Winter in the Bahamas

[KayakDan]

Looks like the crossing will be Wednesday....

[Sumner]

Looks like the crossing will be Wednesday....

Looks like the winds are suppose to be south or southeast that should be good. You leaving in the middle of the night? How is the solar and the fridge working? Had a chance to anchor some yet?

Good luck and be safe and we will be waiting for updates,

Sum and Ruth

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[DaveB]

We just came back after a 5 day cruise in Biscane Bay.
We went tru a Northern Front that kicked our buts in 30 knot winds , not the 23 knot winds perdictd. We anchored on the Lee side of Pumpkin Key and got hit with the Northern Wind much to soon.
Pumpkin Keys seas 4-5ft Gusts 34. Chafed 1/4 main ancor, had a second F11 as second anchor.
Never undermate the wind perdictions, always be ready to pull anchor and go to Lee side of island.
Dave

Looks like the crossing will be Wednesday....

[Sumner]

We just came back after a 5 day cruise in Biscane Bay.
We went tru a Northern Front that kicked our buts in 30 knot winds , not the 23 knot winds perdictd. We anchored on the Lee side of Pumpkin Key and got hit with the Northern Wind much to soon.
Pumpkin Keys seas 4-5ft Gusts 34. Chafed 1/4 main ancor, had a second F11 as second anchor.
Never undermate the wind perdictions, always be ready to pull anchor and go to Lee side of island.
Dave.

No fun getting caught in something like that. Thanks for the info on Pumpkin Key. I'm always looking for places for us to use in the future.

In hindsight would if of been better to of moved up just below Long Arsenicker or even the west side of Card Sound or the NW side of Little Card Sound? Have you ever anchored in any of those places?

Thanks,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[KayakDan]

Hello Fellow Macgregor sailors!
The crossing went as as planned,and we are now enjoying the warm Bimini breezes. We went to Angelfish Creek,and anchored there,in hopes of finding other cruisers waiting to cross. No other boats there,although there were a few in the lee of Pumpkin Key. No responses on the radio on 16 or 68,so we were on our own. Angelfish was like "no see ums from hull" and we were plenty happy to haul anchor and leave at 4:30 AM. It's a little unnerving picking your way out of Angelfish with no lighted markers,but going slow and a GPS and visual with a 3/4 moon made it better.
Seas were about 2 ft,wind from the SSE,so it was an easy trip. Only a few other ships spotted on the crossing,a Carnival Cruiser,with it's distinctive stack,a couple of cargo ships and a tanker passing astern.
Arrival in Bimini was at 2;30PM and the channel was much easier than expected,but it's a busy place with seaplanes landing,sport fishing boats,big cruisers and ferries coming and going.
We were headed for Weeches Marina,but after looking at the docks,and the friendly persuasion of the dockmaster at Brown's ("hey mon,right in here,we got a good slip for you,come on in,I'll take your line") we stopped at Brown's.
Brown's Marina has been undergoing extensive renovation,and the peoplet there,including the owner, Robert Levine,couldn't have been nicer. There's an outdoor lounge area,with grills for cruisers use,and it's a nice place to wait for weather. The showers are a little sketchy,but after bringing it to Mr Levines attention,they will be fixed pretty quickly,I'm sure. He really want the cruisers to be happy with the place,and even invited me to go fishing for wahoo,on his boat.
Right now it looks like we're here till Tues/Wed to cross the banks,but we're staying entertained. Today we visited the Dolphin Museum,buily by hand over 20 years by Ashley Saunders,a native Biminian. He built the entire building from recycled material,shells and donated items and it's a work of art. Pictures will follow later.
Stay Tuned!

[DaveB]

We saw a blue hull M going South Dec.30th. We anchored at Pumpkin Key during the Noreaster Blow and had winds to 30 knots and sustain winds 23 knots last Sat.
We went thru the pass at Adams Key and went South off a narrow deep channel were one of our boats (Potter 19) decided to anchor as 2 of us headed S. for Pumpkin Key. Stan on Lilly P on the Potter had medical Issues and had the Coast Guard take him off his boat and went to Homestead to a waiting ambliance.
Stin Is ok and told me today he was in Mannitee bay ready to haul out in S. Dade Marina.
We as a group were moniter VHF71. Tried to reach Blue M on 16 but no reply.
I spent 5 days there Dec.27-Dec.31 and have done it about 4 other times launching from S.Dade.
There also was a New M from Canada Jean that arrived Dec 30 from S.Dade. He will be there for 8days.
Our biggist disapointment was Elliot Key Marina was closed to all boaters.(Hurricane Sandy did Major damage at High Tide) We were planning on staying there for 2 days to get out of the Northern cold front.
Have a safe trip.
Dave

Hello Fellow Macgregor sailors!
The crossing went as as planned,and we are now enjoying the warm Bimini breezes. We went to Angelfish Creek,and anchored there,in hopes of finding other cruisers waiting to cross. No other boats there,although there were a few in the lee of Pumpkin Key. No responses on the radio on 16 or 68,so we were on our own. Angelfish was like "no see ums from hull" and we were plenty happy to haul anchor and leave at 4:30 AM. It's a little unnerving picking your way out of Angelfish with no lighted markers,but going slow and a GPS and visual with a 3/4 moon made it better.
Seas were about 2 ft,wind from the SSE,so it was an easy trip. Only a few other ships spotted on the crossing,a Carnival Cruiser,with it's distinctive stack,a couple of cargo ships and a tanker passing astern.
Arrival in Bimini was at 2;30PM and the channel was much easier than expected,but it's a busy place with seaplanes landing,sport fishing boats,big cruisers and ferries coming and going.
We were headed for Weeches Marina,but after looking at the docks,and the friendly persuasion of the dockmaster at Brown's ("hey mon,right in here,we got a good slip for you,come on in,I'll take your line") we stopped at Brown's.
Brown's Marina has been undergoing extensive renovation,and the peoplet there,including the owner, Robert Levine,couldn't have been nicer. There's an outdoor lounge area,with grills for cruisers use,and it's a nice place to wait for weather. The showers are a little sketchy,but after bringing it to Mr Levines attention,they will be fixed pretty quickly,I'm sure. He really want the cruisers to be happy with the place,and even invited me to go fishing for wahoo,on his boat.
Right now it looks like we're here till Tues/Wed to cross the banks,but we're staying entertained. Today we visited the Dolphin Museum,buily by hand over 20 years by Ashley Saunders,a native Biminian. He built the entire building from recycled material,shells and donated items and it's a work of art. Pictures will follow later.
Stay Tuned!

[Obelix]

KayakDan,
Congratulations to the successful crossing, please keep us posted as much as possible.
This trip is one of our future dreams. What course and speed did you run during the crossing and how many miles did the Gulfstream offset you to the north How much gas did you use for the crossing?
Be safe

Obelix

[KayakDan]

Greetings Fellow Macgregor sailors!
I'm sitting here on the floor of the Bimini Ministry of Tourism's outside kiosk,where there's fast free wi-fi. Enjoying a nice fresh conch salad my wife just bought. Life is good.
Dave,that wasn't us you saw in Biscane,as we weren't there till 2 days later.
Sumner,the solar/fridge setup has been working great.Fridge gets down to 5-8 degrees by dusk,and we unplug it. It's still at 28-30 by morning when we plug it in. Batteries have been maintaining 12.6 or better everyday,and I have been adjusting the angle of the panels to follow the sun. Best output has been around 5.8 amps at 2PM.
Obelix,the course was 72o most of the crossing,with 2 ft to 3 ft seas from the ESE. I could have motorsailed,but with our SOG at 7.5kts,and the Honda 50 at 2800,it probably wouldn't have been much help.
We're sitting here waiting on the weather,and most likely here until at least Thursday,but we're staying entertained. Friday night was the New Years Junkanoo Festival in Alice Town. Feathered headdresses,dancers,a brass band and a dozen big homemade base drums,cowbells,and lots of Kalik beer makes it an unforgettable experience. This is my second Junkanoo,but it was a lot different than George Town.
We had a cruisers get together at Brown's Marina last night,then we all went out to a local place for dinner where we already knew the cook.Tonite the Admiral has arranged a cruisers potluck for about 12 sailboats from the local marinas.

I don't know where my watch is. I don't care. I barely remember what day it is..

Stay Tuned!

[Sumner]

Sounds like you are having fun, can't beat that . You are doing good waiting on weather and taking your time. Have a good trip crossing the banks,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Obelix]

Thank you for the info
Please continue to stay save, have fun and let us partake through your reports

Obelix

[DaveB]

We had two 40 watt panels on top of our Bimini during the 5 day cruise and it powered our 63 quart edgestar and never got below 12.5 volts even tho clouded skys for 3 days. We have in the past put rifig. temps down to 30 degrees and unpluged to get 36 degrees in morning. This is in winter.
We also did unplug at 38 degrees and got 46 degrees in summer here in SW Florida.
Thats without solar panels.
Our 80 watts of solar made a huge diffrence and no longer depend on our 18amp Merc. 50 charger.
Try bringing temps. down to 30 degrees after sunset unplug than ck it in morning before you plug it back in. If it is below 44 degrees no problems and set it at 39 degrees as temps will regulate from 37-41 degrees and thats good.
Setting temps down to 10 degrees is only waisting energy and will freeze items in frige you don't want frozzen.
Even if temps are at 44 degrees in morning no harm is done and turning frig back on with a 39 degree setting is good for produse and batteries.
We unplug the frig. once temp is 30 degrees and don't open it intill morning when we plug it back in.
Have a safe and adventure trip.
Dave

Greetings Fellow Macgregor sailors!
I'm sitting here on the floor of the Bimini Ministry of Tourism's outside kiosk,where there's fast free wi-fi. Enjoying a nice fresh conch salad my wife just bought. Life is good.
Dave,that wasn't us you saw in Biscane,as we weren't there till 2 days later.
Sumner,the solar/fridge setup has been working great.Fridge gets down to 5-8 degrees by dusk,and we unplug it. It's still at 28-30 by morning when we plug it in. Batteries have been maintaining 12.6 or better everyday,and I have been adjusting the angle of the panels to follow the sun. Best output has been around 5.8 amps at 2PM.
Obelix,the course was 72o most of the crossing,with 2 ft to 3 ft seas from the ESE. I could have motorsailed,but with our SOG at 7.5kts,and the Honda 50 at 2800,it probably wouldn't have been much help.
We're sitting here waiting on the weather,and most likely here until at least Thursday,but we're staying entertained. Friday night was the New Years Junkanoo Festival in Alice Town. Feathered headdresses,dancers,a brass band and a dozen big homemade base drums,cowbells,and lots of Kalik beer makes it an unforgettable experience. This is my second Junkanoo,but it was a lot different than George Town.
We had a cruisers get together at Brown's Marina last night,then we all went out to a local place for dinner where we already knew the cook.Tonite the Admiral has arranged a cruisers potluck for about 12 sailboats from the local marinas.

I don't know where my watch is. I don't care. I barely remember what day it is..

Stay Tuned!

[KayakDan]

Hello Fellow Mac Sailors!
Still sitting here on the dock in N. Bimini,but we'll be leaving for the lee side,near Bimini Bay this afternoon on the slack tide. That will get us out of this neverending East wind thats been bouncing us off the dock for days. The plan is to head across the banks at 4AM on Monday,and either stop at Mackie shoals(not our first choice),or run for the Northwest Channel and wait for the weather for a run to Nassau. Bimini has been fun,but it's time to get off the dock.
Yesterday we sat on another cruisers 37 Tartan,munched popcorn,and watched "Captain Ron". Day before we snorkeled,spearfished,and sailed a beam reach in sapphire blue water. Life is still very good.
But now it's our turn to head for St. Pomme d' Terre.

We had to plug into shore power after 3 hazy days of not much solar,combined with 84o inside temps during the days started to tax our electrical system. But after two sunny days and the freezer on shore power,the freezer is at -3o,and the batteries are hitting 13+. After we work our way through the frozen food the freezer will be used as a fridge,requiring a lot less power.

Well,I'm off to buy some RO water at 60 cents a gallon,to top us up,but the good news is that gasoline dropped from $6.20 to $5.60 a gallon-what a bargain!
Stay Tuned!

[mastreb]

But now it's our turn to head for St. Pomme d' Terre.

There's seriously a place called "Saint Potato?"

[seahouse]

KayakDan wrote:
But now it's our turn to head for St. Pomme d' Terre.


There's seriously a place called "Saint Potato?"

To get there you take a Mr. Potato Heading and keep your eyes peeled or you’ll miss it, and then yer fried.
- B.

[Catigale]

Tuber ulosis rampant there, Ive heard....