Great Bahama Bank Anchorage

[FredB]

I'm planning to sail my Catalina 30 from Bimini to Chub Cay in the South Berry Islands at the end of April. I can't make it safely during good daylight and will need to anchor on the bank or, as an alternative, leave Bimini in the evening and sail through the night, arriving where things get a bit congested in the morning. I can wait for the right weather, so, I prefer the first option. Has any sailor anchored on the bank somewhere to the NW of Chub Cay, and, if so, where?

 

[bobtigar]

We've done it a couple of times. When the winds are lite, its like a mill pond. Just abit spooky because there is not a lite around. It doest really matter where you stop. The entire bank is about 12-15' deep and all sand. You might want to pull off the rumbline. The mail boat tends to set a course and the pilot may nod off. If you are on the course line to NW lite he may not see you til its too late. Bob

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I think if you left around 3-4am you'd make it in daylight.

I've only gone from northwest light to cat, and think it took~ 9 hours, but we had s really good tail wind.

if its calm, anywhere is good its all about the same. but yeah, go a mile north or south of the rumbline.

I think there is one marker in the middle somewhere, and its probably still out.

When someone hits a marker, it might take a while to replace.

 

[Benny17441]

You can anchor anywhere, just try to get away from the more transited direct routes to popular destinations. A good radar reflector and a display of bright lights may help you become visible to that large power yacht doing 30 knots. As far as collision avoidance it would make just a small difference if you were under way or at anchor.

 

[FredB]

Thank you all!