Earlier reports had noted the lack of security at Brown’s Marina, so these improvements will be good news to their patrons.

Brown’s Marina under New Management since April 2012. New facilities (BBQ Grills, Lounge & Dining Areas, Renovated Showers, Volley Ball Court and property has been SECURED with CODED GATE ACCESS, SECURITY CAMERAS, WIFI) All new experience at Brown’s Marina and reasonable rates’¦.USBoat members get 10% OFF.

The string of messages below are copied from the T&T (Trawlers and Trawlering) mail list!

Does the list find the passage from Memeory Rock to Great Sale Cay protected or potentially just a rough as a crossing from Ft Pierce.
Do I need to be any less concerned about wind speed and direction??
Thanks
Russ

The Bahama banks between Memory Rock and Great Sale is open relatively shallow water which can cary a difficult short chop when winds climb into the high teens, low twenties. As compared to the Gulf stream which always gives a unpleasant ride when winds counter the current
If your weather information is good holding at anchor on the bank is doable but not recomemded as overnight wind shift/changes in speed are not unusual.
I am wondering at the choice of Ft. Pearce to Memory Rock (into the Gulf Stream current) as apposed to Lake Worth to same. Putting the current on your stern quarter?
Anyway going is the desired option, being stuck here sucks.
Paul Lindenmeyer

Russ, I guess the easy way to answer your question is to say that if you already made it from the mainland to the bank the rest of the trip to Great Sale is a piece a cake. The shallows keep down the sea conditions.
Couple of comments: I would come a bit further south than Ft Pierce due to the Stream flow. Also I suggest you cross north of Memory Rock and south of the White Sand Ridge. You will enter the Bank with 30 ft of water and it is a straight unobstructed shot from the there to Great Sale. This is important because you will approach Great Sale long after dark this time of year (assuming trawler speeds and dawn out of St Lucie inlet).
Bob

Clearing customs in the Exumas can be an expensive and frustrating process. Captain Leonard offers some good advice on alternative landings.

We cleared in after tying up at the Big Game Club, we got a ride in a golf cart to customs and is was done very smooth and with little effort. We have been to the Berry Island Club on Frazier’s Hog Cay, when Herbie was manager and Lincoln the chef and were not treated very well and were charged for everything!! Including $7 per load for washing clothes and the machine was broken!! We had to fill it with a garden hose!! Twice we gave over 24 hours notice for the restaurant and were forgotten both times!! When we ordered some supplies we got the Costco type refill (waaaaayyy tooo much) so hard to stow on a small yacht!! Needless to say, if you have to moor for a short time, it is a good place to wait out a storm, but I would move on as soon as possible, you will be a lot lighter in the pocket book if you don’t!! Everywhere else we went was wonderful. An even better place to go in the Berry Islands is Great Harbor, wonderful people and service!!
Lynda Leonard-S/V Choctaw Brave

Click Here To Read An Earlier Discussion on Check In

You might want to caution your members about Brown’s Marina in Bimini – it is inherently exposed which was almost a problem last weekend …. when I pointed out to the dockmaster Mike he was cleating lines backwards he said he knew that, but he’s been tying up boats much longer than you (me) have. He also slept
through the full gale that Saturday night leaving boaters on the dock to look out for each other, including retrieving a bow when a line parted almost putting one sailboat into another. “You don’t expect me to stay up all night do you?” Dangerous old metal parts on my slip – broken ladder – would take 10 minutes to unbolt them but instead they stay, saying “Medivac, foot surgery, lawsuits.” I’d spend the extra money and go to the Big Fish and Game Club docks, more protected and while not quite as refurbished as the ads might lead you to believe, they offer free wifi even to boats on anchor and have a really nice restaurant and
bar. $1 a foot sounds good, but sometimes you get even less than what you pay for.
Peter TenHaagen

Your comments/ issues are just the tip of the iceberg.
I had a substantial amount of gear stolen there and am pretty sure it was the employees working there.(3) dive regulators, (1) 150ft 30 amp power cable, a pelican case and several other small items. the police were called in and the dock-master was no help at all. I think he may have been in on it. I will not stay there again.
My daughter was with me and these people came on the boat despite the fact that we had weapons.
Be careful and find alternate dockage’¦’¦
Greg

After hurricane Irene, the entrance to Sumner Point marina Rum Cay Bahamas, has shoaled in on the starboard side and is rather narrow but deep. One needs to enter through the posts. We are a catamaran with 14 ft beam and had no problem. A sailboat with 6 ft draft entered after us on a falling tide. Some entrance buoys are missing and visual navigation required. The VHF at Sumner was not working but as we approached staff came down to direct us into slip. Dredging to return entrance to previous status is planned. Fuel not at marina because the barge can’ t get in. The locals are ordering maybe 20 gallons to come on mail boat which comes in weekly. The restaurant at marina is open as well as ones in town and market is open. Batelco is still closed but phone cards for Bahamian cells are bought off island and available from the post office or police officer. There are about 80 full time residents and total population is about 150 with winter residents. Some docks with power and water and internet. Docking is $1.00 a foot.

Cruising News:
In early June, 2011, I experienced a very friendly & knowledgeable staff, but a poorly managed Bluff House Marina. It appears they are between owners and/or managers, but charging first class dockage fees for less than first class service. I feel they are living off a past reputation, but with proper management could be revived to a first clas status. Until this happens, I would recommend you stay at Green Turtle Club in White Sound for the same price per foot.
Roger Henderson

I docked there last week for three nights ‘¦ new owners are doing a great job of fixing problems. I will go there again.
Gary P

We docked at Bluff House Marine with our group in late July, 2011. The new owners (Ian & Stacy) were fantastic! Their level of service & attention to our needs was well above our typical Bahamian experience. They are making very positive changes. We recommend them & will be back.
Tim H

We stayed at Bluff House for 4 nights over New Years of 2012. The food was wonderful the docks are in great shape, the showers and laundry are set for updating soon but were OK and reasonably clean. The owners are helpful, interested in feedback and completely engaged in getting The Bluff House up to high standards. Green Turtle Marina was very nice, but the dock master had something of an attitude they were the only game in town, which with The Bluff House coming on strong is just not the case. His attitude kind of forced us over to the Bluff House’¦he was not exactly rude, but almost.
Be sure to check their specials’¦’¦and give any helpful ideas or feedback to them (Bluff House) you can. They seem to be genuinely open to it’¦.they are resort owners and do not completely understand what cruisers need and want’¦’¦’¦.also there is a beautiful private beach just over the bluff the main house/homes sit on that is to die for’¦.and you will probably have it all to yourself.
We are going back on our way back to the states.
Sami and Barry Shreve

Cruising News:
Be careful where and when you get Fuel in the Bahamas. If you are crossing to the Abacos and need Fuel, one of the better and cheaper places is Old Bahama Bay / West end, believe it or not. BUT… Do not get the Fuel if they just had their tanks filled. The mess in the Bottom of their tanks gets stirred up and the first one or two boats right after they get fuel will have a bad day. Spanish is Ok, but not cheap. Green Turtle White sound, is your next best bet.
If you do get BAD FUEL. There is a great product available to tell you when your Racor Filter is Dirty. It is NOT a typical vacuum Gauge.
This T-Handle Gauge simply replaces the existing T-Handle on your Racor and it locks in position so you can read it with the engine OFF. You can check it any time, and it will show you what your filters were doing when the engine was running at operating RPM, Not just at the dock.
This unit saved us 2 engine shut downs that there was NO way we would have never been aware of. We filled tanks with BAD FUEL and the Racor 900 was clogged in 9 hours one time and 12 hours the next time. It happens real quick with BAD FUEL. The Gauge was showing a clogging Filter and we didn’t believe it until we saw the mess that used to be our perfectly clean filter.
I think it is a MUST HAVE for anyone with a diesel engine in their Boat / Yacht. It can save you a bunch of BIG headachs
You can find it at www.DirtyFuelFilter.com
Capt. ROB

Nassau Yacht Haven is decent, they have showers, laundry you can walk to markets, and over bridge to Atlantis. Reasonable rates friendly dock hands.
Capn Dan

The discussion below is copied from the MTOA List-Serve, an organization, by the way, which all of us at the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net continue to recommend highly!!!!

We are looking for an inexpensive place to check-in to customs/immigration. Bimini has moorings to tie to but we can’t find out who manages them or what they cost. Cat Cay charges $100 to tie up a dinghy to clear customs. Chubb Cay has an anchor area but no information on whether they also charge to tie up the dinghy. Any ideas/information would be helpful.
Barry Kipnis

By far the easiest place to check in is at Old Bahama Bay / West End. Tie up to their dock, near the fuel pumps for FREE and check in 30′ away. Reliably Open 7 days a week, minimum from 9am to 5pm. Great customs people. Best bet is to try to arrive at about 2pm. all the Go Fast boats have cleared by then. Fuel is good and is about the cheapest in the Bahamas.
Captain Rob

Barry, Our experiences are long ago, however we loved checking in at Turtle Key. (Abacos) Anchored out and then went ashore. May have changed. We did anchor at Chubb last time, however arrived too late to check in and went on to check in at Nassau. There we rafted up to a tug boat……did not allow you to anchor and check in. Out of date information I am sure…..Later Dude.
Pat

Barry, Things in the Bahamas are constantly changing, so what is OK today may not be next week. We have anchored in Bimini and outside Chubb Cay and checked in. We immediately moved on after check in. The holding at Bimini is poor and there is strong currents. We have also anchored and checked in at Green Turtle. Most other stops are either convenient to find a slip or required as at Cat/Gunn. Walkers Cay marina was closed but Customs and Immigration is still there so that may be another option. Of course the marina could re-open by the time you get there. That is how quickly things change. Good luck.
Chuck

Barry,
Sounds like you will have to spend a night on the banks. Bimini, the banks, Chub Cay anchorage and then on to Nassau to check in. You might get lucky at Chub Cay!
Good luck,
John Knapp

Barry,
Last fall we stopped at the Berry Island Club, just a few miles east of Chubb. Lincoln, the manager drove us to the airport customs office in his truck for $25, and we rented moorings from him for $15/night.
Doug

Barry,
There is plenty of room to anchor just off of the customs dock and further up by Bimini Bay. There were several boats at anchor when we were there in December.
Gerry & Linda Etzold

Hi All,
We just cleared Customs at the West end’¦Anchored over night for free and tied up to the Customs dock ,,,Were in and out in fifteen minutes and 150.00 cash’¦..our boat is the Stella Maris Ip35 Enjoy’¦.
Larry

We just returned from Bimini and checked in to customs and immigration by temporarily tying up to the government dock there. we then anchored out several days in an area just south of the new Bimini Marina at the very end North Bimini. this is the 3rd time doing this and we find it works nicely with our 49 ft Endeavour power catamaran.
Colleen Anderson

Hello there,
My husband and I are planning a sail trip from Florida to the Abacos in May of this year. We don’t know whether we will be going by way of Miami and then Bimini, the Berries and then north…..or do we go by way of West End and then east and then south until we can turn west and go back towards Miami and Ft. Lauderdale?
My question is….Can any one tell us what direction the wind most likely would be blowing in May? Does any one remember where it was coming from last May?
We know it is mostly from the south east at about 5-10 during the beginning of July, when we usually get there.
D. Benjamin

Every sailor is going to give his or her opinion. You are starting to get less of a northerly component but any given year is different from the past to some degree. Personally I would start out going through Bimini and working my way north.
C. Winston Fowler

If your going to the Abacos my opinion would be to use the Gulf Stream to your advantage from Miami. It wil give you a Free 3 knots and You may not even have to adjust your sails. Head directly to the tip of Grand Bahama Island. Old Bahama Bay / West end 26′ 42′ 25n / 79’00’20 w. Great place to check in, Customs is right there 7 days a week 9am to 5pm at minimum; and I would suggest pay for a slip and stay over one night. You made it across the Gulf Stream and will need to unwind and relax to start the rest of your adventure. Then your next stop could be to anchor off Great Sale.
The wind last year mid May was East / S.East and is about the norm. Probably the Best time of year in the Abacos.
Captain Rob

What is the status of Chub Cay. I heard it is closed and shut down. I heard this from a charter fisherman.
Bahama Pappa

I just called Chub Cay and am told they are fully open, including marina.
Fuel is US$5.35 per gallon for both diesel and gas.
Tele: 954-634-7496
C. Winston Fowler

Arrived from Bimini to Chub Cay marina near noon in a Pearson 365 ketch. Although very friendly marina, we were stunned by the sticker price of 4.50 USD per foot with a 40 foot minimum. This does not include power, as it is metered at 85 cents per kw. The water continues to be 40 cents per gallon in addition to slip fee. $174.00 for a night shocked us. We are leaving in the morning, early.
Barry Umberger

Hello,
Staniel Cay referred me to you. We will be in the Exumas soon and I recall from a few years ago a morning weather report/net from a land based person near Staniel. I would like to be able to telephone them when I am not in VHF range. Do you have a phone number/information regarding this???
Thanks,
Bob Teffenhart-trawler “islander”

Hi Bob,

The only regular weather that I can remember being available on regular basis, come from Highborne Cay at 8:00 AM – she makes the general call on channel #16 then switches to channel #6. That is the only one I know of at the moment and you can call Highborne for this on their telephone 242-355-1008 before coming down. I think they get their input from NOAA – Nassau. Another contact would be further down the island chain to George Town. At 8:10 AM they have a net which I believe is on channel #68.
Things are changing fast in the Exumas. If you learn of new resources that we can share with the cruising community, please share them with us.
Hope this has been of some assistance Bob. Enjoy your cruise; you’re headed for some beautiful waters and islands.
God’s speed,
C. Winston Fowler

Weather in the Bahamas can be found on 4003 kHz at 0720 daily. It is from BASRA.
Jim Kane

Highborne weather broadcast at 0730
Frank

In the Staniel area there is a woman, call sign `Blue Yonder’ that gives weather and community announcements every morning at 8 am on VHF 12. She always announces first on VHF 16 before switching to 12. She relays Bahamas and NOAA weather along with 5 day buoy forecasts for Staniel Cay and The Tongue of the Ocean.
Chris on M/V Private Idaho

Anyone have a list of vets in the Bahamas?
Beth Durocher

Don’t expect vet’s on the smaller islands. Nassau is of course the major source of vet care. Not sure about the villages of West End, Marsh Harbor, and George Town . . . but will try to find out.

HepLyn Veterinary Home Service

Veterinarians (DVM),Pet Care Services

• Nassau
• Nassau / Paradise Island, Bahamas

Central Animal Hospital

Palmdale Veterinary Clinic

• Palmdale Avenue & Patton Street
• Nassau
• Nassau / Paradise Island, Bahamas

Caribbean Veterinary Health & Healing Centre

• Queens Highway
• Freeport
• Grand Bahama, Bahamas

Freeport Animal Clinic

• Queen Hwy
• Freeport
• Grand Bahama, Bahamas

Cruising News*: Just checked in yesterday Friday, 1/21/11 at Chub Cay. No problems with 180 day stay. The officer I worked with was a junior inspector (single stripe on his shoulder). He said there was no problem with 180 days and gave me same.
However, his boss (a three stripe man) walked in about 3/4 of the way through the process. I related to him all of the concern in the U.S. about the 30 day vs. 90 day vs. 180 day stay. He told me he was only granting 90 immigration permits.
The junior officer looked over at his boss having already done all the paperwork for me for a 180 day permit. His boss just waved his hand and said that was ok. I guess the junior man just learned something new.
The boss said you could get an extension to the first application approximately 80 to 89 days after the first one for an additional 90 days, without any problem at any immigration office in the Bahamas.
Scott Harris

All,
We arrived at Bimini last week and received a 30 day permit. Others who arrived received 120 plus. It was purely based on who was at the desk at the time. However, when we arrived in Nassau, the dockmaster told us that
there is a new policy to allow only 30 days, but US citizens can get it extended if you go to an immigration office (not customs) 3 or 4 days before it expires for to up to 6 months. He strongly encouraged all US citizens to
write the immigration office and complain loudly, as it has already affected his business.
He indicated that the policy is directed at Canadian citizens who seemingly take more from the Bahamas than they bring (his words, not mine). He pointed out that there were no Canadian boats in his marina, but the anchorage was full of them.
So, it is politics as usual here, but it is also warm and sunny.
Gerry Etzold
Monk’s Vineyard

We went to both the Immigration Office and the Customs office at the docks in Bimini. The other advice we received from the Customs folks (after we complained there) was to clear in at the central administration office downtown for immigration. Apparently, that office is much more lenient and interprets the “new” policy in their own way.
Gerry

We cleared in earlier this year at Bimini downtown. We docked at the Sea Crest Marina and Hotel (http://www.seacrestbimini.com) next door to the government docks. Gave us 120 days for our $300. It was a slow day. Customs guy was asleep behind the desk. With much trepidation, I woke him up. Said nothing, just took my papers, stamped them, handed them back and went back to sleep. Immigration lady behind the glass was incredibly public relations savvy and public service oriented. She made sure everything was in order and offered up the extra 30 days when I told her we were headed to the Exumas on our trawler.
So it seems like you can get anywhere from 30 days to 120 days depending on where you check in and who checks you in. I wonder what’s up with that?
Gerry, I finally figured it out. I know what it is!!!!! You tried to teach them how to play “Butt Darts” didn’t you? Where is Capt. Sterling when you need him.
Bob

As a boater, who happens to be Canadian, I think that maybe there is another side to this. If we boaters spend all our money on marinas then only one business makes money, but if more boaters anchor out then more then likely they will spend that marina money instead, at many businesses and more then one person will make money. Maybe it’s time to look at the big picture of where and how we spend our money and on who. Maybe it’s time for the Gov’t to see this and act with responsibility.
Wil

Subject: Spanish Cay, Bahamas
Cruising News: I just checked in to the Bahamas at Spanish Cay Marina and it was great. New managers, former cruisers. They couldn’t of been more helpful and by the end of the day we had 8 sailboats here and no one else. The Clearing in was a snap and we got 180 days. I told the lady that I wanted to stay for a year and she laughed and then told me she could give me 180 days. Just a great stay.
Mike Link