Cruise the Abacos 5/19 Gulfstream Crossing

Asureyez

Asureyez

New Member
Apr 22, 2007
1,535
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.
Boat Info
Sea Ray 460 Sundancer Hardtop 2001 - SOLD
Engines
Cummins 450 Diesels
Anyone looking to cross that weekend and wants a buddy all or part way, give me a PM shout!

From Ft. Lauderdale & Port Everglades, we'll be slipping lines on the morning of the 19th of May, weather permitting, and clear entry at Lucaya for a night of R & R and then off to West End on the 20th. for some "slow down" and start our wind down from city life and then on to the Abacos on Monday the 21st. On the hook at Sale ... or dockside @ Spanish Marina what ever weather tells us makes sense. From then on we'll nose our bow in everywhere we can for the next 14 days.

We're bringing the Brownie Third Lung along for some extended power snorkleing.

I can smell the fresh baked Bahamian bread already ...

To say we are intense on make ready is an understatement, thankfully our Sea Ray 460 can carry alot of toys because we're bringing them all!

Towing Insurance paid up, extra props stowed, tanks full and fish hooks sharp!

And Yes, we'll bring the Laptop for some catch up on the board. Hope to get some great pics to share as well.

And working the punch list ... See ya'll out there.
 
Chad, Reading your post was GREAT. I hope you and the family have the time of your life. We will be heading over a little later after you. I can smell that bread too. JC :thumbsup:
 
asureyez, I hope I'm not pointing out the obvious I'm sure you've done your homework but, you know you can clear customs at west end? You'd be running past there to get to lucaya and then have to return to west end to over night to, "round the corner" to sale. You could clear at west end, run to Lucaya, then take the Grand Bahamas waterway across the main island, pop out at dover sound, round mangrove cay and on to Walkers or Sale or Grand Cay or Double Breasted or ? Just my 2 cents. Mike

If you plan to fuel around the Spanish area, you'll be better off at Spanish rather than Fox Town. The fuel docks at Fox are exposed and I'll say "my" boat beat against the pier the whole time.
 
Progress Report

Got my up dated C-Map charts in today and uploaded the route lists I've been cook'n for a month! The Chart Plotter says let's go!

Hi Island Hopper, Yes I know I'm running past West End but Lucaya has a casino and I'll hit town on Saturday night!

Seriously, my wife has not been to Lucaya and I wanted to give her a quick look see. Also, The Old Bahama Bay Marina didn't have a slip for me Saturday night so I just have to go to Lucaya!, right buddy?

After having done the TIDE work on my float plan, I don't have enough water to go up the canal, so I still have to go back to West End plus a Lucaya to Sale Cay is too much for a one day run. So we'll take a slip on Sunday night at WE and then shove off Monday AM and cross the Littl4e Bahama Bank from the northern route (north of Memory Rock) as I'll be restained by draft most of my trip due to tides and I prefer to have the sun high when in shallow water.

The 460 loaded with fuel and water will need a sure fire 7 feet plus what ever safety margin I can find. As well the 460 is stern heavy and squats when the throttles are hit until she climbs out of the hole and while I have no certain info, I'm betting she wants better than 6 feet to get off her ass and get up to plane.

Sooo. Marina slips, depth and tides all rule the possible ... but hey I'm going to the Abacos so whats the hurry mon!
 
Chad, You sound excited and i dont blame you. Saw you over at the Abaco mb. Have a great time! :thumbsup: JC
 
Asureyez, I didn't think about how much water you draft. Sounds like a good sound plan to me. I can't wait for July that's when I plan to cross. I leave from West Palm Bch, Lake Worth Inlet.
Anyway enjoy your trip and bring back many stories and pictures for us. Hey, do you plan to do any spear fishing? The laws are/have changed and I can't figure out what rules are. Looks like if we use a hawaiian sling and snorkle we'll be ok. Is that how you read it. I've read and reread the new rules and it's confusing, contradictory even. :thumbsup:
 
Bahamian Fishing Restictions

Yes, the Bahamian Laws have been changed in many respects. The old catch limit was per person, now the limit in number is per boat.

The spear fishing without permit has been eliminated see below:
AMENDMENT TO THE SPORTSFISHING REGULATIONS



Bahamas Information Services

01/12/2007



The Department of Marine Resources wishes to advise the general public that the several amendments to the Regulations governing sportsfishing have been made and that these changes came into force on 1st January, 2007. The amendments which have been made to Regulation 48 of the Fisheries Regulations (Ch. 244 – Subsidiary Legislation of The Bahamas – 2000) have the effect of curtailing the amount of marine resources which can legally be harvested by foreign boaters visiting the Bahamas.

The general public is informed that Regulation 48 now reads:

48. (1) In sportsfishing the following rules apply-

a. A person shall fish by the traditional method of angling with a hook or lure attached to a line held in the hand or attached to a pole, rod or reel;

b. A person, unless otherwise authorized by the respective permit, shall not use a spear, a fish trap, or a net other than a landing net;

c. Each vessel shall use not more than six (6) rods or reels unless the operator is in possession of a permit authorizing the use of more rods or reels;

d. Any migratory fishery resource that is caught shall not in total consist of more than six (6) Kingfish, Dolphin, Tuna or Wahoo per vessel and any resource not intended to be used shall not be injured unnecessarily but be returned to the sea alive;

e. No vessel shall have on board any conch, turtle or more than twenty pounds of any demersal fishery resources (groupers, snappers, etc.) per vessel at any time and excluding not more than six crawfish per vessel.

(2) The limitations specified in (1)(d) and (e) shall also apply to a Bahamian vessel engaged in fishing for purposes other than commercial by persons who are not Bahamians;

3.Subject to paragraph (1) no vessel shall have on board any fish unless its head and tail is intact.

The general public is advised that the Queen Conch (conch) is considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its range within the wider Caribbean area, including The Bahamas. The Government, in an effort to ensure the continued sustainability of local conch stocks, has decided to prohibit the harvesting of the species by foreign boaters.

The general public is further informed that the changes to the Sportsfishing Rules may be found in the Gazette SI 79 of 2006 dated 28 December 2006.
 
I see if I get the permit I'll be good to go. I guess it will be part of the cruising and fishing package when I clear customs. I'll be sure to ask.
Another question, passports, I was under the impression travel to the islands would require one, however, I called the customs "hot line" and they have a statement in the recorded message that if you arrive by private boat a passport is not necessary. ??? I have not read that anywhere, but was wondering. My friend who wants to come on the trip doesn't have one and the time to get one, even expedited, is going to be close. Do you have any knowledge of this? Thanks Mike
 
IH, To get back in to the good ole USA he will need a PassPort. JC
 
It's getting back that counts!

Two points:

I'm following a lot of issues over on the Abaco Message Board (accessable at www.barometerbob.com) and have picked up from there that:

1. A spear fishing permit maybe granted at the time of entry by the clearing officer adding it in writting to your entry documents and fishing permit, and there does not seem to be any additional fee. The fishing permit is now inclusive in the $300 entry fee.

2. Much is said about the ambiguity of the use of spear and lance, but this is certain, no spear gun (trigger) maybe used under any circumstance. Slings and lances are allowed for free diving 600 feet from shorelines, but to be safe make sure you get a permit at time of entry. Spearing lobseter is mute in my book I mean why kill it when you perhaps can't keep it.

3 On documents. Makre sure you have these with you:

A: Your boats papers of State and Federal (if a doc'd vessel) registration including your dingy (life rafts are exempt from registration)

B: A vaild unexpired passport for every person on the boat,

C: Prescription drugs should be in original bottles with lables

D: Proof of owership of any fire arms being brought in,

E: Inventory of bullets and cartridges, fishing reels and items being brought in as gifts for Bahamian residents.

F: Health documents on every pet aboard.

G: Copy of your hull insurance.

H: You will need a Yellow "Q" flag to be flown while requesting practique and then a Bahamian flag to be flown on the SB spreader or mast while in Bahamian waters after clearance is granted.

The Abaco MB has made a point of urging skippers to observe the international formalities of practique. The skipper should be respectfully dressed and I'll add to that sober but more on that later. If clearance is conducted on the vessel then the skipper should turn out crew and guests fully clothed, no bathing suits or string bikini's (no torso skin showing). The Bahamian Officials are not as casual as we yanks are about these matters. Being properly respectful of the officials can go along way to an easy clearance.

I can attest to this advice personally. I've cleared in Bimini several times and I learned the first time to not show up half loaded in shorts and tank top ... (We'd knocked back a few after having made a fitful over night crossing safely and were tied up at Big Game) wanting to enter with a shot gun and pistol aboard ... I ranked my self a complete stem to stern inspection that took 6 hours for the officials to arrange, on that call!

Make sure you have passports even if the Bahamians might be lax, it is our Homeland Security that has laid down the edict that a passport is required upon re entry to the U.S., period. NO other ID documentation will suffice any longer.

Worth mentioning, any alien living in the U.S. must have proper documents to re enter the U.S. as required between their homeland and the U.S.. I witnessed a family torn apart at Miami Beach Marina when a husband was an illegal in the US for over 10 years and had returned from the Bahamas with qwife and daughter on their boat. Dad was denied re entry and taken away to detention and deportation. The wife bewildered and unaware that the hubby wasn't a U.S. citizen and was here illegally on false documents when she married him (he apparently was Canadian).

Stuff does happen!
 
Asureyez, Thanks for the info. I to have entered the customs office in a tank top after 3 1/2 hours of beating and banging wanting to clear and was told to step outside. They asked me nicely to mind their dress code, so I went back to the boat and pulled on a polo shirt and appologized, and they served me well. I didn't realize there was a dress code, but there was a few people there getting hot headed about it, so they (customs officials) diffused the situation by kicking everyone out. Some went and changed, and some didn't. Needless to say the some that didn't, didn't clear at West End that day.
It's hard to imagine how some of the people (americans) who don't realize or don't care that the Bahamas isn't "our" country. No respect.
We had a woman in our boat group one year (no relation), prior to clearance, jump out of the boat and insist she was going to take a shower, now. Well the Bahamian officals all but had to arrest her.
Well thanks for the info and here's to an uneventful crossing and clearance. Mike
 
Just some quick adds to your plan. Make sure that you have a wifi card with and EXTERNAL antenna. If you don't then you will not get in touch very often or for very long.

Also, do NOT fuel up at Spanish Cay, unless you have a large budget. I took my 340 there last January, and the gas (yes I used to have gas) was 5.50/gal. The ironic part is I did not need fuel, and GTC is just 10 miles away and was close to 2.00 cheaper per gallon.

If you go to the Bluff House in GTC, say hi to all from Brian and BJ. There may still be some stories floating around. Good Luck and have fun.

If you want some intro reading you can check out our blog at http://brianandbj.blogspot.com. I don't remember if I posted fuel prices, but I did keep a log to follow the pricing trends next year.

briman
 
You should not have to log in to read the blog. It goes from and last post first, so to relive it, you would have to go to the 2006, December posts. The Bahamas start in 2007, January. I am reposting the link from a cut and paste, in case I fat fingered it.

http://brianandbj.blogspot.com/
 
Our group will be heading over later in the month. We are still deciding if it is Bimini to Chub to Nassau or.... West End to Double Breasted to Grand or.... West End to Double Breasted to Green Turtle.

I guess we can't go wrong with any of those destinations but Double Breasted is really something.
 
Odyssey, I like the west end, double, carters, Grand Bahamas (Lucaya), home trip.
Also if you run to Double have you ever checked out Tom Brown Cay East of Walkers? It has a natural bridge and what I call a "blow hole" from the ocean. The wave action wore under a rock/coral formation and created a pool that waves run into and makes for some fun swimming. The rest of the island is uninhabited though, and only good for day time visits, no protected anchorages.
Then Grand Cay just before Double Breasted is great place to get some local Bahamaian bread and provisions. Talk to Rosie, he runs the whole place it seems like.
Man I can hardly wait for my trip. Mike
 
islandhopper00 said:
Odyssey, I like the west end, double, carters, Grand Bahamas (Lucaya), home trip.
Also if you run to Double have you ever checked out Tom Brown Cay East of Walkers? It has a natural bridge and what I call a "blow hole" from the ocean. The wave action wore under a rock/coral formation and created a pool that waves run into and makes for some fun swimming. The rest of the island is uninhabited though, and only good for day time visits, no protected anchorages.
Then Grand Cay just before Double Breasted is great place to get some local Bahamaian bread and provisions. Talk to Rosie, he runs the whole place it seems like.
Man I can hardly wait for my trip. Mike
Click to expand...

Mike - what are we waiting for? Let's go!

I love Rosie's. I have to go in toward high tide, it's a little shallow in the channel. We always buy lobster while we're there.
 
Hey guys. Whats the smallest boat anyone has done this crossing in? I love Abaco. Can't imagine trying to do this in anything less than a 30 footer.

Mike
 
Mike, Your 260DA will handle it with ease IF THE WEATHER IS NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We took our Glacier Bay 2685 over three times. Stayed 2 weeks each time and went as far as Staniel Cay. If you want the best weather window then July would be best. We took our 450DA over last year for a little over a month. I think you should get a copy of DAVE KRESGE Vantage Point Cruising Guides as it will answer almost any question you might have. JC

I dont like to be neg but PREP, PREP AND MORE PREP should be done.
 
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