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  1. #1

    Route to the Exumas Bahamas

    Headed to the Bahamas after storm season with eyes set on the Exumas.


    Any recommend routes? Cross to Bimini, Drop down to Gun Cay and across the banks? I would love to break up the 10hr days with a few nice stops and have plenty of time. Not really interested in Nassau proper. Berry Islands for a week, quick stop Nassau and across the yellow bank?


    Any recommends?
    Aperture
    1977 53' MY Hull #492

    Barnegat lighthouse, LBI NJ

  2. #2

    Re: Route to the Exumas Bahamas

    You might want to do a Facebook search for "Bahamas Cruising and Sailing". You'll get some great real time replies.
    My route is usually North Bimini > drop about 10 miles below South Bimini and shoot to Chub > Highbourne or Normans, then down the line of the Exumas.

    Pascal will likely chime in, but you can find him on the Facebook page as well.
    Last edited by Passages; 08-27-2020 at 10:26 PM.

  3. #3

    Re: Route to the Exumas Bahamas

    For years we ve cleared at Cat Cay which was on the way and I was usually in and out in 30 minutes. Unfortunately Cat is now closed to non members. It may change after this chinese virus dies down

    BIM is not really worth a stop anymore. Resort World has really destroyed the island.

    Last trip, this July, we ran straight to Chub and cleared there. Chub has been rebuild and is very nice. Nice docks, beautiful landscaping, nice restaurant. Very well done

    Another option is to clear at Great Harbor cay (northern berrys). The marina is pretty nice although very different from chub. More family island style. It s a bit of a detour but worth a couple of nice to explore. Very nice beach. On the way down the berrys, a stop at White Cay to see the blue hole on Hoffman’s is worth it.

    Southern berrys, a stop at Bird Cay, maybe on the way back is nice. Good anchorage. There is an abandoned estate on the north end of bird that’s fun exploring. It s a mid 20th century time capsule. Last time we stopped two years ago there were still a lot of furniture and things inside.

    I agree on avoiding NAS. One night is enough to reprovision and refuel. Bay Street marina is a very nice place. Solomon’s fresh market has a free shuttle. Or go to Nassau harbor club, a little rustic but just across the street from Solomon’s and the shopping center.
    Both have fuel

    Then it’s on to paradise. I usually don’t cross the yellow bank but do a dogleg between the yellow and white bank, almost due south of the eastern harbor entrance. No Coral heads to watch for, I Ben running this route day or nights many time a year

    Returning, we run straight from Staniel to NW Channel light (or sometimes anchor for the night at andros morgans bluff). Looking at explorer charts you ll see there is an almost straight clear route across Exuma bank.

    Two final points. A water maker is pretty much a must in the Exumas unless you want to ration water like a sailor

    And since July, you must clear Bahamas customs When leaving the Bahamas. This means a stop at NAS, Chubb or BIM. It’s a pita. Last trip I was able to use a yacht agent in NAS, emailing her all the paper work. Cost us $150 but worth it.

    Any questions about the Exumas... feel free to ask. Been going. Multiple times a year for almost 15 years now.
    Pascal
    Miami, FL
    1970 53 MY #325 Cummins 6CTAs
    2014 26' gaff rigged sloop
    2007 Sandbarhopper 13
    12' Westphal Cat boat

  4. #4

    Re: Route to the Exumas Bahamas

    Below are two routes I have researched and others have used minimizing large open ocean days, running on the protected banks, etc...... I'm sure there are many other routes, pick what fits you needs best and how you make passages...

    Route 1:
    Ft Pierce -> Green Turtle Cay (Check in, top off fuel, fly-in/out)-> island hop through Abacos -> Spanish Wells -> Highborne Cay and south for the remainder of the Exuma's -> reverse home route 1 or 2

    Route 2:
    Miami -> Cat Cay (check in) -> Nassau (top off fuel, fly-in/out) -> Highborne Cay and south for the remainder of the Exuma's -> reverse home route 1 or 2
    Best regards,
    --
    David

  5. #5

    Re: Route to the Exumas Bahamas

    I m not a big fan of crossing to west end as the water is almost always rougher there than further south especially in winter. The weather windows are much shorter.

    And then the run from Abacos to Spanish Wells is wide open ocean. Can be pretty miserable.
    Pascal
    Miami, FL
    1970 53 MY #325 Cummins 6CTAs
    2014 26' gaff rigged sloop
    2007 Sandbarhopper 13
    12' Westphal Cat boat

  6. #6

    Re: Route to the Exumas Bahamas

    Thank you everyone. Exactly the conversation I was hoping for.

    Pascal, how long / what speed do you plan for the passage directly to Chubs?

    Would you do Chubs, NAS quick stop (or NAS southern coast stop) and move between Yellow and White banks?

    Or

    Chubs, down to andros morgans bluff and across.

    Originally I was looking at BIM/NW Marker light/Morgans bluff and across.
    But I would love to break those 3 crossings days.
    Aperture
    1977 53' MY Hull #492

    Barnegat lighthouse, LBI NJ

  7. #7

    Re: Route to the Exumas Bahamas

    It depends on what speed we run at.

    At 10kts hull speed (84 lazzara) it s about 12 hours to Chub from Miami. At normal cruise (22-24kts) we can do it about 5 to 6 hours but that wasn’t work on a 53 Then if going to the northern Exumas i run to Nassau but stay outside along Paradise Island to avoid going thru the harbor then thru Hannover sound and turn south passing between Athol and Porgee rocks. But that’s because we don’t need to get fuel

    If we go to Staniel I run from Chub straight to NP west end and across to Staniel

    I really hope Cat Cay reopens as it was so convenient. I d leave late afternoon or evening, anchor off Cat. Go in at 9am for customs, out by 9:30 then across the bank and straight to Exumas passing south of Nassau . It s long day at hull speed but worth it. Depending on how tired I was I d anchor in the northern Exumas or sometimes I d push to Staniel Again at hull speed to save fuel

    If you don’t mind running a few hours on plane then it s a shorter day

    The logic behind this is to maximize time spent in the Exumas which are 200 times better than bimini or even the berrys.

    Don’t forget that fuel prices in the Bahamas are roughly twice what it is here in Miami so running at hull speed makes a lot of sense Unless you want to shave a few hours off a long day.

    I haven’t taken my 53 there yet but when we do a couple of years from now at least it will be mostly at hull speed and running longer days.

    On the south side of NP you can stop and refuel at Albany it s almost on the way. Fuel is reasonable (but dockage is not... ) so whenever I stop there it’s for a quick top off
    Pascal
    Miami, FL
    1970 53 MY #325 Cummins 6CTAs
    2014 26' gaff rigged sloop
    2007 Sandbarhopper 13
    12' Westphal Cat boat

  8. #8

    Re: Route to the Exumas Bahamas

    I hate to be a wet blanket. My first visit to the Bahamas was 68 years ago when I was 8. Since acquiring Fanfare in 1966 I have been there almost every year and loved it. However, I have had to skip visiting the last two years for a variety of reasons. Hurricane damage in the Abacos and Grand Bahama, Covid virus in every island (Nassau Tribune website ((www.tribune242.com )) gives current numbers) coupled with complete lockdowns in interisland travel, and pretty much a complete lack of effective hospital care anywhere but Nassau (pick private Doctor's Hospital there, not state-run Princess Margaret). If someone on board gets sick you will need a charter flight, preferably prepared to handle covid, to get back to the USA. Couple this with a requirement to clear customs both in and out and a doubling of the clearance fee, add in the increased 15% VAT on just about everything and that accounts for my absence this year. I wish it did not.

    This could be a reasonable year to cruise the East Coast and the Gulf assuming attractions such as museums and restaurants can reopen. So, as last year, we hope to be entertaining family and friends among the Florida Keys and Key West. It's not quite as exciting as the Bahamas but as skipper it is a lot less responsibility and worry for me. And nobody should regard this as a second or third choice either. It's just not the time for the Bahamas.
    Jim Grove, Fanfare 1966 50MY Hull #22 (Delivered Jan. 7, 1966)

    "LIFE IS JUST ONE DAMNED THING AFTER ANOTHER." Frank Ward O'Malley, Journalist, Playwright 1875-1932

  9. #9

    Re: Route to the Exumas Bahamas

    We were in the Exumas when the whole Chinese virus started in March. We ended up canceling three charters and eventually came back to Miami. In all fairness, the Bahamas government worked with the association of bahamas marinas to make sure boating boats could either return home or stay in the country with minimal hassles. Then they gradually reopened on June 15th and July 1st.

    We spent the whole month of July in the Exumas and didn’t experienced any issue. Yes we had to get a test and fill out an online form... no big deal. It was pretty much business as usual there The Exumas were very busy in July. In addition to the regular summer crowd there were a lot of big boats, 120+. Boats which usually travel to the med and cancelled this year

    Now as to medical care, medevqc is the only option on the Bahamas at any time if it s not something a local clinic can handle like stitches and basic stuff
    Pascal
    Miami, FL
    1970 53 MY #325 Cummins 6CTAs
    2014 26' gaff rigged sloop
    2007 Sandbarhopper 13
    12' Westphal Cat boat

  10. #10

    Re: Route to the Exumas Bahamas

    I went over twice in the summer of 2019. First to Lucaya in Grand Bahama then Great Harbor Cay for most of the time and then to Bimini and came back to Ft Lauderdale.
    Second trip to Bimini, then Bay Street Marina to top off fuel and spend the night and then the Northern Exumas. On the return trip we dropped off the kids and wives at Nassau to fly back to Lauderdale. We left and went to Morgan's Bluff which cut the trip to Florida in half. Then to Bimini for a night and then to Lauderdale. I think I will make Morgan's Bluff a regular stop. Nothing there but quiet. I tied up and ran the generator or I could have anchored out.
    I am getting older and the 10 hour days wear on me more. 5 or 6 hours to Bimini, 5 hours or so to Morgan's Bluff and then Nassau suits me better now. Having said that, nothing beats the Exumas.
    Tomrealest@aol.com
    Needs, Wants & Desires
    1978 58 Hatteras Yachtfish
    SEA 21
    1974 46C #313 Hatteras Convertible

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