Abacos Trip in the Bahamas 2013

The rest of the plan:

We hope to leave West Palm on May 4th. If the weather is good, we will leave at 4:30 am. Otherwise, we will pick a good anchorage and wait for the best weather window.

It is always a risk for people who want to visit you to book an airplane since you never know about the weather or if you will have a boat problem. As long as they understand this, we figure it will be safe for people to book as early as May 18th to arrive in Marsh Harbor. This will give us 14 days to make what could be an easy 5 day trip over to Marsh Harbour. This year we plan on checking in at West End so we can take down our Quarantine flag to snorkel and legally visit other peoples boats while crossing the bank. Once we are on the Bahamas bank then we should be enjoying the Cays (pronounced Keys) and get out and do some snorkeling, fishing, happy hours on boats, impromptu get together's, walks on the beach, find shells, you get the idea! In other words, we won't make Marsh Harbour in 5 days but we could.

Last year we pretty much stuck together as a group and visited all of the Abacos. However, this year Deb and I are planning on going no further south than Hopetown or Marsh Harbour. The nicer out islands are calling to us such as the beautiful beaches on the east side of Allens Pensacola.

We will be able to provide anyone information about traveling further south in the Abacos and recommend it highly. More importantly, this is not a group tour of the Abacos where we will have a schedule. If you want to take off on your own, then you should! If you want to eat out more or less, then you should! This is a trip about enjoying the water and the islands along with the people both on the trip and the Bahamians on the islands.

We are planning on starting back to the States around June 1 or 2. Deb and I will be going back through the Okeechobee route. Don't forget, if you have the local boaters option, you typically will not need to check in "in person."

Hope Town is one of the settlements that you will want to visit. You can see the mooring field below along with the lighthouse.

March 27, 2013 - I just finished ordering my Customs sticker and it is getting late for everyone. Hopefully you have already ordered yours. You only have about a week longer for normal shipping verses paying $6 extra for expedited shipping. Bottom line is you need to go to this website https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov/ using Internet Explorer NOT Chrome. Chrome doesn't work with their site - I tried and had to call their support desk. Once you are there, you will have to create a new user account if you have not ordered a sticker before. However, if you have ordered a sticker before then all you need to do is renew the sticker using your old login information. The processing takes up to two weeks then they will mail it to you which takes about a week. Local Boater Option - once you have the sticker ordered, you will also want to go to your local Customs page and set up an appointment to get a local boater option if you will be going to the Bahamas on a regular basis. This, after you file a float plan (more on that later), will allow you to skip checking in at a Customs office. You should be able to simply call the Customs number and check back in by phone. I'll update more later but you will need to get started on the appointment fairly soon if you want to use this option. Passports - Don't forget, the Bahamas requires a Passport for everyone on-board. If you have people coming over with you by boat and then flying home, then you will need to check into if you need to have their tickets available when you go over. If you have someone flying over and going back by boat with you, you will need to provide them a letter saying you will be taking the aboard your vessel back out of the country. They will probably need documentation about your boat too in order to get on an airplane. Without a return method of transportation, they will be denied boarding on an airplane out of this country. More later but Deb and I are really looking forward to this trip. Right now it looks like we have non-committal commitments for about 5-6 other boats going along on the trip.
March 25, 2013 - Wow, what a difference in what you can find on the web. I've had reports that the Bahamas has rescinded their rate change for the 30-35 foot boats. Then again, I've found that they still have the change of rates for between 30 and 34.999 feet. So, I will plan on taking the cash for the $300 and hope we won't be paying the rate. Regardless, think of it this way. Even if we pay $300 for the entry for a month in the Bahamas for 30 days of adventure, that is only $10 a day. It is a trip of a lifetime and everyone will enjoy the adventure! We are going regardless. We can't wait to spend some time with the out islands, snorkeling, picking up conch, spearing fish, seeing what the Bahamas have to offer, going to some great local restaurants and most importantly enjoying people both locals and cruisers. Hopefully we will figure out what the rate is before we leave however does it really matter?
March 18, 2013 - I've finished teaching a new group of 6 Captains for OUPV and another group of 6 Captains who will have the endorsement of Master. It was a good group of students in Nashville. I've also found out, from a number of sources and emails, that the Bahamas has raised their rates for Gemini's. Well, not just for Gemini's. They have changed their cut-off for the $300 entry fee from 35 feet to 30 feet. So that means boats 30 feet or larger are now required to pay $300 for entry into the Bahamas. I'm sure that won't change peoples plans but it might mean we anchor out and take a bit more food than before where we would have gone out and paid for lunches. Everyone will make their own decisions but right now we have 6 boats in addition to Freedom going over on the earliest date of May 4th. I'll be posting more as we get closer. Deb and I are looking forward - no wait, we are really very much looking forward to this trip to decompress and enjoy cruising again.
Heading to the Bahamas Announcement Deb and I are planning a trip to the Bahamas on "Freedom" in May. This year we plan on leaving West Palm on May 4th to head over to the Abacos. Currently we have at least 4 other boats going with us. Two Gemini's from last years trip, a Gemini 3000 whom I met in the yard back in November when I was working on Freedom's bottom, and another boat from the Clearwater area. Three of us have made the crossing before so anyone who wants to go will be in fairly good hands. If you would like to follow along on your boat, especially those who haven't done the trip in the past and want to cross with a group, you are welcome to join us..Like last year, I want to stress that each captain must take into account their own vessel and their experience. It is totally your decision whether to go or not along with what preparations you need/should/want to make. Even though I will be taking enough tools to rebuild almost everything on the boat along with my spares - you should act similarly since you know your boat better than anyone else. With that disclaimer stated, we should once again have a great time and the weather is wonderful during this time of year. Last year the water was beautiful. We plan on being anchored at West Palm on May 3rd and hope the weather cooperates as it did last year and we can leave on May 4th around 4:30 in the morning heading for a check in at West End this year. This is the overview of where we are going - This is where we will be spending most of our time - northeast side-
The rest of the plan: We hope to leave West Palm on May 4th. If the weather is good, we will leave at 4:30 am. Otherwise, we will pick a good anchorage and wait for the best weather window. It is always a risk for people who want to visit you to book an airplane since you never know about the weather or if you will have a boat problem. As long as they understand this, we figure it will be safe for people to book as early as May 18th to arrive in Marsh Harbor. This will give us 14 days to make what could be an easy 5 day trip over to Marsh Harbour. This year we plan on checking in at West End so we can take down our Quarantine flag to snorkel and legally visit other peoples boats while crossing the bank. Once we are on the Bahamas bank then we should be enjoying the Cays (pronounced Keys) and get out and do some snorkeling, fishing, happy hours on boats, impromptu get together's, walks on the beach, find shells, you get the idea! In other words, we won't make Marsh Harbour in 5 days but we could. Last year we pretty much stuck together as a group and visited all of the Abacos. However, this year Deb and I are planning on going no further south than Hopetown or Marsh Harbour. The nicer out islands are calling to us such as the beautiful beaches on the east side of Allens Pensacola. We will be able to provide anyone information about traveling further south in the Abacos and recommend it highly. More importantly, this is not a group tour of the Abacos where we will have a schedule. If you want to take off on your own, then you should! If you want to eat out more or less, then you should! This is a trip about enjoying the water and the islands along with the people both on the trip and the Bahamians on the islands. We are planning on starting back to the States around June 1 or 2. Deb and I will be going back through the Okeechobee route. Don't forget, if you have the local boaters option, you typically will not need to check in "in person." Hope Town is one of the settlements that you will want to visit. You can see the mooring field below along with the lighthouse.	Now for the list that I'll be filling out directions for over the next few weeks. Passport - If you don't have one for everyone that will be going on your boat, get started now and get them. FCC License - The FCC requires that you have a station license if you transmit in another country i.e. Bahamas. I have one and the link takes you to how I did it. With that said, I think I'm the only one that goes over that does have a license. Customs Sticker - You will need a sticker from Customs which you can order on-line. It takes a couple of weeks to get it so get started right away. Local Boaters Option - LBO - If you plan on going to the Bahamas frequently, (key word plan) and I do, then you can get the local boaters option which will allow you to call in when you return from the Bahamas instead of appearing in front of a Customs officer. I'm planning on doing this in the next week and will document the process for you. Explorer Charts - EVERY Cruiser will say that the explorer charts are the BEST. I agree and you will need the set for the Near Bahamas. Order them NOW so you can study them and read about your trip. You may also want to order a guidebook for the Bahamas and I personally like the one by Steve Dodge. I have an older one but it is very good. You may also want to read about our trip to the Abaco's two years ago. We hit most of the good spots and will again. Bahamas Check In - You will fill out several pages of paperwork and in the end you will owe a fee of $150 if you are less than 35 feet long or $300 if you are 35 feet or greater. You should plan on paying in cash. Dinghy Docks - They are abundant and the locals use their boats as cars going from island to island. This won't be an issue and the docks are documented. However, your dinghy is now your family car and will get you around everywhere. Make sure you have patches and your engine works well before you leave. Get an anchor and a long line. If you are going to snorkel from it, make sure you can get in and out - ladder. Flags - You will need a US flag that will be flown on your aft stay or a pole if you have one. You will also need a quarantine flag that will be flown from your starboard spreader until you check in. Once you check in you will replace your quarantine flag with a Bahamas flag. It will fly until you leave Bahamas waters when you will put your quarantine flag back up for entry into the U.S. Food - We'll probably take about 3 weeks of food with us. That said, shopping at Green Turtle, Marsh Harbour, Hope Town is all pretty good. Just expect to pay about 25% or so more for everything. They have to ship it by boat so their costs are greater and taxes are included in the price verses the add on we have in the states. One thing you have to consider is you will be getting together on other peoples boats for happy hour. Take your favorite recipes along with the ingredients. We also find that we eat out for lunch at the larger settlements. It is all part of the fun. Diesel and Gas - Pretty easy to get but expect to pay 30+ percent higher. Don't be surprised if it isn't 6 bucks a gallon or higher by summer. I usually take a 5 gallon can of diesel on the rail along with a 5 and 2 1/2 gallon can of gas. Diesel is for my security blanket - just in case. The gas is for my Honda Generator and the dinghy. Propane - Easy fill up of propane at Marsh Harbour at the hardware store where you drop off a can then pick it up later. The cost will probably be twice what you pay in the states. I'll be taking my spare BBQ grill tank so I have 3 tanks on board. Snorkel Equipment - Take what you would like. We have one person (Bill) going who is an expert diver and snorkel guy. He will be in the water every day. On top of that, he's a great guy so if you are new to snorkeling or diving he'll probably help you out. Fishing - You will receive a fishing license for the boat when you enter. It is part of your Customs process. If you like to fish, take your equipment. If you want to spear fish, you have to use a pole spear. Flares - You should have flares already but make sure they are current. You will be offshore and if something goes wrong you will want them. Spares - You have to decide what to take. If you don't have it and it breaks over there it will cost more and take time to get. You probably already have your spares list but if you don't then talk to your mechanic or if you do the work yourself you probably know what to take. The good news is that right now it looks like we have 4 Gemini's going along with 1 or 2 other boats. So, you should be among friendly people if you break something you don't have. Emergency Contact - There is a morning net in the Abaco's. They will track us down with the radio net in case of emergency. Provide them with our boat name - Freedom Cruisers@oii.net Weather - The weather forecast is broadcast each day on the morning net. Wi-fi - Many of the businesses have wi-fi they allow you to use if you are customers. You will be able to get email. How long before people will hear from you? - When we check in at West End, there will be wi-fi. However, as we cross the bank you will not have wi-fi and probably won't have for a week unless you decide you want to get to a more populated area quickly. Don't let them worry, you'll be with a group so you'll be fine. Don't worry. Next is the plan to cross.
Crossing the Gulf Stream worries some people. It should if you have a wind from the north since the seas will stack up with the wind against the current. However, when the wind is down and from the south then it isn't that bad. The website that I use to get Gulf Stream information is Passage Weather website. Specifically, the link is: http://www.passageweather.com/ If you look to the right, you will see a past prediction for the Gulf Stream currents. For the most part we will be in the yellow, however, you can see that as you get closer to the Bahamas the stream has less current. So I used a current of 1.75 knots for the planning right now. This will change as we get closer and I'll re-do the vector diagram. Making it very simple, based on the speed of the slowest boat going, we will be steering south of our destination to account for the gulf stream pushing us north. Most likely we will steer 22-25 degrees south of the entrance to West End. I'll run all the vectors before we leave and it should put us right at the entrance or close enough that we just have to adjust a little at the end. Weather is a big factor as to the rest of the plans particularly wind direction. So we will be enjoying the on-the-fly planning and visiting of the various islands and underwater attractions. Please email me if you are planning on attending.