Florida to Bahamas Watchdog - Page 3

wlearl · 05-11-2009, 06:28

We did the crossing earlier this year and I was pretty nervous about it but it worked out OK. The weather was pretty good and seas were small. But our mistake was to try to head across from Ft. Lauderdale to Bimini. The Gulf Stream really pushed us farther north than I'd anticipated. I really like the idea of heading down to the Keys for a day or two of kicking back and then leaving from there. In the end it'll probably save fuel. If I had to do it again with our timing, schedule, and weather I'd leave Ft. Lauderdale at about 16:00 and sail down the coast to Miami and as it got dark I'd head east and make the crossing from there. For a variety of reasons we just kept moving and made it all the way to Fresh Creek, Andros before clearing in. The roughest part of the trip was at the Northwest Channel light where a lot of seas were coming together that day and it was pretty bumpy and disorganized.

Bill

Vasco · 05-11-2009, 06:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by wlearl

The roughest part of the trip was at the Northwest Channel light where a lot of seas were coming together that day and it was pretty bumpy and disorganized.

Bill

Yeah, it can get awful lumpy there especially when the tide is going off the Bank into an opposing sea.

opsailor · 05-11-2009, 12:29

We have found that leaving via Angelfish Creek (north Key Largo) is quite advantageous. Anchoring at Pumpkin Key waiting for a window is easy, since you can anchor at any point around the island and get protection from wind and waves. The channel out is well marked, but currents can be swift. We draw 5' and at half tide never came close to running out of water.

The neat part is, after getting to deep water, pointing the boat due east and ending up right off Gun Cay. The stream is your helper all the way across. We have entered via Alice Town (February '07) and Great Harbor (Jan '09) in northern Berrys. Great Harbor was excellent: total protection, customs and immigration came to our boat, and inexpensive dockage.

Does anyone know if you can check in at Frazier's Hog?

Vasco · 05-11-2009, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by opsailor

Does anyone know if you can check in at Frazier's Hog?

None at Fraziers Hog but customs is at Chub Cay if you wish. The new marina, sorry, resort will probably charge you an arm and a leg to check in there.

imagine2frolic · 05-11-2009, 12:35

I believe you will find negotiating the ICW from Canada to souther Florida much more of a task. Once you cross the stream you will be chuckling at your worries. BEST WISHES in enjoying the Bahamas. They are a wonderful place........i2f

countrybimm · 05-11-2009, 13:00

onestepcys37 I will be buying the explorer charts for sure. I was wondering if they are on the shelves in florida, or should I order them so im ready to go come Jan?

Thanks again all for the information this thread has been doing wonders.

osirissail · 05-11-2009, 13:10

- -The Explorer Charts are sold in Florida at most boat supply stores and if not there then at Blue Water Books in Fort Lauderdale.
- - If you do not want to pay the extra fee at Chub Cay then you can go a little south and check-in at Morgans Bluff on the north end of Andros Island. From there you can sail directly to the Exumas avoiding Nassau.

imagine2frolic · 05-11-2009, 13:46

When you say directly to the Exumas? By which route? We use the dekkar channel, and the Tongue of the Ocean on our returns.......i2f

osirissail · 05-11-2009, 15:09

If your draft is under a meter you can set a line from Morgan's Bluff to Coral Bay on the southwest end of New Providence or head a little southeast and after clearing New Providence head straight for Highborne Cay.
-- If your draft is 1.5 meters or more it is advisable to head southeast from Morgans Bluff until you clear the edge reefs of the Exumas Banks then turn east directly to Highbourne Cay. I set a waypoint on the east edge of the Tongue of the Ocean about a half mile south of the last edge reef and turn intercept a line bearing about 280 degrees from Highbourne Cay. Then head 100 degrees straight to the anchorage off the western side of Highbourne. There is 2 meter plus water over this whole route. It is a long day and leaving Morgan's Bluff at sunrise gets me to Highbourne at about 21:00-22:00. To avoid the long leg - if your draft is less than 1.5 meters you can go directly to Coral Harbor, spend the night there and then next morning head for Highborne. There are shallow spots on that route so you need daylight to do it comfortably. The southern version can be run at night with excellent nav equipment and radar.

onestepcsy37 · 07-11-2009, 11:05

countrybimm, i'd get the explorer charts wherever i could find them. the current 'northern bahamas' chart is issue number 5. i've had trouble getting one here in daytona beach florida - not yet in stock - and i'm planning on going in january. if you've got time left i would order from their website Welcome to Explorer Chartbooks

doug86 · Today, 04:52

which ports of entry are the LEAST likely to have officials actually come onboard for an inspection when checking in? I have a cat on board, and the paperwork just hasn't caught up with me, and I'm crossing soon. I'm heading to Gun/Cat > Chub> Nassau. I cruised Mexico many times, and always the check-in is done by dinghy.

My cat does have a rabies certificate and current international health certificate, but I don't have the stupid bahamas import permit. They claim they lost the first one, and I'm told I just have to wait on my request....

I have some friends who cruised with a cat and said they never bothered with pet permits. My pet never gets off the boat, but I would hate to have him confiscated as contriband.

sailing now · Today, 05:15

We've never had an "onboard" clearing in. I've also heard that not everyone declares their pets and never had a problem.

For the record, we always have declared our dog.

Vasco · Today, 06:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug86

which ports of entry are the LEAST likely to have officials actually come onboard for an inspection when checking in?

Nassau is very good. The officers prefer to clear you in at a comfortable table in the marina grounds rather than boarding. If you prefer to anchor you can dink in and get cleared. Never been inspected.

osirissail · Today, 06:03

- - As to pets: dogs are more difficult as the officials know that the owners will be taking them ashore to "do their business." Cats are less of a problem as normally they never leave the boat. Unfortunately there is a place on the Customs/Immigration documents that you must fill out that asks if you have any animals onboard.
- - In places where you anchor out in the Bahamas and go ashore in your dinghy to check-in the officials will not (obviously) be boarding your boat. Places where you tie-up to a dock/marina the officials will go on board your boat - if only to have a place to sit down while processing your paperwork. This exposes your pet to be noticed by the official.
- - In Morgan's Bluff, Andros you anchor outside the little dredged inner harbor and dinghy in to the bar/restuarant and do the paperwork while sitting in the Restaurant. It is basically the same way at most all the Bahamas "ports of entry" except place like Nassau (if you take a marina); Cat Cay; West End; Bimini; Chub Cay and I don't know about the places in the Abacos.
- - In the Bahamas and all the Caribbean Islands I write in the "animals" block - "Feline, never leaves the boat" and only once in dozens of entries has the official asked about the cat.
And only once has an official wanted to see the mecicals history with records of rabies and other shots. Primarily, IMHO, the officials are more interested in see that you have paid the "extra fee" for the animal rather than the animal.
- - Oh - one more thing that might help is if you have a copy of the canceled check which you used to pay for the Bahamas permit and a copy of the application paperwork. Then you could explain that you did pay and send in the forms but the government processing failed to return the permit to you - "that you paid for . . ."

05-11-2009, 12:29	#3
opsailor Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St Augustine Boat: Hunter 41 - "Son of a Sailor" Posts: 47	We have found that leaving via Angelfish Creek (north Key Largo) is quite advantageous. Anchoring at Pumpkin Key waiting for a window is easy, since you can anchor at any point around the island and get protection from wind and waves. The channel out is well marked, but currents can be swift. We draw 5' and at half tide never came close to running out of water. The neat part is, after getting to deep water, pointing the boat due east and ending up right off Gun Cay. The stream is your helper all the way across. We have entered via Alice Town (February '07) and Great Harbor (Jan '09) in northern Berrys. Great Harbor was excellent: total protection, customs and immigration came to our boat, and inexpensive dockage. Does anyone know if you can check in at Frazier's Hog? __________________ OPSailor St Augustine

05-11-2009, 12:35	#5
imagine2frolic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: N.E. Florida Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE Posts: 3,160	I believe you will find negotiating the ICW from Canada to souther Florida much more of a task. Once you cross the stream you will be chuckling at your worries. BEST WISHES in enjoying the Bahamas. They are a wonderful place........i2f __________________ BORROWED! No single one of us is as smart as all of us! SAILING is not always a slick magazine cover!

05-11-2009, 13:46	#8
imagine2frolic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: N.E. Florida Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE Posts: 3,160	When you say directly to the Exumas? By which route? We use the dekkar channel, and the Tongue of the Ocean on our returns.......i2f __________________ BORROWED! No single one of us is as smart as all of us! SAILING is not always a slick magazine cover!

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05-11-2009, 06:28	#1
wlearl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Mexico and Puerto Rico Boat: Sunbeam, 37, Ziamar Posts: 83	We did the crossing earlier this year and I was pretty nervous about it but it worked out OK. The weather was pretty good and seas were small. But our mistake was to try to head across from Ft. Lauderdale to Bimini. The Gulf Stream really pushed us farther north than I'd anticipated. I really like the idea of heading down to the Keys for a day or two of kicking back and then leaving from there. In the end it'll probably save fuel. If I had to do it again with our timing, schedule, and weather I'd leave Ft. Lauderdale at about 16:00 and sail down the coast to Miami and as it got dark I'd head east and make the crossing from there. For a variety of reasons we just kept moving and made it all the way to Fresh Creek, Andros before clearing in. The roughest part of the trip was at the Northwest Channel light where a lot of seas were coming together that day and it was pretty bumpy and disorganized. Bill

05-11-2009, 13:00	#6
countrybimm Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: canaduh Boat: o'day 302 Posts: 12	onestepcys37 I will be buying the explorer charts for sure. I was wondering if they are on the shelves in florida, or should I order them so im ready to go come Jan? Thanks again all for the information this thread has been doing wonders.

05-11-2009, 13:10	#7
osirissail Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: onboard in the Caribbean - mostly in Grenada Boat: Gulfstar 53 - Osiris Posts: 851	- -The Explorer Charts are sold in Florida at most boat supply stores and if not there then at Blue Water Books in Fort Lauderdale. - - If you do not want to pay the extra fee at Chub Cay then you can go a little south and check-in at Morgans Bluff on the north end of Andros Island. From there you can sail directly to the Exumas avoiding Nassau.

05-11-2009, 15:09	#9
osirissail Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: onboard in the Caribbean - mostly in Grenada Boat: Gulfstar 53 - Osiris Posts: 851	If your draft is under a meter you can set a line from Morgan's Bluff to Coral Bay on the southwest end of New Providence or head a little southeast and after clearing New Providence head straight for Highborne Cay. -- If your draft is 1.5 meters or more it is advisable to head southeast from Morgans Bluff until you clear the edge reefs of the Exumas Banks then turn east directly to Highbourne Cay. I set a waypoint on the east edge of the Tongue of the Ocean about a half mile south of the last edge reef and turn intercept a line bearing about 280 degrees from Highbourne Cay. Then head 100 degrees straight to the anchorage off the western side of Highbourne. There is 2 meter plus water over this whole route. It is a long day and leaving Morgan's Bluff at sunrise gets me to Highbourne at about 21:00-22:00. To avoid the long leg - if your draft is less than 1.5 meters you can go directly to Coral Harbor, spend the night there and then next morning head for Highborne. There are shallow spots on that route so you need daylight to do it comfortably. The southern version can be run at night with excellent nav equipment and radar.

07-11-2009, 11:05	#10
onestepcsy37 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 67	countrybimm, i'd get the explorer charts wherever i could find them. the current 'northern bahamas' chart is issue number 5. i've had trouble getting one here in daytona beach florida - not yet in stock - and i'm planning on going in january. if you've got time left i would order from their website Welcome to Explorer Chartbooks

Today, 04:52	#11
doug86 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2	which ports of entry are the LEAST likely to have officials actually come onboard for an inspection when checking in? I have a cat on board, and the paperwork just hasn't caught up with me, and I'm crossing soon. I'm heading to Gun/Cat > Chub> Nassau. I cruised Mexico many times, and always the check-in is done by dinghy. My cat does have a rabies certificate and current international health certificate, but I don't have the stupid bahamas import permit. They claim they lost the first one, and I'm told I just have to wait on my request.... I have some friends who cruised with a cat and said they never bothered with pet permits. My pet never gets off the boat, but I would hate to have him confiscated as contriband.

Today, 05:15	#12
sailing now Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Part time C.L.O.D. in Velcro Beach, FL Boat: Jeanneau SO 42.1 Posts: 55	We've never had an "onboard" clearing in. I've also heard that not everyone declares their pets and never had a problem. For the record, we always have declared our dog.

Today, 06:03	#14
osirissail Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: onboard in the Caribbean - mostly in Grenada Boat: Gulfstar 53 - Osiris Posts: 851	- - As to pets: dogs are more difficult as the officials know that the owners will be taking them ashore to "do their business." Cats are less of a problem as normally they never leave the boat. Unfortunately there is a place on the Customs/Immigration documents that you must fill out that asks if you have any animals onboard. - - In places where you anchor out in the Bahamas and go ashore in your dinghy to check-in the officials will not (obviously) be boarding your boat. Places where you tie-up to a dock/marina the officials will go on board your boat - if only to have a place to sit down while processing your paperwork. This exposes your pet to be noticed by the official. - - In Morgan's Bluff, Andros you anchor outside the little dredged inner harbor and dinghy in to the bar/restuarant and do the paperwork while sitting in the Restaurant. It is basically the same way at most all the Bahamas "ports of entry" except place like Nassau (if you take a marina); Cat Cay; West End; Bimini; Chub Cay and I don't know about the places in the Abacos. - - In the Bahamas and all the Caribbean Islands I write in the "animals" block - "Feline, never leaves the boat" and only once in dozens of entries has the official asked about the cat. And only once has an official wanted to see the mecicals history with records of rabies and other shots. Primarily, IMHO, the officials are more interested in see that you have paid the "extra fee" for the animal rather than the animal. - - Oh - one more thing that might help is if you have a copy of the canceled check which you used to pay for the Bahamas permit and a copy of the application paperwork. Then you could explain that you did pay and send in the forms but the government processing failed to return the permit to you - "that you paid for . . ."