I have a 44 ft
monohull sailboat with a 6’9”
draft (Salona 44). I am planning a trip to Nassau/Northern
Exumas and will be leaving from
Lake Worth Inlet. I like having options. I will probably use New Providence Channel for the return trip home to St Augustine straight through from
Nassau, but I thought it might be more fun and comfortable for my crew to cross the Great Bahama Bank on the way to
Nassau when leaving from
Lake Worth. I have reviewed Pavlidis and Explorer Chartbooks. I have been to
Bimini, Cat Cay and Gun Cay but never crossed this bank.
My intinial thought was to sail South from Lake Worth to
Miami and Cross the Steam from there. According to the Explorer Chartbook the deepest
route appears to be to enter the banks from between Great Isaac and Hens and Chickens Rocks. I figure the
Gulf Stream could take me there with reasonable efficiency if I start my crossing near
Miami. Then
head to Mackie Shoal and the Northwest Channel from there. This is well depicted in the Explorer Chartbooks, but there is very little on the
internet about this
route and it is not even mentioned as an option gin Pavlidis. I do not plan on stopping in
Bimini. I realize the most common routes are crossing at North Rock, Moselle Bank, etc..
My main question is the following:
1. Is it safe and efficient to enter the banks between Great Isaac and Hens and Chicken then proceed from there to Mackie Shoal and the Northwest Channel? If not why? I am just curious since it appears to be reasonably efficient and is very rarely mentioned. Plus it is deeper
water under my
boat.