Bahamas (Bimini) 2008

E

Ernie S.

New member
I am making tentative plans for a trip to Bimini in May (2009). Is anyone interested in taking their boat across at the same time. Wave and wind conditions, for an easy crossing, appear to be best from May through July.

Making an open ocean voyage (especially when crossing the Gulf Stream) requires reliable equipment, adequate safety gear, competent navigators and attention to details. Problems easily solved near land can be extremely serious when twenty or thirty miles out.

In July, we launched our 22' C Dory (We Bit) at a county park on Biscayne Bay, spent the night on the boat and left for Bimini the following morning. Average speed for the crossing was around 15mph. I was overly cautious navigating through Biscayne Bay, so the trip took five hours.

I spent months, prior to the trip selecting safety equipment and installing redundant systems.

Docking and clearing customs was simple and quick ($150 for Customs) so we had plenty of time to explore the island after checking-in at Sea Crest Hotel.

During the next few days, we made three trips out to the local wreck, visited South Bimini several times and explored the bay between islands. On the way back to Biscayne Bay, I trimmed tabs and motor to push the bow down as far as possible (for a smooth ride) and ran "flat-out" all the way (24mph). This reduced the return trip time to about four hours. Fuel consumption for the entire trip with the 90hp Honda was 42 gallons.

We called US Customs after arriving at the dock (at Biscayne Bay) and were instructed to drive to their office in Miami.
 
I might be interested. I'm near Savannah. Been wanting to make the trip across the stream, but I was thinking about going to West End. Send me a pm at Bill3558@yahoo and lets kick it around.
 
This trip has been proposed several times before.

It would be educational to search it out and learn how the typical planning and execution go.

All get to gathers and tours have lots of sign ups followed by many cancellations, and an adventurous and challenging one like this would have a big sign on rush that would, in the end, have a drop out rate of 75%, as a guess, anyway.

This is not a typical weekend trip to Catalina, as you well know!

Hopefully, the threads are still in the archives!

Good Luck!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I answered my own question with the search tool. I thought I remembered reading this very informative "as usual" information from Bob Austin.

Bob says...

I believe that the current fee for the cruising permit for the Bahamas is $150 this includes: "The fee covers the cruising permit, fishing permit, Customs and Immigration charges, and the $15.00 per person departure tax for up to four persons."

The proceedure for entry is: to fly the yellow Patique (Quaranteen) flag from the starboard radio antenna or some other staff above the cabin top, when within three miles of Bahama land. Notify the authorities of your arrival and no one goes ashore until cleared. If you happen to pass other islands before a port of entry--again do not go ashore until you have been cleared in. You will have to have a passport and fillout imigration papers when you arrive. Have a Bahamas Courtesy flag to fly after clearance. (We usually fly the courtesy flag as soon as in territorial waters) This is probably best flown from the bow staff or a starboard radio antenna. If you haven't cleared, it would be above the "Q" Flag. Also have a United States flag (not the yacht ensign) for the stern.

Theoretically the boat should have a FCC radio license for the VHF radio I am not certain if this is enforced, but I strongly advise having one. Bicycles need to be licensed at the first place where you can obtain a license.

Pets: An Import permit is required from the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Industry. Applications for the permits, plus a $10 processing fee, must be made in writing to the Bahamas Director of Agriculture, PO Box N-3704, Nassau, The Bahamas. Tel (242)325-7502/7509 or by Fax (242) 326 3960 (send extra $5 if applying by fax). Permit can be obtained on line www.Bahamas.com 20REQUIREMENTS_FORM_070604.pdf Allow enough time to receive the permit before leaving your home port For Pets coming from the US and Canada, dogs and cats must be 1. Six months old or older 2. Accompanied by a Certificate which states that the pet has been vacinated against rabies within not less than 1 month and not more than 10 months prior to importation. 3. Accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate presented within 48 hours of arrival in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to a licensed veterinarian for an examination.

If you are a ham and want to use your radio, you need a recipricol amatuer radio license: Submit a written application indicating the location of the amateur radio station and the period of operation
A copy of the individual birth certificate showing place and date of birth. (copy of passport photo page should suffice)
A copy of the individual amateur licence. (General, Advanced, and Extra class are accepted). Novice and Technicians class are not considered. --(this may be old--since the US license are changed)
A money order in the amount of $25.00 made out to the Public Utilities Commission. Executive Director and Secretary
Public Utilities Commission
Radio Licensing Department
PO Box N-4860
Nassau, Bahamas Allow three months!
Tel: 242 322-4437 Fax: 242 323-7288

Cell phone service for US phones (roaming) is limited basically to Grand Bahama and Nassau/New Providence islands -You can get Bartel cell phone service on a plan there, "Cybercell" with prepaid service.

So get the radio license now, if you are a ham get the permits now, Pets get the forums, order the "Q" flag and Bahama Flag. The costs of the fees are going to be about $180 for the permits and exit tax, the $160 for the Radio license (good for 10 years). Also remember that water is in short supply and is usually sold not free as it is in US marinas.
_________________
Bob Austin
Thataway
TomCat 255 150 Suzukis
Frequent Sea
C D 25 2003, green 130 Honda
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
 
The Bahamas (Abacos) is in my plans for this winter. The new Ranger will be built and delivered the 20th of October. After Thanksgiving we will leave for Florida. I will put the Lucky Fin in the St. Johns River in Astor, head down the river to Jax, south on intercoastal to Palm beach. Or if others decide to go across to Abacos, I will ajust my time table, We would prefer going with others just for the company. We have gone with the C-Dory 22 twice. We had twin 40's, but I would go with single engine any day. Lots of traffic in that 60 mile stretch. You can reach the Coasties all the way across.
Last year we only got about twenty miles out before engine trouble. No problem, make sure you have membership with Sea Tow if you only have one engine. We go with no less than two months to play with. That will get your moneys worth.
The Abacos has many more nice anchorages compared to the Exumas. Bimini is nice but there is some blue water on the way to Nassau. George Town is the next good sheltered anchorage with supplies. Which would probably be as far south as you would go in one trip.
I forget, is it the Tongue of the Ocean or the Exuma Sound on the way to Nassau? It has been 16 years since I made that trip.
Oops, just looked it up. It was North East Providence Channel and Tongue of The Ocean. They are end to end. The only stops we made were Nassau
and George Town. With one stop for the night right before you hit the blue water, from than on your anchor rode would be to short.

You guys should not p-mail info back and forth, I and others would like to hear your thoughts on this trip. Could work out where others may be interested in going. :thup :beer :beer

captd
 
I would think its all about being flexible and having a weather window. Not only going, but coming back. So a solid 3 day window of calm weather would be the overriding criteria for me. I think that may only present itself in late May early June.
 
Hi,
Looks like several of the C Brats might be interested in a Bahamas trip (-:

We chose Bimini because it was close but mainly because it is not as developed as some of the other islands. Anyone interested in great restaurants, lots of action and people will probably be disappointed in Bimini (-: Apparently the only time it is busy (and noisy) is during local fishing tournaments. We will attempt to schedule around the tournaments.

Several local out-fitters will take people to dive, snorkel or even swim with dolphins. You can also snorkel around an old shipwreck (the Sapona) that is located about seven miles away in fairly shallow water. On our next trip, we hope to travel several miles past the Sapona to Honeymoon Harbor and try to find and feed the Stingrays (-:

I agree that it is important to have a good weather window and to have time to wait for calm conditions when crossing and especially when returning.

Once we were abut ten miles from Florida, we did not see any other boats until Bimini appeared on the horizon.

My friend called his phone company before leaving Florida so we were able to use his phone while in Bimini. We could also receive weather forecast (from Florida) on the VHF early each morning. Later in the day we were unable to pick-up the broadcast.

As expected, items in grocery stores were expensive - milk = $8 per gallon, crackers = $6 per box. Gasoline = $6.20 per gallon. Cost for simple meals in the restaurants was reasonable (-:

Ernie
 
captd":3ntwwqli said:
You guys should not p-mail info back and forth, I and others would like to hear your thoughts on this trip. Could work out where others may be interested in going. :thup :beer :beer
Click to expand...

I am one of those "others" and hope you will share as well.

Warren
 
Ok, skip the pm.
Im glad you posted because I would really like to do this with you. I assume you will be coming down I-95 and we can hook up around Savannah ans head south together. What I dont want to do is go to Miami and wait for a weather window, so we will have to be watching the weather closely before we leave and be flexible in our timing. My job allows that, hopefully yours does too. I will probably bring my 26 year old son with me if he can get off.

Are you thinking of staying there 2 or 3 nights?

Average speed crossing at 15 knots sounds about right for dragging a lure on the way across. Maybe pickup Mr Wahoo.

Regards,

Bill
 
Bill 3558-

2 or 3 nights, or two or three weeks?

After that adventurous crossing, the expense, and the opportunities there, I'd want to plant my behind down for awhile. Plus, you may have to wait for another weather window to return.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
A while back there was a post from someone who waited about 10 days for a good weather window and gave up. Don't remember the time of year.
 
There is a reason that the "escorted tours" are scheduled for the early summer months. The Northers are not likely to occur.

The problem is that the wind against current gives some huge and steep seas. Lots of very seaworthy boats (like cross the Atlantic) wait weeks or even a month for a widow to cross to the Bahamas in the winter, because of these storms. You cannot really plan on a few days--you have to have the time to wait for a safe crossing back. The late spring and fall are better times for crossings in small boats. People do it in 13 foot Whalers, 18 foot Center Consoles, Pangas etc. But it can be rough.

The other consideration is what if one of the group has some problem. Are the other members going to wait and escort him or are they going ahead? I was on the BOD of Seven Seas Cruising Assoc for a few years and there was consideration of a "Cruise to the Bahamas"--because of the potential problems a group cruise was finally nixed. It is a short run, lots of boats do it, but one has to be aware of the potential problems and plan accordingly.

We may well join you, if all things fall in place, but it would be for more than 2 nights and for much more than just Bimini, if we went! Incidently, we would be much more in favor of further out Islands. The big deal is crossing the Gulf Stream--in my opinion, the further "out"--the better....
 
My reason for waiting until May is because May through July appear to have the most calm days with seas less than two feet and winds not out of the North. My schedule will be fairly flexible and I hope to make a couple of trips across in early May.

You will need a Passport and boat registration to clear customs in Bimini.

Ernie S.
 
This may just show how little I know about this whole Bahamas ballgame, but why not just get several compatible families together that know each other well and have one or more experienced skippers amongst them and charter a 50-60 ft or larger Hatteras or similar boat (or even a big sailboat) and go have a grand tour together? Surely there must be enough retired folks with flexible schedules that could accommodate a several week tour and have a grand time together.

Plus the size of the boat and the presence of the experienced skippers would take much of the worry and apprehension out of the crossing. And you wouldn't have to wait for an absolute dead calm weather window, either.

Plus folks from other parts of the country that didn't want to trail a C-Dory several thousand miles to Florida could join in as well.

And no, I'm not volunteering to arrange this, but it just occurs to me that it might be a workable idea.

But I might be willing to go with my wife if we had a first class experienced leader step up to the helm!


Joe. :teeth :thup :idea :?: :?: :?:
 
Well, there is a really lovely Nordhavn 62 down in Orange Beach. The owner took it off the market, but it is still for sale. It has 3 double staterooms and one stateroom with 4 bunks (crews quarters, plus a captains stateroom in the wheel house. We could just set up a schedule and take that boat anywhere the people in the group wants to go. Plus I have a friend who is arguably the best boat handling teacher in the country who would love to get involved with this type of project. A thousand dollars a week a person would get the ball rolling--with solid commitment for at least 3 years.... Plus we could do some serious passagemaking and carry two C dory center consoles as "shore boats"....

Any takers?

For the most part there are Hatteras 53's to 60's are going to have 3 staterooms (capability of sleeping 6, vs the 12 that the Nordhavn could handle. Plus the Hatteras would be faster, but considerably more expensive to run and maintain. The Nordhavn would be far more seaworthy--and I think that the cost per person per week would be about the same.

I have not looked into the Bahamas charters, but there certainly plenty of Caribbean charters.
 
I'm in for two thousand dollars a week, but not for three years.

Could we just charter a boat for about $10,000 a couple for a month?

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Its going to cost you far more than $10,000 for two months. We were talking with an owner who has a 48 footer about chartering the boat next summer for six weeks. He could let us have it for about $4,000 a week (out of charter company, in charter company, it would have been $6,500 a week!.
 
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