great Bahama Bank

[scott]

Getting ready to head over to Bimini and the Berry Islands. I'm looking for info from those who've gone from Bimini/Gun Cay to Chub Cay by slow-boat (AKA a sailboat). My question is in reguards to the crossing of the Bahama Bank. It is about 75 nm from Bimini to Chub, are there any anchorages inbetween? We aren't thrilled about crossing the bank at night and anchoring in the middle of the bank isn't on our top ten ideas of a good anchorage.

 

[BahamaMan]

Me Sail You Looong Time

It's a long and shallow stretch from the Bimini area to Chub. Aside from one daymark telephone pole that marks the end of the bank, there's nothing much around. There's no protected anchorages between the two areas. If you leave the Bimini area about an hour before sunrise, you should be able to get to Chub before sunset. You just have to be willing to motor or motorsail at your boat's maximum speed to make it. It's a looong sail, especially if a strong wind is right on your nose, but it's doable. Some people drop anchor at one of the daymarks that are a few miles south of the line between Bimini/Gun and Chub, but it's wide open.

 

[scott]

figures

I kinda figured that but I thought I'd ask anyway. Guess my poor ol' iron genny will get a good workout that day.....thanx.

 

[Bill Bell]

Anchor on the Bank

Last year, we anchored on the bank about 20 miles west of Chub Cay. About 10-15 knots of wind and a 1 to 2 foot chop. No Problem.On the way back to the US, we anchored about 20 miles from Gun Cay in 15 knots of wind in a 2 foot chop. An hour later the wind increased to 30 knots and seas increased to 6 feet. Not a fun night. If we had chose to motor instead of sail, we could have made the run in daylight.Bill

 

[John Visser]

I don't get it

Why don't you just keep sailing, i.e., sail at night too? You could start out in the middle of the night and get there in the afternoon, no?

 

[michael]

check the chart, you'll see why.

The Bahamas are filled with unlighted markers (if there are any at all), shoals, tons of coral reefs (not on any charts) scattered here and there along the banks, shallow water for 75 miles along the Great Bahama Bank (deep spots are 15'), square waves during any type of wind (which there usually is plenty of). One golden rule in the Bahamas is never enter a port at night unless you are absolutely, completely sure of what you are doing. In fact, it is recommended by most who have gone there that at night stay put, don't motor/sail around, there are just too many things to hit. If it were me I would NOT motor at night anyplace inside the islands. Across the Gulf Stream is one thing, across the Banks is a completely different thing, your choice.