Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Where to leave boat for 2 months?
Where to leave boat for 2 months?

Posted: 02 Apr 2018 03:28 AM PDT

We are planning a trip to the Bahamas but may need to leave the boat for one or two months. We would prefer to simply leave the boat there instead of sailing back and then returning to the Bahamas. Does anyone have any suggestions in the Andros, Berry Islands, Nassau, and or Eleuthera area which would be safe?

Also, if one does leave their boat in the Bahamas, what security measures should one take?
Thanks
s/v John Galt

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Stern anchors
Stern anchors

Posted: 26 Mar 2018 06:03 PM PDT

I am sailing a 40ft cat daft 1.35.

I would like to know how often stern anchors are deployed cruising in the Bahamas.

If they are used at all what setup? How much chain, rode, scope, and what techniques are used for deployment?

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Buccaneeer Club
Buccaneeer Club

Posted: 26 Mar 2018 04:51 AM PDT

We stopped at governors harbour on our way back to spanish wells from cape eluthera. We and our buddy boat wanted to go out for dinner. A friend had recommended the buccaneer club. We made a reservation for 7pm. When we got there there was a table with a reserved sign on it. The attendant seated us, gave us menus, and took drink orders. The menu was varied from apps to sandwiches to full meals. we had full meals plus drinks and dessert. Price was probably $$$-$$$$ but well worth it. We all said that the ambiance, food quality, service, etc was the best we’ve experienced in the bahamas. when we left there was a line. Thank god for reservations.

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Anchoring Fees
Anchoring Fees

Posted: 23 Mar 2018 08:38 AM PDT

We have received confirmation from Exuma Park that the anchoring fees are indeed being collected as of March 1, 2018.

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: ““Waterproof” charts” plus 1 more
“Waterproof” charts

Posted: 21 Mar 2018 06:53 AM PDT

My Explorer charts get wet fairly often.

Pages are ‘waterproof’ but the ink is definitely not.

As a result, my northern Abaco charts are nearly useless, having overlays on one page and blank on the other, as the ink lifts from one to the other facing pages.

Has anyone addressed this issue successfully in the past? Do Monty and Sarah sell replacement pages? It seems a real waste to have to buy another book for the sake of a few pages…

ANCHORING FEE OPPOSITION; original letter by CHARISMA

Posted: 20 Mar 2018 05:32 PM PDT

Hello fellow crusiers:

An unidentified boater from the Cruisers Net, well intentioned I’m sure, posted my letter below without my knowledge and moreover took the liberty of fictionalizing an opening paragraph. I believe many of you know that on 28 Feb, I was at my station as Net Controller in George Town…not in the land and sea park. Below is the original email letter to a friend, which I am totally happy to make public. Please feel free to copy and distribute, especially to BNT, BUT IN ITS COMPLETE AND ORIGINAL FORM. Thanks, Bill, sv CHARISM

Good morning, Joe:

Insofar as you may have a rapport with this man, perhaps you’d care to admonish him that there currently is NO mention of anchoring “fees” for vessels under ninety feet on the current park web site, Exumapark.org. I copied just now what is presented on that site and pasted it in at the conclusion of the Email.

I put fees in quotes, insofar as this charge to anchor a boat within these boundaries is tantamount to extortion. In my opinion if I anchor for the night and do not go ashore, then my activity places no strain upon the Park’s services or environs. Were I even so to float in the water to view fish and coral, what rationale is there to prevent me from doing this when I have paid my entry money allowing me, as per the Commonwealth, to physically be in any Bahamian location I so choose? Any effort to extract additional money for a particular area indistinguishable from surrounding environs is extortion, plain and simple, by definition, not opinion, and I shall not support it. Moreover, I intend to publish and circulate the above as broadly as media and conversation permits within the cruising community. The response to you from Joe in Nassau reveals his selective assessment that cruiser response is favorable; he is merely promoting the sound of his choir to advance an agenda. To the contrary the vast number of folks I canvas objectively, feel as me. That without published presentation of need, financial transparency, proper notification, and responsible methods of collection, anchoring “fees” in open Bahamian waters is a sham, and the use of the Park’s good name is being exploited. Therefore, neither I nor others with whom I have spoken will continue to anchor within Park boundaries, thereby averting conflict and discrimination we feel as a result of these sad circumstances. Furthermore, some of us who have freely contributed to the Park financially shall cease doing so. This new anchoring policy is ironically exploiting the very gift of nature it seeks to protect. Myself and others like me, and there are many, shall not be a part of it.

Please feel to forward this letter to anyone you do choose, including the Bahamas National Trust, and Exuma Land and Sea Park. I shall be doing so now to about one hundred fellow cruisers on my list.

Very truly yours,
Bill, s/v CHARISMA, Black Point, Exuma, 15 March, 2018
Captain W. Tice, USCG MASTER 100 Ton

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Cheap fuel
Cheap fuel

Posted: 16 Mar 2018 04:54 AM PDT

I took on diesel today 3-15-18 at the St Georges Power Plant Russell Island outside of Spanish Wells. 200 gallons tax included was $3.65/gal. Mac, the fuel dock manager lost his cell. He got a new cell and the number is 242-557-7520. They pump fuel for the fishing fleet.

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: “Exit clearance from states to enter Bahamas…??” plus 1 more
Exit clearance from states to enter Bahamas…??

Posted: 13 Mar 2018 04:56 AM PDT

True or False…I just recently heard that Bahamian Customs is requiring U.S. Customs clearance from the states to enter the Bahamas. Is this just for Canadians or is it something new for US registered boats as well?

Store in Current

Posted: 12 Mar 2018 06:41 PM PDT

Just visited the Current, Eleuthera and they now have a small store with limited goods, cans, frozen meat, onions etc. but the owner does bring in good fresh fish to sell. Nice friendly folks in town. Stop by. There is a public road off the north beach. Nice anchorage in E to SE wind.

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Crossing from St Lucie.
Crossing from St Lucie.

Posted: 10 Mar 2018 11:57 AM PST

Hey all!

Departing Vero Sunday mid day and looking to make the crossing to West End. Anyone else making the jump from St Lucie?

Any qualms with this weather window?

Smooth Sailing!

-SV Ruca

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: “THE QUEEN CONCH NEEDS PROTECTION” plus 1 more
THE QUEEN CONCH NEEDS PROTECTION

Posted: 08 Mar 2018 02:36 PM PST

The queen conch (Strombus gigas) is a large marine mollusc, formerly abundant throughout the Caribbean region. It is now under threat from overfishing.

There has been a major decline in the population of protected queen conchs in the Bahamas’ Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park over the last 20 years.

The most recent survey found predominantly older queen conchs, with a shortage of juveniles to replace them.

Researchers believe overfishing in upstream areas has depleted the park’s larval supply. Increased predator density within the park may also be a problem for juveniles.

Queen conch fisheries outside protected areas in the Bahamas are experiencing intense fishing pressure and are near collapse.

Conchs play a huge role in Bahamian culture.

Act now to save the Queen Conch.

Shedd Aquarium Postdoctoral Research Associate Dr. Andy Kough has been working alongside partners at the Bahamas National Trust to survey different habitats around The Bahamas for queen conch. Using Shedd’s research vessel, the R/V Coral Reef II, Dr. Kough and fellow researchers are gathering data to inform conch fishery management and protect populations into the future.

Long Island Update 2018

Posted: 08 Mar 2018 02:29 PM PST

Here are some changes to add to your 6th Edition Explorer Chartbook Far Bahamas, in case you haven’t already found them:

NORTH END, CAPE SANTA MARIA TO HARVEY’S BAY

Pratt’s Store at Seymours closed
Beach Bungalow Restaurant closed
Internet Connection near Stella Maris closed
Williams’ Auto Car Rentals at Glintons closed
No more scooter rentals at Stella Maris Inn

Coming soon: Tiki Bar and Grill at north end of Queen’s Highway at Seymours; boat tours of swimming pigs and feeding the stingrays.
Add Columbus Harbour Tours with Omar Daley at 357-1417.

HARVEY’S BAY TO MCKANNS

Add Green Leaf Bar and Grill at Bunches
Long Island Souvenirs at Deals
Wemyss-ical Treasures at Wemyss

SALT POND (Thompson Bay to Grays)

Long Island Breeze closed
Royal Bank of Canada in Cartwrights closed
Scotia Bank at Buckleys operating only two days a week with limited services (still have ATM for now)
Explorer Chartbooks now available at Seafarer Marine, Salt Pond, as well as Long Island Petroleum
Hardings Supply Centre Salt Pond closed
Add to Restaurants: Club Washington in McKanns and Tiny’s Hurricane Hole (formerly Parrots of the Caribbean) on Thompson Bay
Internet at Sou’Side Grill and Tiny’s
Also laundry at Tiny’s (two washers and dryers)
Seaside Car Rental (formerly listed as Fox Auto) correct phone number 338-0140 or 357-1528
Stan’s Car Rentals closed

DEADMANS CAY AREA
Add to Groceries: Kirtland’s Supermarket and Deli
JB Carroll’s Grocery and lodging closed
Library at Buckleys closed
Constantakis no longer rents cars in Petty’s
Add to Restaurants: Lloyd’s Sporting Lounge (Restaurant) at Turnbull, Big Gate on airport road.

CLARENCE TOWN and SOUTH END

The new Lighthouse Point Restaurant at Flying Fish Marina offers a spectacular view of the ocean and the cut into the harbour. There is also a new ship’s store with limited but growing supplies.

Add to Bakery and Groceries: Everyday Essentials (delicious baked bread and goodies and dry goods) on the hill in downtown Clarence Town

Below Clarence Town, closed businesses are Yelredda’s, Sweet P’s, Red Door at Berry’s, BTC Roses. Government clinic is still open.

J’s Convenience Store at Dunmore, expanded merchandise

A road trip revealed that the Queen’s Highway gets worse with potholes as you travel north from Salt Pond and better as you travel south, but it is always worth a road ramble on Long Island to find the old and the new.

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Update
Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Update

Posted: 07 Mar 2018 01:17 PM PST

Thanks to a fellow cruiser for this new information on Rock sound:

Four Points, then Pascals, then Wild Orchids, now it is Frigates Restaurant. They have built a really nice enlarged dinghy dock and the gully has been partly dredged out. Great happy hours, free wifi, really nice but pricey for dinner. Hall’s grocery store has done some renovations and is really nice and well stocked, better prices than the Marketplace. They just completed a big dredging project and bulit an apron at the gov’t dock and the fast ferry/Island Link made its initial run into Rock Sound yesterday, huge uptick for the south end of the island as previously fast ferry only came into Gov Hbr. The old mailboat Eleuthera Express apparently has been retired due to age, all this infrastructure being funded by the Fast Ferry company. Everything else pretty much the same in Rock Sound, just as friendly as ever. Some expansion on the 3T’s laundromat, very clean and friendly.

The road near Glass Window was washed out with this last storm and folks have said it was worse there Sunday then during recent hurricanes. There is a report of some tourists who were swept away there, one survived but one missing.

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: “Seminar: Crossing the Gulf Stream” plus 1 more
Seminar: Crossing the Gulf Stream

Posted: 06 Mar 2018 05:24 AM PST

A seminar on the topic of Crossing the Gulf Stream will be held on April 19, 2018, at Dania Beach, Florida in the IT Parker Center. Time to be announced.

The two-hour seminar will be led by Captain Chase Camacho, USCG Master for 27 years. Captain Chase has traveled to the Bahamas since 1991. Also about six other captains will be there to assist with any other questions. Special Guest will be the U.S. Coast Guard.

Topics include:
Do’s and Don’t’s of crossing the Gulf Stream
How to prepare
What to bring
Storage
Important engine quick fixes

The fee is $795/boat up to 5 people and $100/pp for additional passengers.

For further information, please contact Captain Chase Camacho at chaseuone@gmail.com.

New fuel and dockage survey March 6, 2018

Posted: 06 Mar 2018 05:11 AM PST

A new survey of dockage and fuel prices has been completed and posted showing most of the marinas offering these services in the Bahamas. Some we were unable to contact at the present time and they are shown in red. In general, fuel prices were up with a few exceptions.

Please go to our website www.explorercharts.com under Fuel and Dockage Prices to check our latest findings. We will be updating continuously as we get new information.

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: New Anchoring fee for Exuma Land and Sea Park
New Anchoring fee for Exuma Land and Sea Park

Posted: 02 Mar 2018 01:53 PM PST

This was posted in Bahamas Sailing and Cruising Facebook group. Big change is a $0.50/foot anchoring fee for vessels under 90′.

“Good morning cruisers; Park Warden at the ECLSP here. Below is some important info from our Administrator in regards to a new anchorage fee structure.

Attention ALL vessels:

New Anchorage Fees in effect as of today; March 1st, 2018.

Vessels 90’ and above will be required to pay $1 per foot for anchoring within the Park boundaries.

Vessels under 90’ will be required to pay $0.50 per foot for anchoring within the Park boundaries.

Please remember the park boundaries run from Wax Cay Cut in the North to Conch Cut in the South, and extend outward 4nm to the East and the West.

Thank you,
Park Administrator
Joseph Ierna Jr”

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: “George Town/Elizabeth Harbour Fuel Update” plus 1 more
George Town/Elizabeth Harbour Fuel Update

Posted: 28 Feb 2018 05:25 AM PST

In our monthly fuel survey,for several months we have been unable to get a response to our calls to Exuma Yacht Club. Now we can give a first-hand report on fuel in Elizabeth Harbour. The marina was severely damaged by hurricanes last year and has not been rebuilt. There is no fuel (or water) at the dock. Gasoline can be obtained by jerry-jugging from the filling station.The Harbour Master reports that delivery of diesel can be made to the rough concrete government dock, where the mailboat and freight boats come in. Arrangements can be made through the filling station in town.

The nearest fuel stations are the Marina at Emerald Bay on Great Exuma and Long Island Petroleum in Salt Pond.

Additional information on the harbour: The moorings in Hole #1 have been reduced to just a handful and there is no pumpout boat operational. It is wise to be aware of the possible harbour pollution with the large number of vessels there.

Crossing

Posted: 27 Feb 2018 04:13 PM PST

What is best way to find others doing crossing from Florida to Abaco?

If you are in the Bahamas, you might see one of these ancient swimmers.

New species of shark discovered has ancestors older than dinosaurs from Fox News

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Mooring. In Abaco.
Mooring. In Abaco.

Posted: 17 Feb 2018 03:00 PM PST
Looking for a recommendation for mooring or docking a 44’ voyage cat. Looking for charter partners. Expected to get permit late March. Heading north from BVI. Hoping to call Abaco our new base. AlternateLatitude.com

Louise is asking for recent experience anchoring in Morgan’s Bluff. If you have had good luck setting your anchor there, let us hear from you.

Can you tell us what the bottom conditions are for anchoring in Morgan’s Bluff? We heard after Juaquine in 2015 the bottom was all scoured and thus poor holding. Wondering if it has improved.
Louise

Morgan’s Bluff is not in our Anchorage Directory, but we found these entries via Google:

www.noonsite.com › Countries › Bahamas
Morgans Bluff – Profile. Location. Morgan’s Bluff at the north end of North Andros, just north of Nicholls Town. Not much goes on here except for the regatta … The anchorage is good holding in sand and grass and protection good except from the north. The government dock is off-limits to private boats.

And this from Cruisers’ Net Partner Explorer Charts:

Morgans Bluff & Nicholls Town

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Tale of Two Lights
Tale of Two Lights

Posted: 09 Feb 2018 06:29 AM PST

We have a first-hand report on two navigational lights; one of which is crucial to navigation in an open area and the other one entering Nassau Harbour from the east.

The first, the Northwest Channel Light, is still not lighted. There is a pole (approximately 30′) with a rope trailing from the top. This crucial light has not yet been replaced (for several years).

The second, the light on Porgee Rock, has been rebuilt and is working. The irony of this is that we just took that light off all of the Explorer charts of the area and published the new data last summer, and now it is working again! Oh well! So make a correction on your charts: The Porgee Rock Light is now working (for now).

Monty Lewis
Explorer Chartbooks

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Guana moorings?
Guana moorings?

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 03:29 PM PST

Looking for a reasonable place to moor a 35 foot sailboat for long term near Guana Cay. Just bought a boat that has been occupied on the hook in Marsh Harbour, but I’m living in a home in Guana for the next year.

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: Shower in Hatchett Bay, Eleuthra
Shower in Hatchett Bay, Eleuthra

Posted: 04 Feb 2018 02:20 PM PST

Farrington’s convenience store is located at the gazebo dock. He now has a shower available for the cruisers, $5/shower is what he is planing on charging.

Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.

Bahamas Chatter: “Changes in Bimini Entrance Buoys”
Changes in Bimini Entrance Buoys

Posted: 03 Feb 2018 07:20 AM PST

The 2017 hurricanes brought changes to the entrance buoys of the channel to Bimini. The waypoint in Explorer Chartbook Near Bahamas 8th edition remains the same, but some of the buoys are off station as originally plotted on the chart.

* The first red buoy on the chart is now off station, having moved northward off the southern tip of North Bimini right in the middle of a very shallow sandbar. Don’t go there!

* The first red buoy you see approaching South Bimini is actually the second one on the chart. It is in the correct position.

* There is a green buoy beyond that and it is off station near the entrance to Bimini Sands Marina on South Bimini.

* There are four small buoys along the shore of South Bimini leading into North Bimini. They are in correct position. The lighted pole at the entrance also remains.

Another note on Bimini: The marinas no longer furnish Customs papers for you to fill out on your boat. Here’s a link: https://forms.bahamas.gov.bs/dp_form.asp?fid=263.
You have to either go to Customs to get the forms and fill them out there or download them and print them out so you can fill them ahead of time.

The Customs office is still at the Big Game Marina, while Immigration is a little farther north at the Administration Building (both shown on the chart).