Am planning a cruise from Tampa..... thru Key West to Bahamas after Xmas.... anyone going to West End, grand Bahamas and/or on to Marsh Harbor?..... our first trip "across".... need guidance, advice, etc...... just two of us and our Jack Russell.... planning two or three weeks over there..... love some feedback Frank
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George Lamb
Get The Guide
There is a great cruising guide that covers Ft. Lauderdale and the keys. It has all of the marinas, really detailed maps and a chart of GPS plots for every marker in the area (this really makes day planning easier). We got our copy in a marina in Miami, but I am sure they have them all over.
There is a great cruising guide that covers Ft. Lauderdale and the keys. It has all of the marinas, really detailed maps and a chart of GPS plots for every marker in the area (this really makes day planning easier). We got our copy in a marina in Miami, but I am sure they have them all over.
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Frank Hall
KeyWest to Bahamas...thanks George
Just bought the Bahamas Cruising guide... it offers much guidance on departures from Miami and north...but no mention of more southerly departures for crossing.... hoping to hear from some "veterans".... thanks for reply
Just bought the Bahamas Cruising guide... it offers much guidance on departures from Miami and north...but no mention of more southerly departures for crossing.... hoping to hear from some "veterans".... thanks for reply
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Guest
Keys to Bahamas
Frank, If this is your first trip across the gulf stream, with a small crew and your boat, this is what I'd suggest. For the first leg, I'd sail from Tampa to Key West, as you said you wanted to do. From Key West, I'd sail up to the Channel 5 bridge (24 50.3N, 80 46.4W) and anchor overnight just inside the bay side of the bridge. If you don't have to go to Key West, going directly from Tampa to the Channel 5 bridge would cut out ~4 days of sailing (round trip) between Key West and Channel 5 bridge. Most people take off from the Keys to the Bahamas overnight, allowing a landfall during the daylight hours in the Bahamas. For a first trip, I'd suggest an initial landfall at Bimini. It's easy to spot visually as you approach the islands, it is an easy customs port, there's a good harbor with a few marinas if you want to use them, and it's a fun island. The last few hurricanes have left damage to parts of Bimini that haven't been repaired, so getting an updated cruising guide is important. The previous landmarks are sometimes missing. But if you decide to go to Bimini, a waypoint to get you near the harbor's mouth is 25 42.1N, 79 18.4W. You have to use range markers to approach the harbor's mouth, heading straight at shore. When you're close enough to throw a ball left-handed onto the beach, you make a sharp turn toward port and parallel the shore. Fortunately, the water's crystal clear and you can steer by eyeball and depth sounder. From Bimini, you can head off to wherever else you want to explore. But above all else, DO NOT venture into the gulf stream if the wind has any northerly component to it at all. All the stories about the ferocity of the gulf stream in north winds are true. It's better to wait for a weather window than to subject yourself and your boat to the beating that north winds in the gulf stream will give you. If you need any more of my 2 cents, just post it in the replies section. And so we can all live vicariously by your cruise, tell your tales here when you return. Robert Pancza
Frank, If this is your first trip across the gulf stream, with a small crew and your boat, this is what I'd suggest. For the first leg, I'd sail from Tampa to Key West, as you said you wanted to do. From Key West, I'd sail up to the Channel 5 bridge (24 50.3N, 80 46.4W) and anchor overnight just inside the bay side of the bridge. If you don't have to go to Key West, going directly from Tampa to the Channel 5 bridge would cut out ~4 days of sailing (round trip) between Key West and Channel 5 bridge. Most people take off from the Keys to the Bahamas overnight, allowing a landfall during the daylight hours in the Bahamas. For a first trip, I'd suggest an initial landfall at Bimini. It's easy to spot visually as you approach the islands, it is an easy customs port, there's a good harbor with a few marinas if you want to use them, and it's a fun island. The last few hurricanes have left damage to parts of Bimini that haven't been repaired, so getting an updated cruising guide is important. The previous landmarks are sometimes missing. But if you decide to go to Bimini, a waypoint to get you near the harbor's mouth is 25 42.1N, 79 18.4W. You have to use range markers to approach the harbor's mouth, heading straight at shore. When you're close enough to throw a ball left-handed onto the beach, you make a sharp turn toward port and parallel the shore. Fortunately, the water's crystal clear and you can steer by eyeball and depth sounder. From Bimini, you can head off to wherever else you want to explore. But above all else, DO NOT venture into the gulf stream if the wind has any northerly component to it at all. All the stories about the ferocity of the gulf stream in north winds are true. It's better to wait for a weather window than to subject yourself and your boat to the beating that north winds in the gulf stream will give you. If you need any more of my 2 cents, just post it in the replies section. And so we can all live vicariously by your cruise, tell your tales here when you return. Robert Pancza
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Frank Hall
Key West to Bahamas...cont'd
Thanks, Robert for sage advice re: Bimini....think we'll follow your tip and go- Bimini - West End - Marsh Harbor.. any marina tips in these locales? Hoping to use near-by anchorages along with Marinas for overnites. Keep the help coming....
Thanks, Robert for sage advice re: Bimini....think we'll follow your tip and go- Bimini - West End - Marsh Harbor.. any marina tips in these locales? Hoping to use near-by anchorages along with Marinas for overnites. Keep the help coming....
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Jim Ewing
More info
Frank, I visited with several of the eastern Abacos resort reps at the Ft. Lauderdale boat show. It seems like the further east you go the worse the damage from Floyd was. In some cases the marinas are open with limited services in others they're closed for repairs (February seems a popular month to be done). Everybody said fuel and water is readily available. Jack Tar, at West End is open but has limited availability during the resort's redevelopment. We're planning a similar short trip in April and bought the "Bahamas Cruising Guide" by Matthew Wilson. It's very comprehensive with approach info, chartlets, air photos and contact info for marinas and shoreside stuff. Also there's an Abacos specific web site and some others for various areas in the Bahamas. I've got some phone numbers for some of the resorts/marinas if you want to contact me directly jewing@netster.com. Have a great cruise and keep us posted. Jim "Prospect"
Frank, I visited with several of the eastern Abacos resort reps at the Ft. Lauderdale boat show. It seems like the further east you go the worse the damage from Floyd was. In some cases the marinas are open with limited services in others they're closed for repairs (February seems a popular month to be done). Everybody said fuel and water is readily available. Jack Tar, at West End is open but has limited availability during the resort's redevelopment. We're planning a similar short trip in April and bought the "Bahamas Cruising Guide" by Matthew Wilson. It's very comprehensive with approach info, chartlets, air photos and contact info for marinas and shoreside stuff. Also there's an Abacos specific web site and some others for various areas in the Bahamas. I've got some phone numbers for some of the resorts/marinas if you want to contact me directly jewing@netster.com. Have a great cruise and keep us posted. Jim "Prospect"
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jon
sand drfts
excellent small casino on main island - quiet and respectable free drinks - run by playboy for a quiet couple of hours. heard that the sand shifts a lot around the islands and hurricanes help in this process so the local charts will not be 100% as far as keeping you from grounding. hey! what is this about taking a jack russel. brought ours from britain some 22 years ago - finest breed on the planet. could you let us know re potty training on board or do you let mother nature take its course when let off-board for a swim. seems not everything could happen this way! any other tips welcome. jon.
excellent small casino on main island - quiet and respectable free drinks - run by playboy for a quiet couple of hours. heard that the sand shifts a lot around the islands and hurricanes help in this process so the local charts will not be 100% as far as keeping you from grounding. hey! what is this about taking a jack russel. brought ours from britain some 22 years ago - finest breed on the planet. could you let us know re potty training on board or do you let mother nature take its course when let off-board for a swim. seems not everything could happen this way! any other tips welcome. jon.
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Jim Ewing
Almost forgot...
... in my previous post. Check the quarantine rules on your dog. I seem to remember the Bahamas not being particularly "pet friendly" and requiring a long quarantine stay. All this talk has inspired me to get out the charts and start planning the spring trip. Jim "Prospect"
... in my previous post. Check the quarantine rules on your dog. I seem to remember the Bahamas not being particularly "pet friendly" and requiring a long quarantine stay. All this talk has inspired me to get out the charts and start planning the spring trip. Jim "Prospect"
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Frank Hall
Bahamas...Jack Russell's
Ricky is 6 mo. old....we have trained him with an oversized "litter box"... at home.... lined with paper.. we put the box in the aft head and he goes.... when on deck he looks for closest thing to grass...so far that has been the coiled bow line left at anchor locker hatch..... a bit messy!! As for quarantine, I have written for and received an "entry approval" that must be accompanied by a vet's certification as to innoculations, etc. to be dated within 2 days of entry.....
Ricky is 6 mo. old....we have trained him with an oversized "litter box"... at home.... lined with paper.. we put the box in the aft head and he goes.... when on deck he looks for closest thing to grass...so far that has been the coiled bow line left at anchor locker hatch..... a bit messy!! As for quarantine, I have written for and received an "entry approval" that must be accompanied by a vet's certification as to innoculations, etc. to be dated within 2 days of entry.....
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Frank Hall
Crossing intentions to Bimini
We plan to leave Florida Bay at Channel 5 Bridge... my mast with antenna needs 63.5 ft clearance..... hope no swells and midtide when we enter on the mid-morning of the 28th of December.... (anybody with a tide chart for the area I would appreciate the tide status at that time).... then up to Key Largo for overnite.... to depart for Bimini next AM (5:30A) expecting about 8 hours for crossing @ 8 kts SOA..... any comments from experience would be appreciated..... jumping off point to be RN "8" just northeast of Key Largo...thanks
We plan to leave Florida Bay at Channel 5 Bridge... my mast with antenna needs 63.5 ft clearance..... hope no swells and midtide when we enter on the mid-morning of the 28th of December.... (anybody with a tide chart for the area I would appreciate the tide status at that time).... then up to Key Largo for overnite.... to depart for Bimini next AM (5:30A) expecting about 8 hours for crossing @ 8 kts SOA..... any comments from experience would be appreciated..... jumping off point to be RN "8" just northeast of Key Largo...thanks
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Scott Johnston
Frank - Keep an eye out
Frank, Good luck on your trip. We were going to do the same but due to time constraints we scaled back our trip to cover Sth. Fl / upper keys. When your cruising up the keys around the 28th keep an eye out for the crazy crew from Island Hops. We will probably be arond the Key Largo - Islamorada area about that time, and allways have refreshments on board. Hope you can get a weather window for your crossing. What's your boat name? Scott. Islandhops@duralan.com 83-H34 Island Hops.
Frank, Good luck on your trip. We were going to do the same but due to time constraints we scaled back our trip to cover Sth. Fl / upper keys. When your cruising up the keys around the 28th keep an eye out for the crazy crew from Island Hops. We will probably be arond the Key Largo - Islamorada area about that time, and allways have refreshments on board. Hope you can get a weather window for your crossing. What's your boat name? Scott. Islandhops@duralan.com 83-H34 Island Hops.
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Bill Jones
Tide Information
Frank Hall was wanting to know tide conditions on a particular date for bridge clearance. I have not received my 2000 addition of North American Tide Heights, but there is a pretty good website available which allows you to choose the date and area of concern. It is www.tidesonline.com Bill Jones s/v Bardi Sea
Frank Hall was wanting to know tide conditions on a particular date for bridge clearance. I have not received my 2000 addition of North American Tide Heights, but there is a pretty good website available which allows you to choose the date and area of concern. It is www.tidesonline.com Bill Jones s/v Bardi Sea
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