Abacos Report

[a64pilot]

I saw no difference at all, which as I said surprised me.
Channel markings are sort of nebulous in the Bahamas from what I have seen, I have C map on the plotter which uses Explorer data and Aqua Map on the IPad which is the actual Explorer charts, very often there will be markers on the chart that are not in the water, and that was before the Hurricane, Private channels to Marina’s etc were well marked maybe with temp markers but there was something there.
Non private as in government channels not so much, but 90% of the time there is an Active Capt comment on missing markers there.

From my experience there just really isn’t any difference before and after the Hurricane from what I saw, not navigation wise anyway. I kept looking for shoaling but didn’t see any.
See attached pics, it’s the old ship channel just south of the whale, all the yellow triangles are from missing markers, but it was that way last year before the Hurricane too.

[steamgoat]

Markers are all in place,but it’s now irrelevant as they won’t let you in. As of yesterday evenings prime minister address, no inter island travel. I am in Green turtle,black sound, no boats have been allowed in for more than a week. In white sound the fuel at Green turtle club is going to be open tomorrow( Friday) 8 am to 4 pm boats are going to be allowed in to fuel and leave. The situation remains changeable !

[hpeer]

A64,

Just what I was looking for.

I understand the current situation in the Bahamas. However that will change at some future date. Depending upon how things unravel here in Dominica we may want to run North. If, at that time, the Bahamas is open we may stop there. I’m just planning on eventualities. I like to know my options.

[a64pilot]

Yeah it’s apparently different depending on where you are, it seems in Eluthera a Police Boat is running around handing out notices that say your not allowed to leave the boat and has phone numbers you can call and have fuel and food delivered to some dock I have never heard of.
Here in Long Island they don’t know what to do so we are all sitting on the boat.
In George Town the grocery store has a letter on its door saying they are open for cruisers and will continue to be, but then again that place is set up and meant to be a sort of Cruiser or at least boats staying in George Town store.

I have pretty much decided that we are headed back slowly and probably starting tomorrow.
Not sure of the route though, shortest has a couple of long passages in it and that may be what we have to do.

[hpeer]

From following the Maryland thread it sounds like you are in some danger of being stuck where ever you land. Or caught transiting some intermediate state. Some control freaks are screaming “no boating, no live aboards”.

As a dual citizen I can repatriate to Canada. Even the Wife is saying things like, “Well it’s only 7 days further.” Which is astounding. Getting more and more uneasy with the States the more I’m out of it.

[newlazydays]

26 May 2020.



I "chatted" with someone on the Bahamian Government website today. It would seem from the info she gave me that the Bahamas will not be opening up till July 1. I was hoping to be back there in about three weeks time to retrieve a vessel and bring it to Florida. Does anyone have any more info on this?