SE Florida to West End, GBI

[mauline46]

We are planning to cross from Port Everglades, Ft Lauderdale to West End, Grand Bahama around Feb 1, weather depending of course. Anyone interested in forming a flotilla. We are running in a Hylas 46 sail boat.

[Chuck Baier]

keep in mind that the marina at West End now requires a minimum 3 day stay if you plan to check in there.

[camaraderie]

Chuck...I believe the 3 day requirement is only for holiday weeks. Do you have info to the contrary?
Old Bahama Bay Marina | Bahamas Slips & Dockage | Marina Rates

[mobetah]

For the life of me, I can't understand why anyone would want to go to West End. It's expensive and (IMHO) there is nothing there! Are you going on to the Abacos? If so, pay close attention to the Barracuda channel depths ..... If your Hylas is a deep draft you'll draw over 6 1/2 ft. .... it'll be close for a couple of miles. Why not just go straight to the Little Bahama Banks and Mangrove Cay (anchor there) then go on to Green Turtle (New Plymouth) to clear customs? Good luck and have fun!

[High Cotton]

mobetah, did you have any trouble with depth thru the Barracuda Channel with your ENDEAVOUR (5', right)?

[Chuck Baier]

The three day min is for anytimes now. The info came from cruisers that have just been there recently to check in.

[mobetah]

High Cotton,
No trouble with 5ft. (probably 5'4" loaded down) but it was a white knuckle trip (don't remember what the tide was).

[camaraderie]

Thanks for the update Chuck. Bummer.
I've been through the Indian Cay channel a few times with 5.5' draft on a 1/2 tide or better with no problems but it IS tight and requires careful navigation bywaypoint since at least one of the charted aids to nav is always missing.
Much better as "mobetah" suggests is simply to leave Palm Beach at night and arrive at the Memory Rock passage after Daybreak where you will have a minimum of 9ft. and no navigation issues. We prefer to sail on to Great Sale Cay anchorage as it is more protected than Mangrove and we can usually get there by 2PM if we've made a midnight departure from West Palm. After that, and some sleep, you can simply go on and check in right in the Abacos at Spanish Cay or Green Turtle Cay. Much safer, easier and less costly than a West End check in ( and also NO no-see-ums!)

[camaraderie]

Chuck...just to keep the record straight...I received the following reply today from Old Bahama Bay:
Thank you for considering Old Bahama Bay at Ginn sur Mer as a vacation destination.

Hereto find attached answers to your questions.

The marina offers daily, weekly and monthly dockage. The 3 night minimum applies to all major US holiday weekends. In addition, all marina slip reservations must be fully prepaid at the time of reservation.


Guess your friends just got there at the wrong time.

[Chuck Baier]

That is great but be aware that when you arrive there you might find a different story. Cruisers passing through NOW are told the min 3 days is for any day.

[HAwkcharter]

Anytime someone requires minimum stay, concerns me. If I need to leave earlier, I have to pay for the minimum?
Brings to mind this question; "WHY would someone need to enforce minimum stay at all? Especially if it is a place where visitors are satisfied with service and in popular demand?"

[Latitude9.5]

Originally Posted by Chuck Baier

keep in mind that the marina at West End now requires a minimum 3 day stay if you plan to check in there.

We stayed there one night on the way back from the abacos in July, its a nice marina, West End sucks, but the marina is pretty nice. We didn't take the channel, so i can't comment there, we poked out memory rock and sailed south. As mentioned I wouldn't waste my time stopping there again, just head on too green turtle. you can anchor up at magrove if you dont feel like making the great sale leg the first night.

[GordMay]

Old Bahama Bay Marina @ West End, GBI (formerly Jack Tar): Old Bahama Bay Marina | Bahamas Slips & Dockage | Marina Rates

Daily Transient Dockage: $1.75 / ft / night
Weekend* (Friday - Saturday) Dockage: $2.90 / ft / nightly
*HOLIDAY WEEKEND: Three night stay is required for all major U.S. Holidays and Weekends.

[Latitude9.5]

WOW, $2.90 a foot, it isn't that nice. I think that's about what spanish cay charges and i thought they were a rip.

[camaraderie]

The problem for WestEnd is that if a boat reserves a slip for let's say Saturday...that slip is LOST for weekenders coming across on power boats from Florida since the weekend is broken up. In order to maximize their profits...they want the slip rented for all 3 days. Wouldn't work elsewhere but they are the only game in town in a demand location.