Abacos or Bust

[ttmott]

Well, we are ready for our long awaited voyage to the Abacos; fifteen days of awaited divorce from work and reality.... The boat is 100+ percent ready and Bristol. Plan is to leave Cape Canaveral Thursday morning at O'dark thirty and steam up the ICW to Ft Pierce.

Where, buy the way, would be the best place to buy diesel in Ft Pierce for those who know that area?

From Ft Pierce we make the crossing to White Sands Ridge and on to Walkers to clear in. Seas, right now, show 2-4's at 9 seconds with winds S-SE at 10 to 15; good enough for us but Thursday's forecast will tell.
From Walkers on to Grand and dinner at Rosie's then on to Double Breasted. Day one.
Next day, no hurry, maybe the day after we start island hopping to Green Turtle and on down to Marsh, Great Guana and Man-O-War.

Anyway, your experiences and recommendations are welcome.

 

[Lucky's]

Have a great time and be safe!!


Shaun
Sent from my iPhone

 

[islandhopper00]

My advise is to remember to slow down and enjoy yourself. Life in the Abacos is a much slower pace, be ready for that! haha

There is a island water feature I always like to visit when I go to the Abacos. You'll be going right by it, near Walkers Cay. It is called Tom Brown Cay, and it's the small island just north and east of Walkers. On the ocean side of the Cay (we anchor on the bank side) there is a wash out caused by the action of the waves hitting the coral. The waves come ashore under a land bridge and has carved out a bowl, and the water swirls around in there when a wave crashes ashore. It's big enough to get in and swim around. Check it out.

Also, when you are in Double Breasted, take a dingy ride through the mangroves north and east of the anchorage. It's really neat and goes a long ways back.

 

[ttmott]

Shaun - Thanks and I got the docs back; really appreciate it!!

And Islandhopper - we will definately take it slow and will look into Tom Brown; Thanks!

 

[trit21]

I also assume you have the 2013 Abaco guide book showing the deeper route into Walkers? If you do great then no further information needed.

My boat is in Ft. Pierce and there is fuel at there, Harbortown Marina. You can also get fuel at city docks but that will be out of your way and there is fuel at Pelican Yacht club which is very near the inlet. Which is better? Guess it depends on current price and how busy they are but I think Harbortown is a little cheaper than Pelican. It is just south of the north bridge on your starboard side.

We are also leaving for the Abacos but we are leaving either Friday or Saturday. Depending on seas we make one shot to Spanish or Green Turtle.

Have a great time and see you over there.

 

[ttmott]

Thanks so much! I do have Dodge's latest guide and plan on taking the eastern route into Walkers. Ft Piierce is to top off so the closer the better. If we end getting a late start we will probably stay the night in Ft Pierce; seas Friday are supposed to be less than 2 so crossing will be more comfortable anyway. If you see a 400 dancer hail us; we are Kama Hele.

 

[Phlorida]

Also being from the Space Coast and interested in Bahamas excursions when the opportunity for a bigger boat presents itself I am following this thread closely. Have fun and keep us posted!

 

[trit21]

If you end up crossing on Friday, we may also be going so let us know. We can cross together to White sand and farther if you would like.

 

[islandhopper00]

Also being from the Space Coast and interested in Bahamas excursions when the opportunity for a bigger boat presents itself I am following this thread closely. Have fun and keep us posted!

Mines 24'! haha I'm kidding, I understand. If I didn't have to tow 1400 miles round trip I'd have a bigger boat too!

 

[cod]

Very interested in this thread as this is something on my bucket list and hopefully will get to do it in the next year or so.... I have chartered the Abacos and loved it.... I am curious to the Route you are going to take to get there and back.

 

[trit21]

THere are several routes to take. If you pick up Steve Dodge's Abacos Cruising Guide they are all listed. White Sand Ridge, Memory Rock or Indian Cay. It depends greatly on seas, wind, and your comfort level with 130 miles without the sight of land and running over crystal clear water that is only 10' deep and being able to see all the rocks you run over. Lots of options.

 

[fwebster]

Toms-

Hope you both have a great trip..............!

 

[islandhopper00]

THere are several routes to take. If you pick up Steve Dodge's Abacos Cruising Guide they are all listed. White Sand Ridge, Memory Rock or Indian Cay. It depends greatly on seas, wind, and your comfort level with 130 miles without the sight of land and running over crystal clear water that is only 10' deep and being able to see all the rocks you run over. Lots of options.

10ft and crystal clear! Looks like 2ft deep. I still urge myself to go around big coral heads, even though the depth gage is showing 20ft! You never know, they do jut up from the bottom 4,5,6-10ft!
Kinda cool to be zipping by at 20-25mph and be able to see starfish, conk, sea fans etc etc on the bottom.

When I crossed the Bahamas Bank, I just laided in a course from Stuart Inlet and followed it into Walkers. Problem with that was, the Lily Bank is in the way. I barely cleared it at 3ft, brushed the sand a bit. You can go around but you have to do it early. The Lily Bank is like a maze after you get into it.
Then you have to watch the sholing just before you get to Walkers, you need to steer south around it to get to the Southern approach into Walkers Cay.

I won't go this route again because, I was running near empty arriving at Walkers. I carry 70 gallons of gas. I still had to make Grand Cay yet. When I gassed up in Grand, I took on 68 gallons! To close to do that again.

 

[Lucky's]

Shaun - Thanks and I got the docs back; really appreciate it!!

And Islandhopper - we will definately take it slow and will look into Tom Brown; Thanks!

No prob. Glad they got to you quick!! Enjoy!


Shaun
Sent from my iPhone

 

[islandhopper00]

Have a great time and be safe!!


Shaun, I'll be departing from Stuart this year. Sand Spirit park. Only we will run down to Lake Worth and overnight, then cross to West End. We'll be there June 28th.

I think i remember the house in the background of your sig pic. One year we stayed the night at anchor right there before crossing over.

 

[Lucky's]

Have a great time and be safe!!


Shaun, I'll be departing from Stuart this year. Sand Spirit park. Only I will run down to Lake Worth and overnight, then cross to West End. We'll be there June 28th.

I think i remember the house in the background of your sig pic. One year we stayed the night at anchor right there before crossing over.

We can see the boat launch at the park from our slip. Look us up if you have time!!

 

[trit21]

Islandhopper, you cross with anyone or just going by yourself?

 

[islandhopper00]

I cross with family boats, but run mine solo. I'm not brave enough to go it totally alone! haha

Acutally, it's a requirement of my insurance rider policy to cross with a "flotilla". Two or more boats departing from the same location, and arriving at the same location in the Bahamas.
My insurance co (Boat US) requires a 32'+ boat in order to qualify for coverage. That said, they also take into count experience on open ocean, and island navigating. That's how I get around the 32' requirement. I have documented 20+ years of going to the islands in small boats with them. The smallest being a 21' center console.

 

[islandhopper00]

Talking of crossing with other boats, I've seen a wierd trait of GPS units. It seems every time "we" start out on a crossing, it's not long before we get spread out over a couple of miles. We all start with the same coordinates. Yet when we get out on the open ocean we spread out. I try to run within 500ft of my course, as do the other boats. When we get closer to the islands we come back together! Doesn't make sence to me, but it happens everytime we go.

It's kinda funny, we poke fun at each other on the VHF. I'll say, "I don't know where ya'll are going, but I'm 25ft off my course heading, where are you"? The answer is always, "not sure about that but I'm dead on my course"! haha

 

[islandhopper00]

We can see the boat launch at the park from our slip. Look us up if you have time!!

Will do.