Who is going to the Bahamas this winter

[Divecoz]

I guess before I get my heart set on going, I better start looking to see who is going that I can travel across with? Where all should I post this question besides here?
Its a long bag drag from Chicago to Port Charlotte first and then over to the Northern Keys. Its going to be a lot of Trailer dragging. I will be making this trkip pretty much solo, as the wife will fly down to visit for a week where ever I am sitting and sailing.
So is Anyone going? Any suggestions on anything I should do, or not do, prepare or not bother with????? Common mistakes made? Best routes and port of entry? Where is it best to have guest fly into ? Who does fly into the smaller islands? Maybe some stupid questions but I am just now starting . . .to try and make this happen.

[jcasale]

If we can organize a group I'd love to have a go at it. Never done it, don't know much about it, but I'll try anything once- twice if it doesn't hurt. I'm out of Jacksonville, Fl and willing to provide any logistical support needed. Let's get the ball rolling on this...

[DaveB]

We are talking about a trip to the Bahamas later this year or Spring in the Conch Cruisers Foum.
I would be interested in a spring trip as I do Biscane Bay with the WCTSS end of Dec.
Dave

I guess before I get my heart set on going, I better start looking to see who is going that I can travel across with? Where all should I post this question besides here?
Its a long bag drag from Chicago to Port Charlotte first and then over to the Northern Keys. Its going to be a lot of Trailer dragging. I will be making this trkip pretty much solo, as the wife will fly down to visit for a week where ever I am sitting and sailing.
So is Anyone going? Any suggestions on anything I should do, or not do, prepare or not bother with????? Common mistakes made? Best routes and port of entry? Where is it best to have guest fly into ? Who does fly into the smaller islands? Maybe some stupid questions but I am just now starting . . .to try and make this happen.

[bubba]

Last time I sailed over was in the early 70's when unemployment was at 16% in Atlanta when I lived there 2 or 3 recessions ago. A couple things to think about : If the weather gets rough close your hatches, there are unexpcted water spouts 30 ft high, we rolled completely so do not carry too many cans of beer , my buddies stayed below and got beat up by flying beer cans about 2 cases full. We installed a great sound system just before we left and once out of site of land our compass started spinning , too big of speakers. UPDATE YOUR PASS PORT. Take your snorkle gear/full thin body suit for jellie fish, for great sea food, mesh bag /gloves for shrimp and small lobsters, a good spear gun /w several spears or Hawaaii sling spear, shark repellant. Dont wear shiny stuff in the water barricouda love taking a bite. Have a ball.

[Divecoz]

DAVIDB : You live South of my brother ( Port Charlotte )and north of 10,000 Islands . IF that was the best I could do, do you feel I might be disappointed in the trip?
Are there other areas in or around 10,000 islands you find worthy of sailing and exploring? Have you ever sailed all the way around the bend to say the Middle Keys? Would I be better off trailering from Port Charlotte to somewhere in the keys and sailing around the Keys? Though my brother has been around the horn twice up to Plantation and down to Key West, its a whole other story just pushing the throttles forward and watching twin 315hp diesels suck up the fuel the faster you go. Might yuo suggest just sail to Flamingo ENP and follow the gulf side of A1A down to Key West?

[Chinook]

My advice is, if you're thinking of going to the Bahamas, just do your homework and go. If you can tag onto a Macgregor boat or two for the crossing, great. If not, don't let that slow you down. The departure points are pretty well recognized. West Palm Beach is a popular jumpoff point for crossing to West End and the Abacos. If you're headed for Bimini and maybe the Exumas or Berry's, a start further south is necessary. The Miami area is most often used. I'd recommend working out the logistics of a marina near your planned start and finish, along with tow vehicle and trailer parking. Once you're in the water and waiting for your weather window, simply get on the VHF and radio for a buddy boat. Boats are constantly making the crossing, and they tend to keg up when the wind is out of the north. Good crossing weather is generally accompanied by multiple boats shoving off. All you need to do is coordinate by radio with a boat with a similar destination in mind, and approximately the same cruising speed. With the Mac, you have more flexibility than virtually any sailboat. A meeting point and start time is all you need. Happy sailing, mon!

[James V]

You could start a whole thread on this.

The cruising guide that I have been using for West Fl is the Gunkholes guide to Fl West Coast. Small but well worth it. There is a big Fl Keys book, 400+ pages. Highly rated.

Stay south in the Bahamas. Let me know if you want any thing more specific. The guides have all the general data.

Pump outs are far and few. I switched to MSR PortaPotty as they use less water therefor need less tankage.

If you need some place to store the trailer and tow, let me know.

[DaveB]

Divecoz, I will be launching at Cape Coral Yacht Basin tomorrow morning for the 28 mile trip to Cayo Costa for 4 days. We are meeting up with the WCTSS and should be more than 20 Trailer Sailers.
This whole area is a great place to gunkhole right down to the Keys. I would Launch in Placida and sail South all the way to Flamingo if you have a couple of weeks. There are many places to launch and you can read many trips we have made on west and East Coast at this site. http://members.ij.net/wctss/wctss/reports.htm
Cruising the Florida Kets by Young and Stinemetz is a good guide (600 pages).
Also ,a Gunkholer's Cruising Guide to Florida"s West Coast by Tom Lenfestey (180 pages).
A Mac. is perfect for these water.
Dave

DAVIDB : You live South of my brother ( Port Charlotte )and north of 10,000 Islands . IF that was the best I could do, do you feel I might be disappointed in the trip?
Are there other areas in or around 10,000 islands you find worthy of sailing and exploring? Have you ever sailed all the way around the bend to say the Middle Keys? Would I be better off trailering from Port Charlotte to somewhere in the keys and sailing around the Keys? Though my brother has been around the horn twice up to Plantation and down to Key West, its a whole other story just pushing the throttles forward and watching twin 315hp diesels suck up the fuel the faster you go. Might yuo suggest just sail to Flamingo ENP and follow the gulf side of A1A down to Key West?

[Chinook]

Regarding fly in opportunities in the Bahamas, the best and maybe only option in the Abacos is Marsh Harbor, which has an international airport and direct flights from the US. I don't know about the Exumas. Perhaps Georgetown also has air service. Of course, Nassau and Freeport/Lucaya have air service, but you may want to steer clear of those more urban locations.

[James V]

Flights - there is direct flights to Nausa and then ferry service to some of the islands. However you may be required to stay overnight.

[KayakDan]

Regarding fly in opportunities in the Bahamas, the best and maybe only option in the Abacos is Marsh Harbor, which has an international airport and direct flights from the US. I don't know about the Exumas. Perhaps Georgetown also has air service. Of course, Nassau and Freeport/Lucaya have air service, but you may want to steer clear of those more urban locations.

George Town (GGT) now has several flights a day from Charlotte-US Air and Miami-American. There is also air service with Lynx Air from Ft Lauderdale and some Continental flights

and they land at the "Exuma International Air Terminal" (not to be mistaken for a 4 car garage!)

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Cayo Costa sounds great for this weekend, perfect weather forecast too. First I heard about WCTSS so I'll try to find out more. I've been looking to make a trip there for some time, too bad I didn't know about your group before. It would be great to hook up with some other Mac sailors for a trip to the Bahamas too especially since its not too far of a trailer pull for me...but alas, I never seem to have more than a couple days off at a time so its hard to do a trip like that justice (plus my trailer is starting to worry me a bit too for multi-hour trips). So I suppose I'll have to stay closer to home for a while..and plan to get a new trailer one of these days too. I did go to Freeport once for the weekend, but I rented an airplane and flew there.

[James V]

When I had my Mac trailered from Norfolk Va to Buffalo NY. The cost was $ 1.75 per mile. Loaded and unloaded in the water.

Less wear and tear.

[Divecoz]

When I had my Mac trailered from Norfolk Va to Buffalo NY. The cost was $ 1.75 per mile. Loaded and unloaded in the water.

Less wear and tear.

But dude I am just a poor working stiff and lucky I am not pulling it with my bicycle

[BK]

Depending on fuel prices (below $3- NATIONWIDE) we are taking our RV from LA to the Florida keys for this winter and 09' spring. I am not taking my Mac X as I have to drive in 3rd and get 6mpg. Also, my orginal 2000 trailer needs replacement. I am taking my 12 foot hypalon inflatable with a 6HP outboard. It goes up to 17 MPH. I am putting a canape on it and will expore the keys from shore each day and live in the RV. We also have a tent and cooler for overnight excursions in the inflatable. My wife and I are big snorklers. We can move down the keys and explore the whole area that way. I may buy a used Mac in Florida if I really like the place. I read that houses are selling for $50,000 there because of the crisis. Maybe I will see you guys down in the Keys. If I see a Mac I will stop by in my inflatable.