Bahamas: (Exuma Bank) Yellow Bank passage with a 9'4" keel

[JRApplegate]

All

I'm looking for advice for those that have made plenty of passages from Highborne Cay Cut to Providence Channel...heading to Florida with the Salty Dawg group.

I am heading back to the US from the US Virgin Islands and have submitted my Passage Exception request to the local government and had to select Staniel Cay as my one spot to stop and refuel and reprovision (if necessary). I have already checked with Staniel Cay marina so I'm getting with getting in there and out with my draft.

Regarding the passage across the Exuma Bank I have read many post in this forum about needed to do it at high tide and its doable (and studied the charts). Seems the feeling is that there will always be 10' or more if you pick the right route (via Yellow Bank) and time it so the shallowest depth will be passed at high tide.

Any thoughts on this approach - or just head out and go around Eleuthera Island to the east and just 'eat' the extra miles vs taking the risk of not making it through the Exuma Bank.

Appreciate your insights.

-John