Key West to Exumas in February

[Paul M]

I am planning to sail my Morgan OI 41' from Key West to the Bahamas in the next few weeks. I have not done this cruise before and am looking for advice on best routes.



Eventually, I want to end up in the Exumas but wouldn't mind avoiding the long sail from Key West. Currently, the plan is to sail to Marathon or Key Largo intially, then begin the gulf stream crossing from there to Bimini, Berry's, (possibly Nassau), then to Exumas.



From a light chart review, it doesn't appear to be feasible to go directly from Key West to Exumas without going far south of Andros to avoid the bank. Also appears that the Atlantic side (eastern exumas) is where we want to cruise and anchor. Is that right?


Also, How are the inter-island currents through the Bahamas.


Any recommendations regarding routes, anchorages or best check in locations would be much appreciated.

[billknny]

Originally Posted by Paul M

I am planning to sail my Morgan OI 41' from Key West to the Bahamas in the next few weeks. I have not done this cruise before and am looking for advice on best routes.



Eventually, I want to end up in the Exumas but wouldn't mind avoiding the long sail from Key West. Currently, the plan is to sail to Marathon or Key Largo intially, then begin the gulf stream crossing from there to Bimini, Berry's, (possibly Nassau), then to Exumas.



From a light chart review, it doesn't appear to be feasible to go directly from Key West to Exumas without going far south of Andros to avoid the bank. Also appears that the Atlantic side (eastern exumas) is where we want to cruise and anchor. Is that right?


Also, How are the inter-island currents through the Bahamas.


Any recommendations regarding routes, anchorages or best check in locations would be much appreciated.

I am not quite sure why you are posting this in the "multihull forum" since it is not specific to multihulls, and you apparently don't have one...

But...

We did the same passage last year. Boogied from Key West to Bimini on a frontal passage in 20 hours, check in, and then waited for a weather window to cross the bank, Chub Cay, Rose Island, then across Yellow Bank to the Exumas. We draw 6.5 feet. Easy peasy.

If you don't have this book: Gentleman's Guide to Passages South, get it. Read it. Study it. Believe it. Follow it.

[Paul M]

Sorry I misclicked the category. But now that I think about it, with my 4'4" draft, multihull input may be appropriate.

[Dave852]

Buy the explorer charts, a lot of info to be gained. Do sail to key largo first, no benefit to sailing direct from KW. We pass at south riding rock and go directly to andros to check in, then around south side of Nassau to exumas. You can't have an exact plan though as you don't know the weather yet.

[Tingum]

Sounds like you need to read the Bahamas cruising guide and buy the Explorer Charts.

[Paul M]

Thanks guys! I have the cruising guide and explorer charts. Just looking for recommendations.

[GordMay]

... Also appears that the Atlantic side (eastern exumas) is where we want to cruise and anchor. Is that right? ...

The Exuma Sound is deep water. No anchoring there. You generally anchor on the Bank side.

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by GordMay

The Exuma Sound is deep water. No anchoring there. You generally anchor on the Bank side.

Not to mention that the passes to the Banks between the islands can be a real "pip" absent very good timing!

[SV Bacchus]

Last season we did what Dave852 did except we left from Marathon. Left about noon and angled south into the GS then rode it east towards So Riding Rock. Was an easy overnight sail and arrived at So Riding Rock in the afternoon. Anchored up there, spent the night then the next day sailed east across the bank to the mouth of the NW Passage. Anchored up there preparing for an easy sail the next day through the NW Passage, headed south to Morgan's Bluff and had a very pleasant check-in experience the next day. Also grabbed some BTC Sim cards then headed to the south side of Nassau anchored on the lee side hiding from a N wind. The next day we crossed to Norman's Cay and started enjoying the Exumas.

[zboss]

We do Marathon>Bimini>Berries>Nassau route....

Although we have not done so, I agree with the sentiment of leaving from Key Largo if you are already kinda north. Otherwise... leave out of Marathon.