Bahamas

reefmagnet · Jun 26, 2001

Hi Mort,

I saw the article as well. Pretty cool that the rag would pick out the Vega
as one of the larger small boats in the George-Town area. I think there
might be a trend in the sailing rags for doing articles about the
under-30-foot cruising boat. I'm getting tire of reading about all all the
40-foot-and-over articles.

Steve

moondance5003 · Oct 4, 2005

Hi,

Carolyn and I will be headed for the Bahamas before too long and need
some advice. We will be sailing from Texas and hope to sail across to
the Dry Tortugas, then work our way up to around Marthon/Long key
area. Then jump across to Bimini when the weather window is good. My
question is, is this a good area to wait and cross or should we go
further up to the No Name Harbor area.

Robert
SV Moondance

wxt8981 · Oct 4, 2005

Hi;

I'm wishing you a safe sail! Dry Tortugas has no water and
is a federal park- you may need to get permission. Sailing
from Key West to Marathon and further North you can use
the inside route, or outside (with the Golf Stream). A good
jumping off point to te Bahamas (Bimini) is from Angle Fish
Creek - waiting at anchor at Pumpkin Key. But again,
there's no water- you need to get that ahead of time.(with
'water' I mean fresh water).
No Name Harbor is is a very safe anchorage- but costly. And
NO facilities!
Wilhelm, V-257

wxt8981 · Oct 4, 2005

Hi;

I'm wishing you a safe sail! Dry Tortugas has no water and
is a federal park- you may need to get permission. Sailing
from Key West to Marathon and further North you can use
the inside route, or outside (with the Golf Stream). A good
jumping off point to te Bahamas (Bimini) is from Angle Fish
Creek - waiting at anchor at Pumpkin Key. But again,
there's no water- you need to get that ahead of time.(with
'water' I mean fresh water).
No Name Harbor is is a very safe anchorage- but costly. And
NO facilities!
Wilhelm, V-257

mphalv · Oct 4, 2005

Hi Robert,

We made our crossing to the Bahamas overnight from Angel Fish Creek. Left
at 2200 and anchored off Gun Cay at 1000 the next day. Cleared customs at Gun
Cay.

Smooth Sailing,

Melanie & Paul Halvachs
V1826 Double Fantasy
Holden, Maine

imbissfrank · Oct 5, 2005

Robert,
As Paul and Melanie have said Angel Fish Creek is a good jump off point for Gun/Cat Cay. No Name Harbor is alright for Bimini because the Gulf stream is going to offset you quite a bit to the North (don't underestimate it). Also from Marathon you can make an overnighter to South Riding Rock south of Cat Cay, and it will put you right on the banks. You can then either leisurely sail north to Cat Cay and clear in or head across the banks to Chub Cay for clearance. Beautiful waters wish I was going again !!!
Frank Gallardo Jr-
V-2184 Cin Cin
Fair Winds and Following Seas

moondance5003 guillory@... wrote:
Hi,

Carolyn and I will be headed for the Bahamas before too long and need
some advice. We will be sailing from Texas and hope to sail across to
the Dry Tortugas, then work our way up to around Marthon/Long key
area. Then jump across to Bimini when the weather window is good. My
question is, is this a good area to wait and cross or should we go
further up to the No Name Harbor area.

Robert
SV Moondance

SPONSORED LINKS
Boating safety Boating supply Gsi outdoors The great outdoors Albin vega

moondance5003 · Oct 5, 2005

Wow!

Thank you all. Is there any preference as to where I should check in?
We will probably head for Chub cay and Nassua but may just go straight
to the Exumas. Did any of you sail the Bahamas much at night? Should I
stick to day sailing? If any of you were going to do it again, what
would you do differently?

Robert
SV Moondance

moondance5003 · Oct 5, 2005

Wow!

Thank you all. Is there any preference as to where I should check in?
We will probably head for Chub cay and Nassua but may just go straight
to the Exumas. Did any of you sail the Bahamas much at night? Should I
stick to day sailing? If any of you were going to do it again, what
would you do differently?

Robert
SV Moondance

imbissfrank · Oct 5, 2005

Robert, except for the crossing, I would restrict my sailing in the
islands to the daytime due to the numerous reefs, generally the water
is very shallow. I don't recall any reefs on the banks, so you could
probably chance a night sail from Cat Cay or South Riding Rock to
Chub. Frank Gallardo

mphalv · Oct 6, 2005

Hi Robert,

After clearing customs at Gun Cay, we went on to the Exumas. Spent about
6-8 weeks there. We went to the Abacos on our second trip. Both chains were
great, but I guess I preferred the Exumas. Not a good idea to sail at night
because of the coral reefs. During the day, it is best to sail with the sun
behind you, if possible, because it is easier to spot the coral heads. Since
our Vega had no refrigeration and ice is hard to come by and expensive, we
canned about 6-weeks worth of various meats in a pressure cooker. This worked
out quite well. We also became proficient at baking bread in the pressure
cooker.

Things we were glad we had were a Hawaiian sling for fishing while
snorkeling, and a 2-horse outboard for our hard, nesting dinghy.

Don't buy water from the marina in Nassau--it made us sick! There are many
cisterns in the Exumas from which you can get water with your bucket. Other
cruisers will tell you where to find them. Be sure to have jerry jugs.

Good luck--I sure wish I were going again!

Smooth Sailing,

Melanie Halvachs
V1826 Double Fantasy

moondance5003 · Oct 7, 2005

Thanks,

That's very good to know about the water. If we go toward the
Exumas, and don't quite make it, is it safe to anchor on the banks?Robert
SV Moondance

mphalv · Oct 7, 2005

Yes, we did anchor one night on the banks, as did many others. It was a bit
rolly that particular night--had to use the lee cloths.

Melanie Halvachs
V1826 Double Fantasy

stevebirch2002 · Oct 7, 2005

Hi Melanie

Hope all is well. Are you coming to the IFR next year in The Baltic
(Germany)?

Cheers

Steve B

mphalv · Oct 7, 2005

Hi Steve,

Don't know yet about Germany--have been in touch with the organizer to see
if we can charter a Vega in the area. Also depends upon the air fare--costs
have skyrocketed since the hurricanes. We would love to see Germany--both
Paul and I are of German descent.
We hear it is a beautiful country. Anyway, we hope to make it if at all
possible!

Smooth Sailing

Melanie
V1826 Double Fantasy
Holden, Maine

moondance5003 · Oct 7, 2005

Thank you Melanie, Paul, Frank and Wilhelm. You've all been very
helpfull.

Happy sails to you all.
Robert

wxt8981 · Oct 7, 2005

Hi Robert,

Happy sails to you, too. If you're around Key Largo or
anchor off Pumpkin Key (Angle Fish Creek), give me a call
(My call letters are wxt8981, my Vega's name is VIKING; by
the way, in the Bahamas you do need a marine radio license)

Wilhelm, V-257

stevebirch2002 · Oct 8, 2005

Hi Melanie

It would bve great to see you and Paul again. I hope to take Southern
Comfort this time. Hoept o see you both there.

Cheers

Steve B

moondance5003 · Oct 8, 2005

Hi Wilhelm,

Thanks, I didn't know about the radio license and will need to get
one and I will call when we eventually get there.

Robert

moondance5003 · Oct 8, 2005

Hey Wilhelm,

Are you talking about VHF or SSB/Ham? Do I need a license for a VHF
radio only?

Robert