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).

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: “Fishing tackle” plus 1 more
Fishing tackle

Posted: 30 Jan 2018 02:39 PM PST

Finding fishing tackle in Eleuthera can be hard. Found a great shop in Spanish Wells, Island Custom Rod and Tackle. Located on West end of Spanish Wells at end of 28th St North, about three blocks west of Food Fair. Great selection and good prices and very friendly service.

ATM in Spanish Wells

Posted: 30 Jan 2018 04:46 AM PST

Scotia Bank in Spanish Wells has been replaced by CB Bank. While they have an atm I believe most foriegn debit cards will not work.
On Leo Pinder St the convenience store “Island Mart” has a Royal Bank of Canada atm inside which does work with international debit cards.

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: “Floating Docks” plus 1 more
Floating Docks

Posted: 28 Jan 2018 05:08 AM PST

My wife and I love the Bahamas. The challenge we have is finding suitable dockage. We have a 90lb dog and need to get onto land, for guess what? I cannot easily get him onto fixed docks.
Could anyone with significant Bahamas knowledge help us take Dusty with us?

Meeks Patch Eleuthera no longer unoccupied

Posted: 27 Jan 2018 05:41 PM PST

Meeks Parch, between Royal and Spanish Wells, now has a dozen pigs and some ducks residing there. Large sign adverising “Pig Island Adventures”.
Still a great anchorage, just no longer suitable to take dogs ashore.

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 Source of Diesel Fuel
New Source of Diesel Fuel

Posted: 25 Jan 2018 11:10 AM PST

Thanks to John Gula for finding more economical fuel prices for cruisers. The power plant on the south shore of Russell Island (near Spanish Wells, Eleuthera) has a pier at longitude 76* 46.36’ W. They sell diesel at a reduced price. We verified the current price below.

$3.22 gal.VISA/MC accepted. SEE EXPLORER CHART EL 9.

Open to all vessels. This is a power plant co-op.

St. George’s Cay Power Co. Ltd.
Mr. Roylaton McKenzie
Operations Manager
1-242-333-4481/4407
1-242-559-3068
e-mail royliston@yahoo.com

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: US vessel seized
US vessel seized

Posted: 20 Jan 2018 02:52 PM PST

4 January in Marsh Harbour Abaco Bahamian Customs and RBDF officers boarded and searched a US flagged MV that had not cleared customs. They found weapons aboard. The two US citizens were handed over to Bahamian police and the vessel confiscated.

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: Search for Missing Vessel
Search for Missing Vessel

Posted: 09 Jan 2018 08:02 AM PST 

Sharing this info:BOLO for the S/V ELLIPSIS
Seven Seas Cruising Association’s HF Radio Service KPK has been asked for assistance in locating the S/V ELLIPSIS which departed Puerto Rico on December 26, 2017 on a voyage to St Augustine, Florida. The vessel is a 32’ Westsail cutter rig sloop, light tan hull, maroon stripe below the rail, with tan bark sails.
There are two POB. The Captain is Scott Kans, age approx 55, accompanied by crew Rafael Torres, approx age 30. Neither men are known to have medical issues, although Scott is believed to have a hernia.
The vessel has a 6 person life raft, however no EPIRB, SSB or HF Radio, or other means of communication other than two cell phones. They have no way to receive weather information since departing Puerto Rico. Scott’s cell phone is 787-306-9114.
The vessel sustained major damage during the hurricanes in Puerto Rico, including damage to its rigging which is believed to have been repaired prior to departing Puerto Rico. It is believed the vessel may have a cutlass bearing issue.
Their intended route was to pass close enough to the Turks and Caicos to allow them to call their emergency contact via cell phone. The contact expected hearing from them on or around January 2nd. From the Turks and Caicos they planned to continue through the East Bahamas into the Gulf Stream to St Augustine, Florida.
The USCG Sector Jacksonville has been notified.
Chris Parker of the Marine Weather Center is also aware of this overdue boat and will broadcast a lookout on his Monday SSB morning weather report for the Bahamas.
Dick Giddings of the afternoon Doo Dah SSB Net is also aware and broadcasting a lookout as well as putting it out on the morning Cruiseheimers Net.
KPK will ensure the Waterway Radio & Cruising Club Amateur Radio Net covers it as well as the both SSCA morning SSB nets at 1215 hrs UTC and 1315 hrs UTC on frequency 8.104.
Anyone with information regarding this vessel may contact KPK@ssca.org and the USCG.
Glenn Tuttle – Net Manager
SSCA HF Radio Service KPK
941-456-5070

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: “north eluthera- spanish wells?” plus 1 more
north eluthera- spanish wells?

Posted: 26 Dec 2017 01:49 PM PST

hi all,

later in the season we’ll have guests fly into north eluthera. we’ll probably be at the marina in spanish wells. anyone know about the connections/phone numbers we need to get them from airport to marina?

duetto

Diesel fuel in Andros

Posted: 26 Dec 2017 01:47 PM PST

Planning a trip down Andros and would like to know of Diesel Fuel availability in Andros? Any recent purchases would be helpful.