CSR Bahamas Rendezvous (Spring Break 2015)

[Alex F]

I keep following this thread, on the edge of my seat, salivating, almost sweating ( well not quite ), wanting to go.

Still on the edge about schedule. Long time ago I had arranged a lot of calendar items to be open in early march - before I knew about this trip. Hope I can get them moved and jump in.

Still a possibility... Here is to hoping!

Mark

See what you can do, Mark. It would be great if you could make it.

Guy,

I received the cruising guide you've suggested and it's great! Very detailed and informative, excellent helping tool for navigating the region.

Tom and ttmott,
Great tips, thank you....keep them coming, we can use all the help we can get from folks who've been there done it.

I'm looking at Whale Cay Channel and was actually planning to avoid Dont Rocks. It looks too shallow. I guess it's better to get beat up for 2-4NM exposed run than getting grounded on a reefs.

 

[trit21]

Negative. It is better to wait out the rough weather than to try a crossing around Whale. Whale doesn't just get rough, it gets into what they call a rage, impassable for anyone. This area is a prime area for fishing as it is a very steep drop off where bait fish are plenty and predators like to eat. It goes from 20-30 ft to a couple thousand ft in short order. We fish 2-3 miles off shore and by trolling we are in 150' to 1500' within a couple minutes. With an onshore wind, N, NE, E then the entire area get real rough with confused seas and of course a small area to traverse with rocks everywhere combined with you HAVE to go beam to the seas, makes for an impossible passing. It not the difference between rough and calm, its the difference between go and don't even consider it. For example, 2014 we crossed Whale in what was a fairly calm day, 2-3'seas with 6-8' rollers spaces apart. Since the wind was down, very doable. If the wind was up, those 6-8' rollers would have been stacked on top of each in short order crashing against the rock on whale and bouncing back at you making a confused sea.

Not trying to scare you, just want you to know. As you approach GTC and Whale, call on 16 or 68 for 'reports on whale pass'. Especially if you see someone that is coming from that way. He may have just crossed or turned around but it is nice to know either way. Incoming is better than outgoing tide just like most inlets in FL with the wind on shore.

 

[Alex F]

Negative. It is better to wait out the rough weather than to try a crossing around Whale. Whale doesn't just get rough, it gets into what they call a rage, impassable for anyone. This area is a prime area for fishing as it is a very steep drop off where bait fish are plenty and predators like to eat. It goes from 20-30 ft to a couple thousand ft in short order. We fish 2-3 miles off shore and by trolling we are in 150' to 1500' within a couple minutes. With an onshore wind, N, NE, E then the entire area get real rough with confused seas and of course a small area to traverse with rocks everywhere combined with you HAVE to go beam to the seas, makes for an impossible passing. It not the difference between rough and calm, its the difference between go and don't even consider it. For example, 2014 we crossed Whale in what was a fairly calm day, 2-3'seas with 6-8' rollers spaces apart. Since the wind was down, very doable. If the wind was up, those 6-8' rollers would have been stacked on top of each in short order crashing against the rock on whale and bouncing back at you making a confused sea.

Not trying to scare you, just want you to know. As you approach GTC and Whale, call on 16 or 68 for 'reports on whale pass'. Especially if you see someone that is coming from that way. He may have just crossed or turned around but it is nice to know either way. Incoming is better than outgoing tide just like most inlets in FL with the wind on shore.

That's a Roger!

So, if the weather is on our side and we hear decent reports on CH68 or any other vessels around Whale Cay, we go outside as a Plan A.

Let's review plan B. I'm looking at the chart for Dont Rock passage and see a hazard mark on AC stating that controlling depth is only 1.1 miters (barely over 3') and advice that vessels with over 3' draft shall use outside route. I'm looking at the tides at GTC for dates around 4/8-4/10 and high tide is around 10:30am-12pm.

ttmott mentioned that he used the Dont Rock passage. Did anyone else do it? What did you observe on the depth? Did you use tide's help and was it good enough for 4' draft vessels?
Should we even consider it as a plan B, at the high tide?

BTW, I just listened to a short clip from http://barometerbob.org/, very cool, a truly Bahamian style broadcast.

 

[Kendall]

That's a Roger!

So, if the weather is on our side and we hear decent reports on CH68 or any other vessels around Whale Cay, we go outside as a Plan A.

Let's review plan B. I'm looking at the chart and see a hazard mark on AC stating that controlling depth is only 1.1 miters (barely over 3') and advice that vessels with over 3' draft shall use outside route. I'm looking at the tides and GTC for dates around 4/8-4/10 and high tide is around 10:30am-12pm.

ttmott mentioned that he used the Dont Rock passage. Did anyone else do it? What did you observe on the depth? Did you use tide's help and was it good enough for 4' draft vessels?

BTW, I just listened to a short clip from http://barometerbob.org/, very cool a truly Bahamian style broadcast.

Alex:

If I remember correctly if the sea is rough outside near the passage then the Don't Rock Passage will be bad too.

When I took my 260 through Whale Cay I went outside and it was ugly....wind blew my canvas windows off and I had to take the full brunt of the crap right in my face from the East. Once clear to the North in the lee of No name cay and others it got much better.

I would never take your big boats through the shallow passage....I didn't even take my little 260 through there....it looked really shallow.

 

[Alex F]

Alex:

If I remember correctly if the sea is rough outside near the passage then the Don't Rock Passage will be bad too.

When I took my 260 through Whale Cay I went outside and it was ugly....wind blew my canvas windows off and I had to take the full brunt of the crap right in my face from the East. Once clear to the North in the lee of No name cay and others it got much better.

I would never take your big boats through the shallow passage....I didn't even take my little 260 through there....it looked really shallow.

Thanks for sharing your story, Kendall. I guess our plan B is to wait for the weather window.

 

[trit21]

I have never gone through Don't Rock, I know a couple of people that have but it is shallow and a definite path to follow very closely. We typically are going to Guana when we go south of Whale so Don't Rock doesn't help us with time and can only hurt us if we ground.

And when the outside of whale is to rough to pass, Don't Rock Pass will have huge swells so you depth from 4' will vary depending on if you are in the trough of on top of the wave, so impassable once again.

Welcome to da Bahama's Mon' !!!

 

[ttmott]

FYI - I've had my 400 through Don't Rocks several times, all at high tide and wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you knew that area well. There are coral heads, rock outcroppings, and sand drifts you need to know about. Default to Whale and if weather is bad find other things to do until better.

 

[Alex F]

Thanks for reassurance, guys. No Dont Rock passage for us.

After reviewing the float plan one more time, we've come to a decision that there's no point on staying overnight at West End, on the way to Abacos. So, we'll just clear customs, get fuel and continue on to Double Breasted on 4/3. This adds an extra night at GGC. Here's updated float plan.

 

[ttmott]

That's a great float plan! You will have a lot of fun. Keep things flexible so you can stop and smell the roses....

For example the sign tree at Allan's Pensacola is a great stop; There is a path across the island to the Atlantic side and a tree where past boaters have left their boat's name; there has to be a thousand placards around the area, carve your boat's name on a piece of drift trash and hang it on the tree.

The mangrove maze through Manjack Cay at the South bay (where Rat Cay is) is neat; take your dinghies back into the mangroves and there are turtle, grouper, and many more game fish in the little estuaries.

Sunday, for a little party time be at Nippers on Great Guana for the pig roast; anchor in Fishers bay take your dingy to shore there at Grabbers bar/restaurant then walk the path through town and over to the other side to Nippers. Nippers is on the hill overlooking the Atlantic.

The pink sand on the Atlantic side of Elbow Cay is something to see.

Enjoy!!

Oh and as an edit get your registration in the Small Vessel Reporting System https://svrs.cbp.dhs.gov/Default.aspx. Register you your boat and your passengers and clearing in back into the US is but a phone call....

 

[JC3]

Alex, you are doing a great job organizing this trip. Well thought out plan. JC

 

[trit21]

Oh yeah, get that customs decal as well. I am sure Randy has told you about that already but make sure all that is going has them and order them early. Sometimes they take a while to show up.

 

[Alex F]

Excellent tips, guys. Keep them coming. I'm taking notes and trying to sort it all in logical order.

Manjack Cay is actually what me and Steve also discussed as a possibly breakfast/lunch stop. Other stops I haven't heard of, so I'll definitely will look into adding them to our activities planning.

I have few quetions:

Decals - I didn't have chance to cover it yet. Where do you order them from? If it's something that can take a while, I'd like to order it ASAP.

Flags - My understanding is that we need 3 flags (US, Yellow, Bahamian). I'm looking to buy this package.



I usually fly CSR bargee at the bow rail (where there are dedicated eye-loops are) and on national holiday swap it to US flag (small version, which actually might be the same as in the attached pic). Where do you guys fly these 3 flags? I would guess, they have to be by the STBD stern?

My boat has a special spot on top of the stern locker, stbd side, and a pole for large flag. Is this what you use to fly all 3?

 

[trit21]

Yellow is supposed to go up when you enter port to clear. I say supposed because I have seen many that don't fly it but it is supposed to up. Once you clear, take down yellow and fly Bahamas courtesy flag, most fly this one. American flag where ever you see fit, some do, some don't.

Opps forgot: US CUstom decals get here.

https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov

 

[Alex F]

I just ordered the decals. It's a bit of a PITA following their guide.

For those who'll be doing it for the first time, it's a 3 step process:
1) Register.
2) Create an account.
3) Place "New User Fee" order.

Steps 2 and 3 are on different site than registration.

Here's the link I had trouble finding after I was done with steps 1 and 2:



If I recall correctly, when in foreign country, that country's flag goes on top and US flag below it. Am I correct?

Thanks for reminder, Tom, that yellow one goes at the top when we're in "checking - in stage".

 

[Odyssey]

great job Alex with the DTOPS website, it's a bear. Even when you renew every year, it's still a challenge. No big deal on the order of the flags

 

[Odyssey]

Oh and as an edit get your registration in the Small Vessel Reporting System https://svrs.cbp.dhs.gov/Default.aspx. Register you your boat and your passengers and clearing in back into the US is but a phone call....

Good call on the SVRS, that's a real time saver

 

[Alex F]

...For example the sign tree at Allan's Pensacola is a great stop; There is a path across the island to the Atlantic side and a tree where past boaters have left their boat's name; there has to be a thousand placards around the area, carve your boat's name on a piece of drift trash and hang it on the tree...

ttmott,

I'm trying to find Allan's Pensacola, can you give me some checkpoints around?

 

[ttmott]

Throw your anchor at Allan's N26 deg 57.272 min / W077 deg 41.116 min.

 

[Alex F]

Throw your anchor at Allan's N26 deg 57.272 min / W077 deg 41.116 min.

Thank you. By following your coordinates I found AC anchorage mark. I placed my waypoint for easier find.



It looks nicely positioned between Double Breasted and Green Turtle Cay

 

[cod]

Has anyone tried the "Viber" app.? This is a free app. They claim you can make free calls, texts and send video from anywhere in the world. The only catch it seems is the person you are communicating with has to have the Viber app also... Seems to good to be true....going to look into this further. It was recommended to my wife by some friends of ours who recently went to Italy.