Considering crossing to Bimini from Miami today @ 12 noon.

[epiic]

This would be my 1st Gulf Stream crossing and I have the opportunity to cross with somebody that has done it over a dozen times.

He is leaving @ 12:00 noon today and arriving at night.

Apparently, wind from the south combined with the Gulf Stream makes for a very slow crossing. He wants to leave at noon because the winds are going to die down so we will motor across.

Thoughts?

[J Clark H356]

Sailflow looks good for light winds out of the SE for the next 24 to 36 hours. Haven't made the crossing myself, but conditions are what I would be looking for based on wind and interaction with the stream. What you don't want is wind against the stream.

[mbuckely]

Arrive at night? That's a bad idea in my humble opinion. With that forecast I'd leave this evening

[J Clark H356]

Looks like it's about 50 NM over there, so you should arrive around 10 PM -Midnight. Since I haven't been there, I too would leave just before dark and plan my arrival early morning or if leaving at noon, anchor outside and go in tomorrow morning. Winds should be favorable for a peaceful anchorage to the west of Bimini until you can go in tomorrow morning. If your friend has been there and has good navigation equipment and waypoints, he probably knows exactly where to go, so ask him about his plan if you have concerns.

[sailingfarmer]

getting inside the harbor at night is the biggest challenge.... if he has experience to get through the cut and you have a million CW light you can get inside at night but... make sure he knows what he is doing.... otherwise motor over tonight... and navigate in with daylight... you really can't be safe outside ...

[Elie]

The daylight is almost 12 hours at this time of year. Getting into Bimini at night can be done but you need to know your way into this restricted, unlit harbour entrance. I don't see why you should not try to do it very early (7 am) and even take advantage of any south wind. It is a very pleasant sail with a south wind. And you will be able to get in with some light. And remember to tread your way between the beach and the reef to get into the harbour .

[Caliber40]

It's an 8 hour trip....leave at 7 arrive 3....Tie up at Browns Marina....Sundowners by 4:00.....very simple!

[akprb]

Just checked gribs as well. My two cents leave at midnight or whenever comfortable and plan a daylight arrival. Treat it as if going alone, not with a buddy boat. Also consider there may be (probably will) a ton of cruise ship traffic :-)

[Ken Z]

i have a bad habit, i like to see where im going, esp. a new place, at night😎

[Peterbreit]

I left Hillsboro inlet at 7am arrived near Port Lucaya, Grand Bahama at 5pm. Just enough light find the inlet.
So if you leave before 7am you should be in Bimini by early afternoon and tied up & checked in by Happy Hour.
Do motor-sail if the wind is not cooperating. Should be a pleasant crossing.
Let us know....

Cheers
Peter "Belvedere"

[jcapo]

Back in the day when I was in South Florida and we routinely did 3 day weekend trips to the Bahamas, we always left at dark and arrived in daylight.

I think that entering Bimini at night could be exciting.

[Dave852]

Originally Posted by epiic

This would be my 1st Gulf Stream crossing and I have the opportunity to cross with somebody that has done it over a dozen times.



He is leaving @ 12:00 noon today and arriving at night.



Apparently, wind from the south combined with the Gulf Stream makes for a very slow crossing. He wants to leave at noon because the winds are going to die down so we will motor across.



Thoughts?

Don't know why someone would encourage a first timer to follow him into Bimini at night. Why? It's so unnecessary.

[CaptsWife]

Originally Posted by epiic

Apparently, wind from the south combined with the Gulf Stream makes for a very slow crossing. He wants to leave at noon because the winds are going to die down so we will motor across.

Thoughts?

You want winds from the south. But why would it be a slow crossing?