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Old 27-09-2015, 21:36   #1
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Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

Hi all,

First Bahamas cruise set for the Easter break next year and would appreciate any input into our planned itinerary. We are planning on 9 days and hoping to squeeze in Staniel Cay.

Day 1 - Nassau to Highborne Cay
Day 2 - Time in Highborne/Allan's then transit to Warderick Wells
Day 3 - Warderick Wells
Day 4 - transit to Compass & night there
Day 5 - transit to Staniel & night there
Day 6 - Staniel to Shroud
Day 7 - Shroud to Norman's
Day 8 - Norman's to Nassau

Are we spending too much time sailing and not enough time enjoying?

Appreciate all input!
Thanks
Jason
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Old 27-09-2015, 21:43   #2
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

Do you plan on sailing right through storms and other bad weather? When I was there, I spent a whole week in Nassau waiting for a weather break. Then I spent three days wait at Warderick wells, again for weather. Of course I was enjoying the wait very much. I just do not think you can plan an 8 day trip on a sailboat to the day by day travel. Mac
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Old 27-09-2015, 22:29   #3
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

Day 1 Nassau to Highborne or close.
Day 2 Whatever comes.
Day 3 Whatever comes.
Day 4 Whatever comes.
Day 5 Whatever comes, keeping an eye for weather on day 8.
Day 6 Whatever comes, keeping an eye for weather on day 8.
Day 7 Whatever comes, keeping an eye for weather on day 8.
Day 8 From whatever back to Nassau if the weather cooperated and you did not have to head back sooner.




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Old 27-09-2015, 23:18   #4
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

You can not make an itinerary until the last minute because of weather, even then 8 days out can be sketchy.
But with a good chance the cold fronts are over by the end of March and provided it's not blowing 20 knots out of the southeast on day 1 you can make Staniel in one long day from Nassau by leaving early. Just go around the yellow bank as you will be passing a bit early. You can approach the anchorage at big major just after dark if you have to as it's easy. Then you can move back to Nassau slowly with favorable winds stopping at lots or just a few places. Of course a late season cold front would mess up that plan unless it was on day 1 which would be a bonus. But the bottom line is you have to listen to a good long range forecast on day one and make your itinerary around that parameter.


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Old 28-09-2015, 03:22   #5
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Jason.
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Old 28-09-2015, 07:10   #6
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

IMHO, way too much time moving around. Moving every day sure is going to limit your enjoyment of some of these great locations. Personally I would skip Nassau and take it as it comes for the rest of the trip.

Are you sailing in from Florida or chartering?
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Old 28-09-2015, 08:24   #7
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

The calendar and clock are no friend to the sailor.
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Old 28-09-2015, 08:30   #8
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

March tends to be awfully Windy. I would guess your itinerary will be more like what Dave852 says.

Sail when you can.

Get tucked up on the leeward side of some island somewhere, hopefully be all alone and enjoy.

If the Gods of the Sea & Air allow, sail on to a second island and repeat.

Repeat as allowed.
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Old 28-09-2015, 08:39   #9
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

How about some more info, size of boat, charter or yours, starting in Nassau??
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Old 28-09-2015, 08:52   #10
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

The most dangerous thing on a boat is a schedule.

For me, I would chart out where I would like to go and plan entrances, anchorages and approximate times from other stops, but would leave the whole thing wide-open with the weather and stops dictating where to go next along with the close eye on the return.

The best trips are adventures and adventures can't be scheduled, only planned and the greater leeway you leave, the better time you will have.
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Old 28-09-2015, 09:01   #11
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

I like to get to Shroud Cay ASAP and spend two days (nights) decompressing from the "real world" lol. Dinghy up the northernmost creek, preferably on a rising tide.
Then on to whatever suits.
Keep an eye on the weather, as others have noted you may get a Norther which can make it difficult getting back to Nassau. You should be able to get forecasts on the VHF from various local stations, monitor channel 16 in the morning.
Buy Steve Pavlidis' Exuma Guide now, and you'll have it all planned including contingencies by the time of your trip.
You also will want the Explorer Charts if your boat does not come so equipped.
Enjoy.
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Old 28-09-2015, 10:07   #12
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

We were in the Exumas in March a couple years ago. We had strong west winds for the better part of 3 weeks that we were there. If you have West Winds, plan anchorages ahead of time and very carefully and be prepared to honker down till they pass. There are relatively few places to hide behind islands or whatever and it can get dangerous. Also, there will be a lot of cruisers competing for the better anchorages at that time of the year. There is a lot of westerly fetch for big waves to build. Exumas have good anchorages for Easterly winds.
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Old 28-09-2015, 10:28   #13
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

Quote:
Originally Posted by vanderjas View Post
Hi all,

First Bahamas cruise set for the Easter break next year and would appreciate any input into our planned itinerary. We are planning on 9 days and hoping to squeeze in Staniel Cay.

Day 1 - Nassau to Highborne Cay
Day 2 - Time in Highborne/Allan's then transit to Warderick Wells
Day 3 - Warderick Wells
Day 4 - transit to Compass & night there
Day 5 - transit to Staniel & night there
Day 6 - Staniel to Shroud
Day 7 - Shroud to Norman's
Day 8 - Norman's to Nassau

Are we spending too much time sailing and not enough time enjoying?

Appreciate all input!
Thanks
Jason
Jason
The most dangerous thing aboard any boat is a SCHEDULE. All the best.
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Old 28-09-2015, 10:49   #14
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

I did the Exumas last year for the first time. We had a great time but your schedule would have been impossible due to a few days of high winds when we stayed at anchor.

Also, Nassau is no one's favorite place to spend time even in transit.

Consider going to the Berry Islands instead of Exhumas. Great Harbor Cay is a wonderful marina. Plenty of anchorages for a week. I think the beaches are better than the Exhumas. You won't see any swimming pigs but I'd trade that to avoid the crowds and superyachts of Staniel.
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Old 28-09-2015, 10:59   #15
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Re: Itinerary Assistance - Exumas

From Fort Myers to Staniel Cay is a 3 week trip for me and a 2-3 week stay. Getting back is the same. I reprovision in Nassau and check in to Customs. Cheap rum in Nassau.
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