Bahamas cruise winter 2014

[Bob 04 H260]

We went to the Abaco's this winter on our H356. I put up a photo album on my profile page if anyone is interested in seeing what we were up to.
Bob

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/album.php?albumid=3285

 

[seadaddler]

Killing Me

You are killing me and even more reason I would love to go but my wife is
not agreeing to go so far and always trying to talk her into going one of these days but she is not willing so far.
I guess it is because we hear from friends that have made the trip and they
don't seem to make it sound like it was always fun and seems too many times
it was scary and hard work because of all the weather systems.
What weather system is that on your chartplotter,I had Siruis for a few years
but now use my Iphone for so many weather reporting mostly free.
Nick

 

[robertsapp]

Re: Killing Me

Cruising isn't endless days of carefree sailing, cool breezes and boat drinks at sunset. It's also sitting anchor watch in the middle of the night while storms blow through, sweating through 90+ degree nites with all the hatches closed to ward off the bugs, running all over chasing repair parts in remote locations, and lugging 50 lb water jugs from the dinghy to the boat so you can take a shower. It's not an easier life, it's a different life. If your wife gets that and is still willing to go, consider yourself blessed. If she doesn't think the adventure is worth the discomfort, well, there's really no good solution for that, since her opinion really isn't unreasonable. Try a one week charter in the BVIs and see how she responds.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

We use the Sirius satellite weather as well as Chris Parker and anything else we can find. Sherry has become quite good at analyzing it all and deciding what we should do.

I'm very lucky I don't have the reluctant Admiral issue some have. There are lots of other ways to do it. The real issue is crossing the Gulf Stream, once you are on the banks it is not too bad. Some guys cross over with a friend and their wife flies over later to join the boat. There is even a high speed ferry from Florida. If you have the time to wait the crossing can be quite benign. As the summer comes on the fronts get further apart and the weather improves. If I lived in Florida I would go in mid-May to mid-July. I talked to a number of FL sailors that felt this was the best time to go.

There can be issues with bad weather, heat, bugs, anchors etc. a lot depends on the time of year and where you are sailing. The Bahamas is a huge area, something like 5000 sq miles. This is my second Bahamas cruise and have never had to put the screens on the hatches or ports. They both took place between Feb and May, as far south as Georgetown and north to the Abaco's.

We have a dog, he needs to go ashore. If the weather is bad we take a slip if we can. It is much easier to get him back and forth.

When we got to Marsh Harbour this year we got a slip as our base, if the weather is good you sail if it is bad you can run back to the slip. We did not have to haul any water and could keep the salt off the boat, and lots of hot showers. The cost was quite reasonable.

I know a lot of cruisers like to tell you how long they have gone without going into a slip and how much money they saved. I don't think it is worth it. I don't have anything to prove. When I was young I slept in a tent, got wet, eaten by bug etc. I'm not young any more, I want to enjoy the years I have left .

There are places where it isn't possible to get a slip. Careful weather planning and anchorage selection will minimize the chances of a bad night. If you are lucky enough to get an experienced buddy boat you can learn a lot as we did.

Good luck, hope you get over there, Bob