonde is getting back into the groove: right now, she is on the internet doing a search to see what is necessary to bring a pet into the Bahamas. Good for me and Molly the cat (she goes where we go... except Hawaii and their quarantine procedure :disgust ).

Joel, you might be interested in this... you need to have a Veterinarian Health Certificate for your animal (within 48 hours of embarkation), and a Bahamian Application to Import your animal within 90 days (you have up to 90 days from the time the application is processed to arrive in the Bahamas). That information is from 2004; it may be one year for the application now. That is for one entry, as well. This is a bit different from other countries, so I thought I'd pass this on for anyone who travels with furry family members.

If your pet needs shots, they need to be done 30 days prior to getting the Health Certificate. If I am understanding this correctly (and I sure may not be), that "48 hours" thing means it will be necessary to find a vet in Florida the day before you head across. Anyone know about this for sure?

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I'll be glad to help out on the planning of this trip, and suggest that anyone interested load up on available publications, beginning with Skipper Bob's Bahamas Bound ($15), available at some boating stores, and through Amazon.

Since the crossings are weather dependent, I suggest Plans A and B. Plan A would be crossing the Stream to the Bahamas, and Plan B, heading south along the Keys, on the inside. If everyone assembles and the weather window stinks, we do Plan B. I've done B, as have several others, and it won't take much effort to have something firm in place, as a backup.

What's the thinking on having a backup? If positive, I'll put some thoughts together on both.
 
We are also up for a trip to the Bahamas--been there before--and its a great place. I believe that Molly Brown does this trip regularly.

Captd gives great advice--also remember that you have to understand that the same criteria for weather crossing apply both ways. It is very possiable to get "stuck" over there for weeks if the wind condinues North against the Gulf Stream. Also once the seas begin to kick up--your boat speed will most likely go down--so a 3 to 4 hour trip, may turn into an 8 hour trip--and you don't want to make land fall after dark. Although I have gone in slower boats in the past, I have left very early in the morning--before first light--having already explored and have a bread crumb trail out the pass for the first part of the trip--the day before.

Another good source of information is the Water Way Radio and Cruising Club: http://www.waterwayradio.net/ 7268 mhz lower side band at 07:45 Eastern Time. You do not have to be a ham or have a ham radio to listen. There are good relitatively in-expensive radios (ie Grundig Yachtboy 400--or more current model) which will recieve this frequency and you can listen to news, position reports and weather.
 
Yes, reading what is going on with this C-Dory group and what I'm missing convinces me, I gotta get a life!
 
According to Skipper Bob's Bahamas Bound, our best weather windows for C-Dory type boats will be between the middle of May to end of June. My wife teaches school, and this window would possibly allow her, and others similarly situated, to fly down and/or across, and join in for part of the trip.

Unless we plan on traveling a considerable distance from our first Bahamas landfall, we would be more inclined toward landfall at West End, in the Abocos, rather than Bimini, in the Exumas. The Abocos seem to have more ancorages and like facilities which would give us high-quality shelter, and exploring in relatively short legs.

Thoughts?
 
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