AM I CRAZY and this is out of place! Suicide mission?

[alexleclainche]

Hey guys I know this post is out of place but since i'm a monohull sailboat owner I was hoping I could get a couple of oppinions on my latest idea/adventure. My parents just recently purcashed property down in Long Island, Bahamas. We have planned a boys trip to Long Island for this month, October 25th. Boats are scarce down there for renting and I just so happen to be picking up an older 24' Mako recently repowered with twin engines tommorow for use as our Long Island boat. I would like to rush it and deliver the boat down there and fly home before our "boys trip" at the end of the month. I have sailed extensively throught the bahamas and know the waters extremely well, as well as an excellent route to Long Island. I was thinking of heading to Nassau and riding the Exuma Chain down and cutting across to Long Island. I would bring a life raft, survival pack, extra fuel containers and plenty of food for what I believe would be a 15-30 hour mission leaving from ft. lauderdale and the distance being about 350 miles. I know this is not the best time of year to leave but if I get an oppourtunity with decent conditions and less than six feet in the gulfstream next weekend should I take it? Or is this just a recipe for disaster?

Thanks guys!
alex

[CSY Man]

Bring plenty of gas...It is expensive in the Bahamas, I have seen over $4.00 per gallon, perhaps more now.

The Gulfstream crossing should be okay this time of the year with a settled weather window and SE winds.
Crossing the banks without an autopilot could be a long stretch however.

We met a guy in the Exumas a few years ago who had been paddling his canoe all the way from Florida. If he could do it, so could you in the 24' Maco..

[Tnflakbait]

Maybe an extra outboard (a small one would be a good idea).

[Zach]

Do you have a fuel filter setup that allows you to swap between two, in the event sediment gets shaken up... turn the valve and keep going while someone swaps out the other?

Would suck to be dead in the water for something like that...

[camaraderie]

Wouldn't Bimini to Chubb Cay and down the Exumas be an easier/quicker route?

[alexleclainche]

absolutely, that is the route i took last summer but im worried i might not be able to make it from chubb to a place in the exumas without stopping for gas, i figured i could do that in nassau as well.

[CSY Man]

i figured i could do that in nassau as well.

yeah, Nassau is quick and easy and a "natural" stop on the way to the Exumas.