Little Bahama Bank at Night?

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by Zydeco

If we do the Memory Rock/Mangrove Cay route, do we go North or South of Great Sale Cay? North side looks a little deeper, but draw a bit less than 5 feet so depth is not a big concern. Distance looks about the same.

I agree, I did north for that reason, but if there was strong southerlies forecasted, I would have done south route to have a little less chop, insuring I avoid the West End rocks and mud bank.
Tom
BTW, don't expect the memory rock light to be lighted, it wasn't when I was there.

[S/V Antares]

It is an easy transit across the Little Banks say to Great Sale day or night and stop for a rest. The passage is well charted. However...make it easy on yourself.and leave West Palm at daybreak and go to West End. You get in during daylight and can clear in the same day or the next. Nice place. And you can leave in the morning for Great Sale (Daylight passage) Then the easy choices really begin.

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by S/V Antares

It is an easy transit across the Little Banks say to Great Sale day or night and stop for a rest. The passage is well charted. However...make it easy on yourself.and leave West Palm at daybreak and go to West End. You get in during daylight and can clear in the same day or the next. Nice place. And you can leave in the morning for Great Sale (Daylight passage) Then the easy choices really begin.

With a 5ft draft, the Indian Rock passage looks a bit dicey to me, especially with missing markers.
Tom

[nautical62]

I've done a few night sails on the Little Banks both to Walker's via memory rock and Great Sale via the Indian Cay Passage, and saw no worries on either of those. However, I prefer to sleep at anchor at night to staying up when possible and have adopted the exact strategy S/V Antares mentions for most of my trips. If you are not comfortable with the Indian Cay Passage, you can still stop to anchor and clear at West End if you wish and head up to that point south of Memory rock mentioned previously instead of the Indian Cay Passage.

I've gone both north and south of Great Sale, depending on the wind and where/if I anchor there. You need to give the south side more room due to shoaling there.

It's been several years since I went past memory rock, but the light was not working when I went past.

[S/V Antares]

TeeJayevans, From West End you can go up to just south of Memory and likely catch a few fish on the way(Only if you have cleared in west end) And still make Great Sale in daylight. Great Sunsets, (Picture attached)

I have 5ft draft and this year we "Did" Indian passage at MLW with no issues. We use the wpt's in the explorer charts and never saw less than 7 ft (Often a few feet under the boat is a luxury in the Bahamas and something you will need to get used to. ) It is usually calm in the AM when we leave West end and if we were to ground I prefer a rising tide. Indian looks intimatating so if you can leave at half tide you would be more comfy. From Great Sale you should go on the North to Allens/Pensacola for the really fabulous Signing Beach on the ocean side. Hundreds of boats have stopped there over the years and left their names and dates on the Tree at the end of the path from the anchorage. Great fun to see.