Heading for Bahamas in May

[Bill Root]

We're finally ready to take a Bahamas cruise off our bucket list this year. The plan is to be in West Palm Beach by May 15 and anchor out in Lake Worth waiting for a good weather window to cross over to West End. Since it's our first time making the crossing, we're looking for a buddy boat or boats to cross over with us. We will go at about 10k. Anyone out there interested in going at that time?

 

[Dan Mapes]

I am thinking that in May, several boats will be traveling one way or the other. If you pick a good day there is no doubt you will not be alone out there. On every crossing we have made we have always seen others out there on this particular route.

 

[Bill Root]

Thanks, Dave.

 

[tomrealest]

Are you going to West End or Lucaya? I have a coupon I picked up at the Miami Show for 30 days dockage for $100 at Lucaya Yacht Club. Not enough to do for 30 days but you could go there, clear customs and when you are ready to move on go through the Lucaya Canal and then on to Great Sail.

 

[Dan Mapes]

The North end of the Lucayan canal is shallow and narrow where it meets the Dover Sound. We only pull about 4 feet and we sweat every time we do that canal.

There are two bridges on the canal, and one has a clearance of 27 feet. The other has 35.

 

[Pascal]

May / June are the best months to go to the bahamas with calm weather and good crossing windows.

How long are you planning on staying there?

Personally I wouldn't do West End or Freeport, or the abacos. Frankly the northern bahamas and Abacos have never impressed me. Instead I would suggest Cay Cay (just south of bimini) for customs, a quick stop at the sapona wreck, southern Berrys (bird cay is a good anchorage and plenty to explore with many beaches and sandbars) then across to nassau to top off on food and stuff if you need.

Then a week or two in the Exumas and back with a final stop at great harbor cay in the northern Berrys.

A few more miles altogether but much nicer. Dozens of great anchorages in the Exumas with fewer people and so much to do.

 

[Mike36c]

^^^^^ this

We made the trip last year thru the Berrys then toured the Exumas, it was a bit of a hike but well worth it.

 

[Bill Root]

May / June are the best months to go to the bahamas with calm weather and good crossing windows.

How long are you planning on staying there?

Personally I wouldn't do West End or Freeport, or the abacos. Frankly the northern bahamas and Abacos have never impressed me. Instead I would suggest Cay Cay (just south of bimini) for customs, a quick stop at the sapona wreck, southern Berrys (bird cay is a good anchorage and plenty to explore with many beaches and sandbars) then across to nassau to top off on food and stuff if you need.

Then a week or two in the Exumas and back with a final stop at great harbor cay in the northern Berrys.

A few more miles altogether but much nicer. Dozens of great anchorages in the Exumas with fewer people and so much to do.

Thanks for the info, Pascal. You have always provided me with good advice. Plan is to stay until mid July, maybe longer. We need to be in Abacos in June for family reasons. We may venture farther south once that commitment has been fulfilled. Since this is our first time crossing the Gulf Stream I'm trying to give us plenty of time to pick a good weather window and not be pushing to hit a schedule.

 

[Bill Root]

Are you going to West End or Lucaya? I have a coupon I picked up at the Miami Show for 30 days dockage for $100 at Lucaya Yacht Club. Not enough to do for 30 days but you could go there, clear customs and when you are ready to move on go through the Lucaya Canal and then on to Great Sail.

Thanks for the offer, Tom. The route we are planning to take at this point is West Palm to West End, then to Mangrove Cay, Great Sale Cay, Crab Cay, Green Turtle and then to Marsh Harbor. We need to be there for a family event mid June. From there I'm not sure, maybe down to the Exumas. We planto be headed back stateside by mid July, but who knows? At that point it depends on weather abnd how the budget is holding up.

 

[Pascal]

Usually the Gulf Stream isn't much of an issue by mid May as you get fewer and weaker fronts. In the stream it's anything northerly that's going to kick things up, less likely in may.

Wed I crossed from Miami to cat and on to nassau, it was 15 to 20 but S to SE and it was a good ride. The same 15 to 20 From NE woudl have been hell...

Are you stabilized? If so you have even less to worry about.

After your family thing, head down to nassau to refuel and spend a couple of weeks in the exumas.

Best itinerary for two weeks woudl be
Normans cay, shroud, warderick wells (2 nights) , compass, Staniel (3 nights) , little farmers, rudder, Lee stocking, Barraterre and gtown ( 2 nights)

Personally I don't care for highborne cay marina but it's a common first stop in the Exumas for many

 

[Mike in S Fla]

That was kinda my plan this year, heading over in may, clearing in cat maybe chub Pascal I thought bird cay was a private island where do you anchor there id like to try that were do you go in between whale and bird to anchor ? from there ill run down to nassau and then over to elutheras



thanks mike

 

[Dan Mapes]

Skip Eluethera. The Exumas are what you want to see. Unless you want to fuel up at Spanish Wells which has the cheapest fuel. If you stop in Nassau there is no point to SW unless you go around the 'bone. Once around there are a number of beach oriented restaurants and a beautiful beach on Harbour Island but that's it. They did open a restaurant at SW that actually serves liquor recently.

Depending on weather anchor near Highborne, pick up a mooring at Shroud, Hawksbill, Warderick Wells, Compass Cay Marina, Staniel Cay Y/C and points South. Hopefully you have a decent dink to poke around with.

 

[Pascal]

That was kinda my plan this year, heading over in may, clearing in cat maybe chub Pascal I thought bird cay was a private island where do you anchor there id like to try that were do you go in between whale and bird to anchor ? from there ill run down to nassau and then over to elutheras



thanks mike

I dont like chub... Overpriced. Bird and whale are indeed private but nobody lives there and they have some nice beaches. On bird, there is an abandoned mansion on the NW tip whic is fun to explore. Abandoned in the 60s or 70s and still pretty much intact... Fun to explore... Old books, furniture, etc...

Nice sand bars jsut north of the Frazier hog key channel. Y can also tie up at Berry island club but check if open first

I usually anchor off the west side of bird, tucked behind the point with good protection for teh prevailing easterlies

 

[Bill Root]

Usually the Gulf Stream isn't much of an issue by mid May as you get fewer and weaker fronts. In the stream it's anything northerly that's going to kick things up, less likely in may.

Wed I crossed from Miami to cat and on to nassau, it was 15 to 20 but S to SE and it was a good ride. The same 15 to 20 From NE woudl have been hell...

Are you stabilized? If so you have even less to worry about.

After your family thing, head down to nassau to refuel and spend a couple of weeks in the exumas.

Best itinerary for two weeks woudl be
Normans cay, shroud, warderick wells (2 nights) , compass, Staniel (3 nights) , little farmers, rudder, Lee stocking, Barraterre and gtown ( 2 nights)

Personally I don't care for highborne cay marina but it's a common first stop in the Exumas for many

Yes, we are stabilized. General rule from what I've read is "no wind with a northerly component" and under 20K. I think we'll live by that. We like to steer clear of the major cities except to refuel and provision, so your itinerary looks good. Provided the weather holds, we'll probably try it.