What weather to cross to Bimini?

[Westfield 11]

We are getting ready to make our first crossing to the Bahamas and plan on waiting for the appropriate weather in Biscayne Bay outside of No Name Harbor. The Admiral is concerned about crossing the Gulf Stream after reading and viewing many reports of rough crossings and I want this to go smoothly (pun intended). I know not to cross with any sort of northerly wind, but am unsure about the southerly component: do we need only a due south wind or not? How much of an easterly or westerly component is acceptable and for how long? I seem to recall that one should wait 24 hours after the favorable wind begins to allow the seas to settle, is this correct?
I am monitoring Windy.com and the NOAA marine weather while we are here in Fort Lauderdale finishing up preparations and it looks like mostly northerly winds for most of the week changing to East or ESE later on. I know there was a good window a few days ago with nearly true south wind, but we had family obligations then. What would the stream be like in such winds? Would this be good to go or should we wait for a more southerly component?
This being our first and long awaited crossing I want it all to go well and I emphatically do not want the Admiral to have a bad experience.

 

[Passages]

Pascal is the authority on Miami to Bahamas.

Another source for everything Bahamas is the Facebook group "Bahamas Cruising and Sailing"

 

[Pascal]

I don’t know if years of crossing makes me an authority but hey... this is the internet so I ll play one

Indeed anything more than 8 to 10kts from NW N to NE will be miserable. South up to 15/18kts is fine assuming you re stabilized

With a hatteras, easterly will be fine as they cut really well. Westerly on the stern will give your stabs a work out as well as your auto pilot. Sometimes I find it better to hand steer with following seas.

In winter weather windows are short and you can rarely wait 24 hours for things to settle. This trip for instance (we re the Exumas right now) we had a 12 hours window. Winds started coming down on Sunday late night and I left Monday afternoon. It was ok.. I anchored off Cat Cay around 8PM. By morning it was blowing NW 20kts ... I left after clearing in Cat and kept going straight to Lee Stocking southern Exumas. A 20 hours day, some of it at 22kts some at 11kts.

Outside NNH is a market channel. I know people anchor there but not everyone is courteous and slows down especially big sport fishes. You re better off anchoring on the west side of KB just south of KBYC

We re heading back home this week. Charter ends Tuesday in Gtown but looks like we re going to stuck in the Exumas till Saturday

The resource I use the most is www.passageweather.com. Very simple. If it s light blue (0 to 1 m) It’s go... if it’s second shade of blue (1 to 2 meters) it s NoGo. It s not the 5 or 6 footer that’s going to hurt but the occasional 7 to 8....

 

[Jammin']

The resource I use the most is www.passageweather.com. Very simple. If it s light blue (0 to 1 m) It’s go... if it’s second shade of blue (1 to 2 meters) it s NoGo. It s not the 5 or 6 footer that’s going to hurt but the occasional 7 to 8....

Thank you for this. i love it. Leave at midnight Monday night and the admiral will sleep right through it.

 

[Westfield 11]

Thanks for the good advice and thanks a million for the link to passageweather, that is going to be an invaluable resource going forward. Certainly there is a lot to consider now.
We have anchored off of Hurricane Harbour before, but not farther north by KBYC. We’ll give it a try since we did get tired of the big wakes off of No Name and we have been to the restaurant in NN and don’t need to go back again.
We are here in Fort Lauderdale for a couple of more days awaiting some stuff in the mail then I have to decide when to relocate to Biscayne Bay to stage for the crossing. Adding passageweather to the mix will help a lot with that decision. So far it looks like we will be waiting until the end of next week at least.

 

[Pascal]

Not sure why you don’t just leave from FTL. at hull speed the angle to current will cost you 3/4 kts but with a MY it s no big deal.

Where are you going after BIM ?

As of now your best option is Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday. Thursday will
Be rough

Everytime I be broken my light blue color rule, I ve regretted it...

Windy is fine but I really the simplicity of PW

 

[oscarvan]

Awesome site Pascal!

To the OP..... Maybe you want to put her on an airplane?

 

[Westfield 11]

We thought we would start with the Berry’s and go on from there. Being novices we really don’t have any must see places in mind. We have planned on staying until late March so we have time to wander. Really we are looking for quiet anchorages and places we can kayak, swim a bit and lay on the beach on sunny days. At this point I really just want to get over there without any drama and take it from there.

As far as where to depart from, I have always wanted to go from FLL, but the Admiral was set on Biscayne. I think that having Pascal suggest FLL will tip the scales. The one thing we do not want to do is travel or arrive after dark if it can be avoided. That means getting the last of our spares on Monday, finishing the provisioning and returning the rental car and then heading down the New River to a marina for an early start Tuesday. Or leaving very early Tuesday before the bridges close for the morning commute. It looks like a six hour trip at hull speed from the inlet so we want to leave early to arrive before dark.
If we get to Bimini around 3 or 4 will I have time to clear customs and immigration before they close? If not what do we do in the marina? Just stay onboard and wait until the morning? I suppose I am overthinking things, but, as I said it’s our first trip over and I want to get it done correctly.

 

[Pascal]

The entrance to BIM is indeed daytime only if you ve never been there. There are buoys but they re not perfectly accurate. Shoaling usually builds from the green side so favor the red side. If going to BIM go to Bimini Big Game. Current can be strong though. Bimini Bay Resort world is a just gross. Over run by cheap tourist brought on ferrys.

We always clear at Cat Cay. Customs on site easy in and out and even thought the cut looks intricate it s plenty deep. MAKE YOU HAVE EXPLORER CHARTS on your plotter or on a IPad

Berrys are ok... great harbor cay is worth a stop for a couple of days, good marina. Rent a golf carts and explore. The only other great anchorage in the berrys is White Cay / Hoffman. Blue hole on Hoffman. Chub is over priced over rated unless you re driving a sportfish wearing gold chains.

If you have a couple of month, keep going. Exumas is where you want to go. 120 miles long string of islands, maybe 100 anchorages... thousands of beaches and sandbars to enjoy. Been going there for 12+ years multiple times a year and we still find new spots to explore.

We don’t even waste time in BIM or the berrys anymore and go straight to the Exumas.

Check this video I made to get an idea.

https://youtu.be/_XEuaz1_3V8

Do you have a watermaker ?

 

[Westfield 11]

Yes we have a watermaker, 30gph and a new membrane. What is the journey from BIM to Exumas like, how far? Anywhere to stop and anchor along the way if it is too far to make by dark? I believe we have the Bahamas Explorer charts on AquaMaps.
I read that it costs $100 just to stop for customs at Cat Cay. Is the marina there any good and will they waive the fee if you rent a slip for the night?

 

[oscarvan]

What is the journey from BIM to Exumas like, how far? Anywhere to stop and anchor along the way if it is too far to make by dark? I believe we have the Bahamas Explorer charts on AquaMaps.

I usually get some paper charts and start doing some SERIOUS armchair cruising before I enter a new area...... There are also numerous cruising guides which would make some good fireside reading before actually going there.

I suspect the Bahamian authorities, building on their rich British maritime history have put out an equivalent to our Coastal Pilot publications...

May even behove you to bring the chart plotter home, hook it up to a 12V supply and play around the new area, compare it to the paper.

Build a library, paper and virtual.....

Now is the time to see where the things that "go boom in the night" are. Familiarize yourself. Just getting directions or blindly following the line on the screen is dangerous business.

 

[Passages]

Since you have time and this is your first, I'd suggest a few days in BIM for your 1st stop. The only real "must see is Stewarts Conch Shack. There are plenty of other things at BIM but Nothing that can't be enjoyed at other Cays.

After BIM, take the north route to Great Harbour. It's a 75 mile run but at hull speed, it's a full day. After a few days there, go 20 miles south and do an anchor out at either a Soldier Cay or Devil/white Cay. You must experience Hoffmans Blue Hole. An experience you'll remembers the rest of your life. Next Morning head to Nassau. Pick a marina and top off with the cheapest diesel in the Bahamas.

Now turn your attention to the Exumas. I'll defer to Pascal from here on.

 

[dottieshusband]

We thought we would start with the Berry’s and go on from there. Being novices we really don’t have any must see places in mind. We have planned on staying until late March so we have time to wander. Really we are looking for quiet anchorages and places we can kayak, swim a bit and lay on the beach on sunny days. At this point I really just want to get over there without any drama and take it from there.

As far as where to depart from, I have always wanted to go from FLL, but the Admiral was set on Biscayne. I think that having Pascal suggest FLL will tip the scales. The one thing we do not want to do is travel or arrive after dark if it can be avoided. That means getting the last of our spares on Monday, finishing the provisioning and returning the rental car and then heading down the New River to a marina for an early start Tuesday. Or leaving very early Tuesday before the bridges close for the morning commute. It looks like a six hour trip at hull speed from the inlet so we want to leave early to arrive before dark.
If we get to Bimini around 3 or 4 will I have time to clear customs and immigration before they close? If not what do we do in the marina? Just stay onboard and wait until the morning? I suppose I am overthinking things, but, as I said it’s our first trip over and I want to get it done correctly.

There is not much in the Barry's. Nice sheltered marina, but it's a good bit from town. Town is a bit rough as well. We stayed on Grand Bahama Island at Port Lucaya prior to the Barry's enroute to Nassau. Hurricane Hole in Nassau because I couldn't (wouldnt) afford Atlantis, but they are writhing a few hundred yards of each other. Spanish Wells on Eluthera was wonderful, but the Marina we stayed at on Abbaco, Mangoes, I'm told is NO longer there. Enjoy your trip!

 

[rsmith]

You sound apprehensive about the trip and giving your admiral a positive experience. The Bahamas is a great experience but navigation is not as easy as all make it out to be especially for your first trip. Many places are not marked or even if they are the markers may be gone or in the wrong place. It takes time to learn how to read the water which is the way you need to navigate. You can’t depend solely on GPS or chart plotters. I would recommend for your first time over and until you get comfortable hiring an experienced captain who has local knowledge of where you want to go. You will be able to relax knowing you have someone experienced with you and you and your admiral can concentrate on having a good time. Someone familiar with the area can introduce you to places and things you might not find on your own.

 

[Dan Mapes]

If you are genuinely worried about the S.O.'s enjoyment consider a different time of year.

At this time of year it seems like the fronts come down just about every week so if you cross and intend to anchor out all the way to the Exumas, and only do 8 hours a day, I think you are asking for issues. At 9 knots you are looking at a loooongggg day to hit Great Harbour from Bimini. It took us just about 11 hours to run from Chub to Bimini at an average of 7.7 knots.
I used passage weather when we crossed and also subscribed to Chris Parker. Our goal was a calm crossing and usually we met that goal. But never in the dead of Winter.
Pay head to Pascal's mention that the windows are short and you don't get a day for things to settle down. When the wind clocks to the South there will still be swell out of the N.E. and that will create a washing machine ride in a confused sea. At least in a 43 Hatteras MY it did. It will certainly be a different game in a 63'er for sure.
If you are looking for placid passage making be ready to spend TIME at any given stop you tie up at. I know experienced folks that were in an 80 footer that spent over a month at Spanish Wells waiting on weather. In Winter.
I agree with Pascal recommending a departure from Lauderdale. In an MY it's no big deal to go across to Bimini. We always preferred crossing from West Palm to West End which is longer than Ft. L. to Bimini but we ran up from Lauderdale to W.E. a couple of times. Our goal was always the Abacos initially. I'd be very circumspect about cruising the Abacos for quite a while given the devastation.

Hopefully you have all of the chartography on a plotter and it is current.

Chub is expensive but it is protected. Not much there at all, I don't know if they have ever gotten it together. The Berry Island Club should not be considered for a large or any boat IMHO.

 

[Pascal]

In winter you have slightly longer windows and slightly smoother crossing from FTL and MIA than WPB

If you spend the night at Cat Cay they charge you regular dockage. It a nice place, nice restaurant and bar. A good spot for your first landing in the Bahamas especially compared to the wreck that BIM has become.

If you leave Cat Cay in the morning, it s about 60nm to NW channel light. From there you can go to Chubb, straight to NAS. The NW Channel can be rough sometimes so if the weather is good skip chubb and go straight to NAS

Best marina in NAS is Bay Street Marina. Top service, great staff clean docks. MUCH better than Hurricane They are busy though. I don’t like Atlantis but it s a place you have to experience at least once... $5 a ft. Not that bad. Same as Chubb

Best fuel in NAS is Harbor Central. Bigger dock then hurricane and you don’t have to wait in the current forever. Same price. I think it s around $4.20 these days. Better than the $4.75 we just paid in the Exumas

You also have Nassau Harbor club, much cheaper dockage and right across from the shopping center with a pretty good supermarket (Solomon s Fresh Market). They have fuel too

After that... leave thru the east end and head SW to Paradise.

 

[Pascal]

You sound apprehensive about the trip and giving your admiral a positive experience. The Bahamas is a great experience but navigation is not as easy as all make it out to be especially for your first trip. Many places are not marked or even if they are the markers may be gone or in the wrong place. It takes time to learn how to read the water which is the way you need to navigate. You can’t depend solely on GPS or chart plotters. I would recommend for your first time over and until you get comfortable hiring an experienced captain who has local knowledge of where you want to go. You will be able to relax knowing you have someone experienced with you and you and your admiral can concentrate on having a good time. Someone familiar with the area can introduce you to places and things you might not find on your own.

Indeed there are no ATONs in the Bahamas but you can read the water pretty easily. While you should never rely on GPS alone, in 12+ years of gunkholing in shallow water all over the Exumas I have never had an issue with Explorer charts available thru C-Map. They are amazingly accurate. Their recommended routes are spot on. They are also available in Aquamap for IOS.

Whatever you do, DO NOT RELY on Navionics especially their Sonar Charts. I could list dozens of examples where Navionics will run you aground...

 

[rsmith]

If you are genuinely worried about the S.O.'s enjoyment consider a different time of year.

At this time of year it seems like the fronts come down just about every week so if you cross and intend to anchor out all the way to the Exumas, and only do 8 hours a day, I think you are asking for issues. At 9 knots you are looking at a loooongggg day to hit Great Harbour from Bimini. It took us just about 11 hours to run from Chub to Bimini at an average of 7.7 knots.
I used passage weather when we crossed and also subscribed to Chris Parker. Our goal was a calm crossing and usually we met that goal. But never in the dead of Winter.
Pay head to Pascal's mention that the windows are short and you don't get a day for things to settle down. When the wind clocks to the South there will still be swell out of the N.E. and that will create a washing machine ride in a confused sea. At least in a 43 Hatteras MY it did. It will certainly be a different game in a 63'er for sure.
If you are looking for placid passage making be ready to spend TIME at any given stop you tie up at. I know experienced folks that were in an 80 footer that spent over a month at Spanish Wells waiting on weather. In Winter.
I agree with Pascal recommending a departure from Lauderdale. In an MY it's no big deal to go across to Bimini. We always preferred crossing from West Palm to West End which is longer than Ft. L. to Bimini but we ran up from Lauderdale to W.E. a couple of times. Our goal was always the Abacos initially. I'd be very circumspect about cruising the Abacos for quite a while given the devastation.

Hopefully you have all of the chartography on a plotter and it is current.

Chub is expensive but it is protected. Not much there at all, I don't know if they have ever gotten it together. The Berry Island Club should not be considered for a large or any boat IMHO.

Yes May and June are probably the best weather months. Winter and spring fronts have quit dipping into the south and although you could see a hurricane form the season doesn’t really heat up until mid August. If it gets sloppy crank it up these Hatts were not designed to shlep along at hull speed. They’re more stable and handle better on a plane. Again DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON CHART PLOTTERS AND GPS you need to use your eyeballs! Do not try to run in low light conditions. Days are short now you have to factor that in.

 

[Westfield 11]

Thanks for all the helpful advice, I have a lot to work with now. Unfortunately, I rode in an Uber car a few days ago with a coughing driver and seem to have come down with some sort of a bug. Feeling pretty poorly today and am going to stay aboard until I feel better, but that will give me time for route planning incorporating all your helpful suggestions. We still plan on waiting for the next window after the coming weekend and will keep you all informed as to how things go. I also need to figure out what belts I need for the engine spares kit and a few other things. I want to be as self-sufficient as possible.
While we do like to run at hull speed for economy we also know that she rides better up on plane when the seas pick up and have no issues doing that. We also accept that the limited daylight in winter will necessitate higher speeds as well. The money we burn in fuel will hopefully be somewhat offset by the savings from anchoring as opposed to marina fees wherever possible. I have confidence in our ground tackle: 55kg Rocna Vulcan with 200’ of chain.

 

[oscarvan]

55kg Rocna Vulcan with 200’ of chain.

200' of chain is GOOD!