Back from the Bahamas

[camaraderie]

Note there is a brand new REAL marina operating in Puerto Plata now so you do not have to go to Luperon.
Details: Ocean World Marina - Features

IMHO avoid Luperon if you can. I know some like it cause it is cheap but it is a sewer!

[AnchorageGuy]

We absolutely loved Luperon. Stopped for a few days and stayed a few weeks. The DR is a third world country and if all you look for is Ft Ladedah style marinas and services than stay in Floriduh. The DR was one of our favorite cruising spots and Luperon was on the top of our list. The harbor is dirty so you won't be swimming but there is lots of stuff to do and a great place to tour the rest of the country. The prices are still cheap and the harbor is usually crowded with fellow cruisers. Karl, if you click on the link on my signature line you can read our posts on our trip from Marathon to Guatemala, or pick up the last 14 months of Soundings Magazine and read the complete Reports of our trip.

[camaraderie]

Chuck...I guess that is what makes us a diverse lot. I lived on the hook in the Bahamas and lots of other places for a few years and don't seek out LaDeDah style marinas so don't lay that trip at my feet. Luperon is by far the most unsanitary and foul place we visited. The harbor IS the sewer for the town and other towns higher in the hills...fresh meat is sold with flies crawling all over it...the officials are corrupt...theft is a problem in the harbor (or was in 2004). The good news is that it is a great hurricane hole and the Presidente is cheap and anchoring is free. The other good news the beer is just as cheap in PuertoPlata...grocery stores are handy and it is even a better place to start a tour of the country from. To me it is worth the price to avoid the squalor.
Now cruisers have a choice.

[RonRicco]

Hey Gordon. It has been about a year since we were over there, but we spent 2 weeks in the Exumas with our 1 year old girl and many crossings to Bimini since then. (many times with CSY MAN in tow


Brian

Flybri737@aol.com

[johnhoedemakers]

Hi there,

Does anybody know a good hiding place/hurricane hole in the Bahamas?
Plan to go there, but want to have the possibility to get safe when one hits there.
Preferably a mangrove hole, anyone familiar there?

[Vasco]

The Bahamas chain of islands is nearly five hundred miles long. There are hurricane holes but obviously you have to be near one if a hurricane is approaching. The various cruising guides note "hurricane holes" but with the usual caveat that nothing is hurricane proof.

[johnhoedemakers]

Eh, yep. Sure.
Sorry, didn't think of that.
I'll be more specific.
I think about getting to Grand Bahamas and Abaco for the coming months.
You know some places there?
Also, we don't have a guide or pilot yet, do have C-map though.
Maps look good, heard they are correct too.
Hope that's right.
:-)

[JusDreaming]

John and Panama
we did the trip you speak of, and covered it in our blog. It might be of interest, keep in mind we are on a catamaran so you may not get to all the places we visited. I used the explorer charts on blue chart/Garmin. And the Steve Pavlidis guides

[Vasco]

John.

Just a warning about C-Maps. Make sure the chip you have is of Explorer Charts. C-Maps of the Bahamas older than 3 years (before they changed to Explorers) were nearly useless.

[johnhoedemakers]

Thanks, I've got it all on my laptop.
2004 charts....... oops, that's 3 years.

Can you tell me a good place to drop anchor.
I'm looking for a spot not far away from a Hurricane hole.
Preferably in the negbourhood of a small village or town on the Grand Bahama's.

[JusDreaming]

I was told that there are some good spots inside the canal leading in to Hayward Yacht Club
N26 33.000 W78 33.712

[Panama Dave]

NCDD,
I read some of your blog. Very interesting. I believe we were anchored close to you at Normans Pond in Feb. I remember your boat. Small world. Are you planning to set off again? We are headed to Mexico this winter.
Dave
S/V Wind Dancer

[JusDreaming]

I thought I remembered the name "Wind Dancer", it is a small world! And yes we will be heading out as soon as we get the houseback on the market! Probably head for the Jumentos. We didn't get to spend as much time there as we would have liked.

[johnhoedemakers]

Thanks Danny and Diane,

That's near Lucaya isn't it?
Looks like a deserted project.

By the way, how is Lucaya?
Prices, check-in procedure, is there WiFi available?

Cheers, John

[JusDreaming]

we stayed at OceanReef club for $45. per day. They had WIFI but you haad to pay for it. It was a bit out of the way, being kinda in the middle between Lucaya and Freeport, but the buses were very cheap. The resort had free shuttle to grocery stores. And I believe it is the cheapest slip on Grand Bahama. Lucaya was thriving while Freeport was some what of a ghost town.