Bahamas for Christmas

[Chopper Pilot]

Thanks Kas, we will certainly consider the advice! I understand that there is a huge difference between my sailing the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific and the choppy waters of the Atlantic, each with its own personality. We sure miss the waters of the Pacific, and feel the only way we can see it here again on this side of America is in the Bahamas. But we are practicing good expectation management.

[Sumner]

You could make Staniels in 4-5 long days if you just kept moving but all the conditions would have to be perfect. I sure wouldn't want to try that even with crew that was good in a Mac. You could end up waiting 1-2 weeks to cross the stream alone coming or going if conditions weren't right.

Why Staniel Cay. I went by it going north and south and didn't go in. Too crowded for me and not the best anchorages depending on weather. If if is the grotto you want to see there are ones just as nice or nicer...





... further north at Fowl Cay to the north of Staniel...

http://1fatgmc.com/boat/mac-1/2015%20Ba ... ge-19.html

If one isn't pushed for time and wants to stop there then nothing wrong with that but if you want a ....



.... deserted beach to yourself there are many other places to go.

If I go back it won't be alone and I'll plan on bypassing Bimini and going straight to Chub Cay in the Berry's and check in there....

http://caribya.com/chub.cay/sailing.and.boating/

You could make it there with one overnight cruise from Florida and you end up almost doing an overnight anyway to get there. That way you avoid having to get a slip in Bimini and you don't have to go out one of the cuts in Florida in the dark of the night. Leave Florida in the morning after first light and with the right tide and set sail for Chub Cay. Around 130 miles from Miami if you left there, so about 26 hours at 5 mph. You could go in there with the boat to the marina or anchor off and dinghy ashore (only the captain the first trip in with everyone's passports).

You will probably find yourself motoring going east most of the time with the trade winds coming from the east. Do the Keys and save the Bahamas for when you have time,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Chopper Pilot]

Thanks sumner!!! I will research those other locations. I am looking for options, and the probability that goes with them. Being in the military for the last 18 years, i am a "Options" kind of thinker. I want only what is feasible and probabilities associated with them. You have given that. Now i can make better calls as to what path to take. To many people tell me what they want me to do, which contaminates my decisions with their wants or preferences. Again, since starting this post, i have developed an alternative plan of the keys as a fall back plan. I want to make great memories and sailing documentary videos out of it.

[Norca]

With so little time i would stay in the Keys or maybe jump over to Bimini for a few days but the risk is that You could get stuck there for a while before You get a weather window to cross back again.
If we take the boat down this winter, I will consider going there as a primer for a later cruise in the Bahamas.

[NiceAft]

My wife brought up the idea of going to the Bahamas, with the kids (two boys 7/9) during the Christmas break while school is out plus a couple of extra days. We will have about 18'ish days to drive from northern Virginia to Florida, wait for a window (Unknown about December weather), and go as far as we can there and back to Virginia. I do not know if this will be to short of a time period. What do you guys think? I do not want to hang out in Nassau or Freeport. I want to get to Compass and Staniel Cay. Can it be done? I plan on using the motor as much as required, but i want it to only cruise at about 10 Knots, not for the gas milage, but for longevity of the motor.

If we do go, i intend to heavily document it with video and narration.

You're thinking of taking your family across the Gulf Stream. A rough trip under any circumstances. Hull speed is what you will need to do. The smart move is the Keys.

Many Mac's have made the crossing, and I have never read of any captain reporting that the crossing was smooth. You are thinking of crossing with your family. With all do respect, do a lot more research. See if you can find any of the preparations of the “Conch Cruisers”. They did the trip Annually for years. Some members of this board have gone with them. I think Chip was me of them.

Ray

[Sea Wind]

With my boys (7,6,2) a pure sailing vacation is not a good option yet, it has to be combined with plenty of beach/snorkeling time and some other activities to burn plenty of energy. But think about this, you will spend at least 5 days travelling and rigging/derigging, then two more days crossing back and forth to Bimini. If you go any further I would think that you are adding 3 or 4 more days crossing the Bank and adding some recovery time. So you have about 7 days to account for weather windows in both directions, exploring the Bimini islands and then sometime exploring the Berry islands? It seems doable but very ambitious with the younglings.
I would suggest only the Bimini islands and the Keys where you can still enjoy if the weather does not cooperate for a crossing.
We have gone from Maryland to the Keys for the last three years during Spring Break and always had a great time. We are also currently planning to go to Bimini in the spring with just the wife.