Not a single picture. The good camera was packed away where it would not get wet and my cell was soaked and would not work. We were 2 CC's running side by side and could not even see each others Bimini tops when we were both in a trough with a crest between us. I was estimating 10' that day. My first crossing in 1990 was true 15 ftrs in a 35' Fountain before I knew what the hell I was doing. LOL

Bob.... I remember a trip over in the month of May with my 38 foot Magnum. I was feeliing a bit over equipped as I remembered, when Brownie and some of the other guys would deliver 16 foot Donzi's to Nassau customers on their own bottoms.

Anyway, beautiful trip over weather wise and wave wise....HOWEVER, on the way back I was climbing the face of the waves and at the top, the boat would just drop over the other side and roller coaster into the trough.

I made a game of watching the tachs drop and drop as the boat really worked to climb the faces of the waves, to help pass the time. Don't know how fast I was going but I do remember passing a 60 foot Hatteras sportsfisherman and waving to him. He didn't look happy.

Of course the many Bacardi races that went from Miami to Bimini and back were done in everything from calm to force 5 conditions.

For the new people......Great trip, just prepare well and do it, you won't be sorry.

I was at the beach today and you could see offshore the waves were big in the distance! A whole line of sportfishes were fishing just inside the stream......

Someday Charlie we have to sit down and trade stories again. I enjoyed our visit a few years ago at one of the runs. When you speak of climbing the face of those waves it brought back memories of that day in 1990 where we had those kind of conditions. We had to throttle up to climb the face but pull back before hitting the crest or we would fall off the top into a cavern and wonder if the boat was going to break in half. We mastered the art tho of climbing the face and sliding down the backside rather nicely. Some crazy stuff and we are still here to talk about it.

For those considering crossing the Gulf Stream to Bahamas just be aware that it can change from rather nice to very nasty in a matter of hours if the wind swings around and starts blowing out of the north. Read this as there are some lessons there that will keep you alive to tell about your trip. http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...story-2-a.html
The lessons I learned back then still apply today. Happy and safe boating. Once you get there the rewards are great as you will then experience the most beautiful boating waters you will find anywhere.

Bob

This is a trip I've been wanting to do for yrs. Actually looking at West End Grand Bahama.

I planned on staying on the hook but worried about leaving the boat alone and assumed I should have my gun every where I go???

On the the changing weather/sea conditions, is it normally nicer early morning if you were making plans??
I remember being weathered in on Lake Erie for 3 days before realizing that there was a 2 or 3 hr window of calm in the morning. We watched 2 boats of our crew, leave the 2nd day and get the hell beat out of them before weathering in on a island.
We left early the next morning, ran 60 MPH all the way across Lake Erie and beat the earlier group home.

A. West End is nice but not much to do outside Old Bahama Bay resort (expensive, only 2 restaurants).
B. Gun has to stay aboard the boat, it isn't allowed on land (big trouble if they catch you with it)
C. Once you see the yachts, the sportfishes with 100k in rods/reels and the dinghies that cost 150k then you will realize that theft/robbery won't a problem for you (you aren't a rich enough target!)

Yes early morning is usually best. Often the daytime heating gets the winds moving and things tend to kick up. The direction of the wind plays a factor as well.

As far as guns go I have travelled the Bahamas and Caribbean without one and never once felt endangered. They must be reported upon entering the Bahamas and there are regulations you should make yourself familiar with. I do believe tho that you are more at risk if you anchor out overnight. I make a point of being tied up in a marina every night so less exposure that way.

Bob

We also have been looking at doing a trip !!

Thanks Bob.

I am used to/prefer the solitude at the hook but used to it from up north.
The more I thought about for over there, would likely put me off the beaten path w/little to no security. We hear enough of the stories from the fishermen around here to make you nervous.

That pirated sport fish boat wasn't that long ago. Thanks again.

Be sure to log and write about your adventure when you go. I enjoyed reading about your trip into the Keys and I know many others did as well.

Bob

Thanks Bob. That trip was an epic one and we'll do.

I to am curious if you can carry a gun.. if you leave it with the boat or what? anyone know the regulations?

I am not a big gun toater, but for boat trips, and things of this nature, I see no reason not to have something I own with me to help if need be.

http://www.dockwalk.com/Essentials/H....aspx?id=25058
Capt of a 74 Viking did 4 months for a pistol and shotgun!

1. Guns and ammo must be declared and in some places surrendered to local authorities.
2. The guns/ammo must be kept aboard in a secure location.
3. Guns in the Bahamas outside of a shotgun are illegal without a permit. Get caught on land possessing one or worse using one and you will be in bigger trouble than the bad guy!

So a shotgun is ok as long as it is left on boat? But when you get there have to document it ans any ammo?

you can have all the guns and ammo you want (within reason) you just have to tell them abut everything down to the last bullet and leave them locked away on the boat. The actual regulations are not that hard to find online on the Bahamian Gov websites.

FIREARMS

Bahamian law permits firearms on your vessel as part of your ship’s equipment. They must remain aboard in a secure compartment. In the event of your being boarded by Customs or the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the information on your cruising permit will be checked carefully against your actual supply. Ammunition must match the number on the cruising permit. In case of an emergency departure by air, you must leave your firearm(s) with local Bahamian Police or Customs. It will be returned when you present your receipt.

awesome Information!

so it does not matter what kind of guns just decalair them and the rounds you have as well.

Don't get too exotic.....not too sure how many Desert Eagles they have seen so if you bring one it might become a hassle.

Is a rocket launcher considered a firearm????

Based off how this discussion has turned, we might have to name this trip the "WMD Bimini Run"

Whats the best way to find hotspots? Being the tourist I am, where and what places are definates to hit. You know the absolute "must sees" in bimini?

Not talking on land either, unless it's a dockside bar. I'd like to check out Sapona. What else?

LOL. When I went to Cuba they took our flares and flare guns as they considered them weapons. Also our sat phone and handheld VHF radio's but we could keep our cell phones and Blackberry's as I guess they could be monitored. They were returned on our departure as promised. Strange they had them already for us when we arrived at the marina like they knew that we were coming. LOL

Bob

Visit Big John's bar and grill on the water on North Bimini

Yeah if you like hanging out with thugs, listening to loud rap/dance music at ear splitting levels! We showed up as a group of 18-20 on a Saturday night, had one beer and left!

Everyone who had been there before all had the same line.......it didn't used to be like this!

[QUOTE=Bobthebuilder; Strange they had them already for us when we arrived at the marina like they knew that we were coming. LOL
Bob[/QUOTE]
Now thats funny.

The more I studied my idea for that trip, the more I lost interest. As in, staying on the boat, at anchor, etc, etc.

Something about a 3rd world country that makes/enforces laws as they please. If they want you to disappear, you will.

Couple of experiences always stick in my mind, while on shore excursions off a cruise ship.

#1. Jamaica.
The on board tour operators told us if you pick one stop to stay on the ship, this is it. Unfortunately, one woman in our group out voted the rest of us and we went ;)

Were stories of the locals taking the tourists to their destinations and then leaving them behind after collecting round trip fares. Being the street smart person I am ;), I negotiated this w/our driver and he agreed to take half at drop off and 2nd 1/2 at p/u. (after aggressively arguing w/me about where we wanted to go!)
When we got to Dunns River Falls our driver demanded full payment. When he and I went toe to toe, we were instantly surrounded by the other drivers who made clear their intentions. I paid him in full and he did return to pick us up.
Point was what could have happened and who would have known.

Once back on the ship, we met a group that did a cruise line sanctioned, tour bus tour of the rain forest. Masked bandits blocked their bus w/a downed tree and robbed them all at gun point!


#2. I think Grand Bahama but yrs ago.

Within sight of our cruise ship, the Mrs (at the time) decides to go through a small gift shop. We walk into this one room store w/tables filling the middle of the room and just one path around it's perimeter. The store staff consisted off two Rastafarian locals in their early 20's.
As soon as they caught sight of my 5'8", blond haired, blue eyed, gorgeous, bikini clad (w/a cover up) wife, they never took their eyes off of her.
The wife was oblivious as we did a lap of the tables and I never took my eyes off the two of the locals or the back door/escape of the store. tried to make it apparent they would not get to her w/o going through me.
They never acknowledged my presence!

Nothing happened but what if??? Who would the local cops side with??

#3. Same island, same trip.

Cruise ship staff told us of a local scam where the locals approach young/hip appearing tourists and offer them local ganja. Once the transaction completes, a local cop comes out of the shadows and arrest you.

It happened to us except we declined their offer.

#4. Mexico, across the river from Laredo Tx.

Was in Laredo for a race 100 yrs ago when me and the crew ended up across the river for some fun after a day of racing.
After leaving a local establishment, we were forced off the road by a beater, 4 door Dodge Dart driven by a local who spoke Spanish only. We politely explained to him that we had no idea who he was or what he wanted and did not speak Spanish.
We pulled back on the road to leave. The guy runs back to his car, puts a magnetic flashing light on the roof of the now, Dart patrol car!
He pulls us over again, now speaks English and arrests us for fleeing arrest!
My buddy (the driver) is discussing (w/us) running the border which is a gate on the small bridge crossing the river just ahead of us. I argue against it saying it's clearly a case of mistaken identity (I think I was 19 ;) ) and off to jail we all go.
They interrogated us one at a time and took every dime the three of us had and then let us go. While interrogating me the chief of police pointed a sawed off shot gun at my head and explained that they have riots all the time and they use that to disperse crowds.

The punch line of that story was the mayor of Lardeo tracking us down at the races the next day and telling us the smartest thing we could have done would have been to crash the border/gate. He said they have DEA agents cross the same bridge, all the time, chasing drug dealers.
Said normally they find their bodies 6 months later in the lake we were racing in!

So based on the above experiences......, you'll understand if I'm a bit of a wuss these days ;)
My fear is being in/at Utopia and dropping my guard, while half polluted and unable to react.

[QUOTE=Bobthebuilder; Strange they had them already for us when we arrived at the marina like they knew that we were coming. LOL
Bob[/QUOTE]

Now thats funny.

A few months after that trip some in my crew flew back to Havana from Toronto for a fishing trip ( well that was what they said LOL ) and were told by our english speaking taxi driver that we were followed all the time we were there. The authorities refused to believe we were there as tourists and were actually there to bring some of their top entertainers or baseball players back to America. We were flattered that they posted armed guards watching our boat in the marina for 4 days not knowing at the time they were just making sure we were not leaving the island with any star Cubans.

Part of my reasoning for not carrying a gun on the boat to some of these countries is that if it ever had to be used and I survived the exchange a person could find themselves sitting in a prison for the rest of their life. I would sooner be dead. I am still of the opinion that in general it is quite safe to visit these Caribbean countries with no problem. Just be smart about it and be aware of your surroundings.

Bob

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8UOfp3znB8 Bob if you got in a jam overseas, Rob Ford would be able to negotiate your release in no time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8UOfp3znB8

LOL. He can't even help himself ! LOL I had not seen that video or some of the clips in it. The worlds most out of shape football coach. LOL He got blasted and video taped during an incoherent late night rant in a fast food restaurant earlier this week again.

Bob

SNL has the best spoof of him yet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf7jK90IIG8

You couldn't pay me to take a cruise. I do not know one person with a firsthand account of having an issue in the Bahamas, other than theft of an unattended boat. You will have none of the problems above in Bimini, the people are extremely nice, a "hello how are you doing" goes a long way to quickly making smiles on locals faces, they are happy to see you if you are happy to see them.

Almost everybody I know has a "story" about something bad happening in the Bahamas but not one of them has ever said it was a firsthand or somebody they personally knew when asked about the origin of the story. I guess all my friends are just full of it :)

+1.......My neighbor lives in Nassau and comes home every couple months. In his 15 months there, there is plenty of Bahamian on Bahamian crime in the big city but tourists are off limits.....the exception is when the tourists are looking for drugs and it becomes a ripoff type deal.

I love Bimini, especially South Bimini.....time warp type place!

Sorry to derail the topic of "what happened to me" stories , and back to the crossing from FL to Bimini or points beyond

Last year we stayed with Austin and Amy at Lubber's Landing. A great vacation . . Austin owns a Pantera 28 with twin SBC and frequently makes the crossing from the Abacos to FL. I am also planning on making this crossing in my Magnum 27, Austin has offered to fly over to FL and join me for the crossing . . I'm certain he would do this for anyone who wants to stay with them at Lubbers!

We also rented a boat in Marsh Harbor for our stay, but all of those boats are a bit difficult to really see all of the Abaco chain . . something a it quicker and comfortable . . I picture a run to Bimini, refuel, have an early lunch and run across to the Abacos . .

Mario - I read your thread about your stay with Austin and Amy. Looks like it was a good time and they appear to be really good people. Hard to find that nowadays. It definately sparked my interest for a possible future vacation to the bahamas. However, heart is kinda set on just doing bimini for now. Just need to decide on whether to carry a portable AC unit or install a permanent on in my 292.

Get a room.....the heat is going to fry you and the few hundred you pay for a room will become priceless! A shower, bed and AC will be the best part of that vacation after you get sunburnt!

I don't plan on staying on my boat . . after a day of waves and sun, solid land and a bed makes the next day a lot easier!
My thought is a run to Bimini, refuel and run over to the Abacos . . my Magnum only has 100 gallons capacity . . I could add a couple of fuel cells ?

Better to run from Palm Beach straight to West End and get fuel there and then continue to Abacos, 100 gals is not a lot of fuel if you have any problems, also I would only go if the seas are calm because your fuel burn can double if it is rough. What kind of MPG do you get?

Bahamas isn't NJ, I understand that, but I spend my most of my weekends during the summer sleeping on a boat. As we don't have a shore house at the moment. So roughing it on the boat is nothing new to me. My vacations for the past 4 years has been a week spent on the boat in July. I haven't ruled out a room for maybe a night or two even. If the weather doesn't workout in our favor for the crossing, we could always pack up and head down to the keys or even over to the gulf. This way our time off doesn't go wasted.

Every time I have been there I ended up sunburnt and I have lived in Florida since 1975. You do everything outside, the water is beautiful so you want to be out there but the sun is catching up with you at the same time!.......Outside of a big cabin cruiser, I would have zero interest in staying on a boat at the end of a day in the Bahamas! If it came down to money, I would stay less days in Bimini with a hotel than staying longer aboard the boat.

Good to have a backup plan in case you don't cross.....If it was my trip I would plan 3-4 days in Bimini then back to the Florida Keys for the rest of your vacation so you get two great destinations knocked out in one trip.

Alot of this forum does not stay on board there boats.

But there is a few of us that use our cabins. I have lived ona sail boat for 2 weeks, I have lived on a 17 foot bow rider for a week.

My 34 foot, with vacuflush, genny, and AC is like a hotel room. haha

Bingo.

Totally depends on the climate too.

I stayed in the cabin of my old Sonic, up north down to 45* before w/no heat other than the gf.
Stayed on my old cruisers to the low 30's w/a single space heater.

As to the heat, if you can get shade (bimini or Anchor Shade) and a breeze you're in. Interestingly, on all the performance boats I've seen, they have the bow hatches facing the wrong direction to function at rest/anchor. I reversed them on both my Sonics.
Assuming anchoring from bow, you will always be bow to wind which will give you an awesome breeze for sleeping in the cuddy.

When I'm staying on the boat and I come into dock or prepare to anchor, I determine wind direction first and attempt to put bow into wind once secured.
I've had friends on my Sonic, down here in the 90's and w/the bow hatches open, and a breeze and they've all said they could sleep in the cabin.
At dock, you some times have to back in to get the wind direction correct.

If on the other hand, you have no escape from the sun and no air movement, and it's hot...., you're screwed w/o AC.

I got heat stroke one time on my old Sonic on a steaming ass August day after spending a day exploring Pelee Island by bicycle. I had no shade and there was absolutely no air movement. I ended up hiding in the small shaded area behind the port bolster. Only shade on the boat. It sucked and scared the hell out of me.

Also sucks to wake up in sweat soaked sheets which I've done several times.

Thats what Jupiter is talking about. A 1/2 hr in an AC'd hotel room would have instantly healed me.

I completely agree, I reveresed the hatch on my old 252 for that exact reason.. and I could leave it cracked and bring in fresh ari while crusing too.

My 342 has sideways hatches. which dont scoop but they do work kquite well with them both open letting air come in and out.

I also run the genny from dark to mindnight cooling the cabin, charging batterys, and stuff. that helps... and the few nights you stay at the doc, ice cold...