Exuma trip this summer?

Odyssey,
My input on your question about the extra stay is yes, a marina is preferrable for me. I don't cook so not sure how long 45 cans of pork & beans will last, but i guess I can dinghy over to the marina also. I haven't been to Exumas though on your list, you didn't include Staniel Cay. Is Sampson Cay vs Staniel 6 of 1 half dozen?
 
Diversion - I know what you mean about not cooking!

Staniel and Sampson are geographically close to each other, only about 3 miles apart. That means no matter which one we stay at, we can visit the other and visit all the places to see around them.

Sampson's marina is larger and more modern (but nothing like Bimini Bay for instance). Sampson has at least double the dock space and most slips are in a very protected area behind the fuel dock and main buildings surrounded by land on all 4 sides. Sampson has a grocery store with fruits, veggy's, dairy products, wine/beer and even meat. It has a small ships store, bar, pool, restaurant, etc. http://www.sampsoncayclub.com/index.htm

Staniel is smaller marina and has an"older Bahamas feel" to it. The marina is more exposed although that would only be a problem in poor weather. It also has a restaurant, bar and a small pool. Both have fuel. http://www.stanielcay.com/

They are both nice and I would be happy to stay at either one. I have contacted both marinas and asked about availability. I should hear back within a day or two.

Randy
 
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Just thought I would respond to the gasser issue. I did a plan for my boat a 350Da with twin 502's. It would appear at this point that I will probably be tagging along with Mike but it would also appear that the trip can be done with my 250 gal. fuel tank.

The alternative to a straight run from Green Cay to Nassau is to make a stop in Andros at the Andros Lighthouse Marina. Then skip Nassau and head to chub and on to Bimini. The other alternative is to head back up the Exuma chain where fuel is readily available at various stops along the way. Here is a spreadsheet I put together for the trip taking into account my boats' fuel burn and speed.

Exumaspreadsheet.jpg
http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv143/ray306/Exuma/Exumaspreadsheet.jpg
Another question I have about Green Cay is the anchorage. Has anyone spent time on the hook there? From the map it looks really exposed.
GreenCay.jpg




It would also appear that the approach from the east has lots of rocks. I plotted 2 routes, one picking your way though the rocks (saves about 7 miles) or the other which goes around all problems.
GreenCay2.jpg

GreenCay3.jpg


Ray
 
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Ray - great post and good job with the spreadsheet! I love those graphics.

I like your idea for stopping in Andros, I might do that too as I haven't been there before.

To answer your questions about Green Cay, I have not been there. I have a friend that has been there at least 3 times and I'll be asking your questions to him soon. Yes, the island is exposed but according to your and my charts, there are anchorages on 4 sides of the island. We should be fine unless bad weather pops up, in that case we'll stay another day at Sampson (what a shame).

I have been looking at my route to Green from Sampson and have revised it .....

routefromSampsontoGreen.jpg


I think it is a better route than the south way. In speaking with Mike at Sampson Marina, there are boats that make that trip often and will advise us on details when we get there.

Let me know what you think.

Randy
 
I just spoke to my friend who has been to Green Cay a couple times, he said they would anchor on the lee side of the island, whichever side was opposite to the direction of the wind. He said there is pretty much areas to anchor all the way around the island.

He said the fishing in the tongue was awesome (400 feet from the island), the water is super clear, there are lobster all over the place in 6 feet of water, at night he fished off the side of the boat at anchor (over a reef) and did great and the place was deserted.

Randy
 
Hey Randy

I think I like your northern route to Green Cay better. That place should be great as there is nothing, absolutely nothing for 50 miles in every direction. Can you say awesome stars.

Ray
 
My friend always went to Green from Nassau, never from the Exuma's so he couldn't help me with a route from Sampson. I searched for info on routes to Green and came up empty. It's pretty cool that no one knows how to get there.

As we get closer to the trip date, I'll ask Mike at Sampson to gather info from the locals so when we arrive, he'll have that information ready for us.

Randy
 
I talked with a buddy of mine that keeps a sail boat in Georgetown. He said the green cay area is awesome. He did say that the area is a little dangerous with some rocks. I think they draft around 7 feet (a cat) and they had no issues getting in.

He is going to copy his charts for me as they have that area plotted out.

Unfortunately, they are going to be there the two weeks before us.

Ken
 
missnmountains said:
I talked with a buddy of mine that keeps a sail boat in Georgetown. He said the green cay area is awesome. He did say that the area is a little dangerous with some rocks. I think they draft around 7 feet (a cat) and they had no issues getting in.

He is going to copy his charts for me as they have that area plotted out.

Unfortunately, they are going to be there the two weeks before us.

Ken
Click to expand...

Looking forward to seeing his charts and waypoints. Georgetown is 65 miles south of Sampson so his route from there is different than ours. hopefully, he has information for us to use.

Any way he could join us while we're in Exuma?

Randy
 
I just read the article on the "Real Bahamas" in this month's Motor Boating that included Staniel Cay and other Exuma spots.

Boy are you guys blessed with such fantastic places to go.
 
earthmover17 said:
Randy,
Did you ever talk to the folks at Sampson?

Jack
Click to expand...

Just called Sampson - the week leading up to 7/10 is open. On 7/10, they have a group of 20 boats arriving.

Right now, I have us arriving on 7/8 and staying 2 nights, leaving on 7/10. Those dates work with the large group arriving on the 10th.

so here is the latest.....

7/5; leave Nassau for Sail Rocks
7/6; leave Sail Rocks for Warderick Wells
7/7; leave Warderick for Compass
7/8; leave Compass for Sampson
7/9; stay at Sampson a second night
7/10; leave Sampson for Green
7/11; leave Green for Nassau

Compass has room for the dates listed above. Warderick doesn't take reservations until the day before arrival (on VHF) but there are 4 separate Cays near Warderick that have mooring buoys.

I think we're set, just call Compass, Sampson and Hurricane to make reservations. I will be sending out a Marina List to all the captains within the next 2 days.

Randy
 
Randy, Thanks for taking the lead and putting so much time into the trip organization.
 
UPDATE....

I just spoke to Atlantis Marina in Nassau. They do not have a minimum stay during the 4th of July weekend and they do have slips available for 8 boats from 7/3 to 7/5. The rate is $4.50 per foot which is $.50 a foot more than Hurricane Hole.

Awesome!

Randy
 
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