Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please

[prroots]

I read in the Explorer chartkit that it is up to the discretion of the immigration official how much time you get. Any suggestions on where to clear in to maximize the time allowed enroute from Florida to Nassau via NW Providence channel?
Pete

[Pmary]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

+1 on all the suggestions above.

The Exumas, regardless of which area, are a great cruising ground. Although some of the more popular stops, like Allens Keys, can get quite crowed with cruising boats. The marina at Highborne Key does not really want the average cruiser there, but they will sometimes begrudgingly accomodate you. The Exumas Sea & Land Park is a great location -- especially for cruising with guests.

Andros is a great suggestion, it so weirdly different than any other island in the Bahamas, but be sure you have a dinghy adequate to haul you and your guests around because the parts of Andros you can access in sailboat are relatively limited. Beware of the Chiccharneys!

Highborne Cay Marina is great, I can't believe that belizesailor has ever set foot here; it may be too pricey for some budgets but it's a very welcoming place..........whether you stop here or not the Exumas are a magnificent cruising ground.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Pmary

Highborne Cay Marina is great, I can't believe that belizesailor has ever set foot here; it may be too pricey for some budgets but it's a very welcoming place..........whether you stop here or not the Exumas are a magnificent cruising ground.

Been there several times (otherwise would not have commented). I agree it is a great spot, but in my experience the "welcome" has been a bit mixed -- may depend upon how busy they are at the time.

[hogfighter]

Pete, we'll be in Nassau the weekend of the 17th of March, then doing the northern Exumas for a week. Our boat's name is Island Hunter, if you see us in an anchorage come on over for a sundowner. Cheers - Kevin

[murkehaze]

Morgans Bluff on North Andros has unlimited water for free, it is harvested on the island and shipped by tanker to Nassau, you can use your hose or port it in in Jerry jugs, it is a little lime flavoured but good quality!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, murkehaze.

[prroots]

Thanks for all the great feedback. We've decided on the Northern Exumas as has been oft-mentioned. We commited ourselves by purchasing the Exuma chartkit for Exumas.
Pete

[prroots]

Originally Posted by hogfighter

Pete, we'll be in Nassau the weekend of the 17th of March, then doing the northern Exumas for a week. Our boat's name is Island Hunter, if you see us in an anchorage come on over for a sundowner. Cheers - Kevin

Thanks. We'll look for you. We hope to arrive Nassau on or about March 8th and head for the Exumas a few days later. We'll return to Nassau for a March 22nd for the arrival of our first guests.
Pete

[micksbuddy]

I was faced with a similar situation in '07, had a guest flying in and out of Nassau. I decided that round tripping from Nassau would impart to much time pressure into what was supposed to be a vacation. So I just had her grab a puddle jumper from Nassau to Staniel when she arrived (as I recall, it was about $90). That resulted in having a week for a nice, relaxed run back to Nassau.

[prroots]

Originally Posted by micksbuddy

I was faced with a similar situation in '07, had a guest flying in and out of Nassau. I decided that round tripping from Nassau would impart to much time pressure into what was supposed to be a vacation. So I just had her grab a puddle jumper from Nassau to Staniel when she arrived (as I recall, it was about $90). That resulted in having a week for a nice, relaxed run back to Nassau.

Thanks. Well, at least in Nassau our guests will have a chance to experience Bahamian city life We'll probably depart Nassau shortly after their arrival for N Exumas, but then head back a bit early to be sure we make their departure flight and also give them some time ashore.

Any recommendations on where to clear customs and immigration to maximize time given by immigration? Our planned route will be Ft Lauderdale to Nassau via NW Providence channel. We will probably drop the hook enroute at West End and somewhere in the Berry Islands to break up the trip.
Pete

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by prroots

---- Any suggestions on where to clear in to maximize the time allowed enroute from Florida to Nassau via NW Providence channel?
----

Nassau.

[prroots]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Nassau.

Thanks a lot. That was to be my default, but it's nice to get recommendations based on actual experience
Pete

[prroots]

We made it to Nassau on Monday, March 5th. We're now waiting for a couple of fronts to dissipate before continuing South to the Exumas. The consensus seems to be Northern Exumas and try to get down to the Land and Sea park. Since we're on a dry run now prior to arrival of guests we'll take our time and stop along the way.

We did manage to fill our jerry jugs with RO water at the Hurricane Hole Marina fuel dock. They were very accommodating. We cleared in at Nassau Yacht Haven; they were also very accommodating. Picking up our 13 year old granddaughter and her friend at the airport is expensive. Apparently taxis are approx. $35 each way and there is no public transportation. We found a local rental car agency that charges $40/day, but they don't take reservations. Budget is $60/day and they do take reservations.

We also found a WiFi service:
++ Lignum Computer City ++
which we can receive at our anchorage (using the Ubiquiti bullet). The cost is $3/day or $10/5 days which is much cheaper than the competition. You have to go to their store to sign up.

We did regret not having called AT&T prior to departure to put a block on all roaming from our iPhone. Fortunately we were able to contact our daughter via email and she took care of it.
Pete

[prroots]

We have just completed a very fast preview of the N Exumas down to Warderick Wells cay and then back to Nassau. We didn't find any good snorkeling sites, but then again we were in a hurry to get back in time to pick up guests. Can anyone recommend specific snorkeling sites? Thanks
Pete

[s/vPainkiller]

Hi Pete,
The best snorkeling we found in the mid to upper Exumas were:

1. Sea aquarium north side of Obriens Cay. It's on the Explorer chart. Best by far in the area you are going IMO. There is also a sunken plane nearby in deeper water that you can snorkel over. And it's right near Johnny Depp's island, which was a bonus for the women in our group.

2. Warderick Wells, main anchorage. The area right in front of the park office marked by flloats for tying your dink. You can also drift snorkel through the cut just behind the office. Remember you have to call on the VHF for a mooring assignment and there might be a wait. Not sure how busy it is this year.

3. If you go as far as Staniel Cay, you have to go see Thunderball Grotto. You have to time your snorkel for low slack water since there can be current through the grotto, but it's really neat. And there is good snorkeling around the grotto as well.

4. There is a small but good reef area inside the Cambridge Cay anchorage if you happen to stop there. It's part of the park, and they have a host boat to take your mooring money and give you assistance. Good hiking and beaches there too if you want to get off the boat.

There are others but these are the ones we liked. Enjoy! Wish we were there!

Scott