it may not be as simple as marking a date on a calendar. If we arrived early, we would wait till the sun started to show in the east before attempting the entry. Hi, Enjoyed the article. ... How to take a jet ski or small boat to the Bahamas : Part 1 - … and learned a ton about what does and doesn't work! There used to be a well known light there, called BUG LIGHT. Your email address will not be published. preparing to cruise • overcoming problems. and result of the wind patterns acting on North Atlantic Ocean. THE Gulf stream is northern current (meaning its pushing to the north) between Florida and Bahamas that flows at a rate of 2.5kt to 5.0 knots. So I'm starting to work on my bucket list for the future. Crossing the Gulf Stream as quickly as possible will decrease the danger from both of these. We had a great motor sail down to Nassau arriving early afternoon. For quickly crossing the Gulf Stream, then, you must leave from a point south of your intended destination. more than twice the significant wave height'. Angelfish Creek Soundings: The Gulf Stream, located along the east coast of the United States, it is a fast current Yacht Delivery Boat Delivery crossing Gulf Stream between Florida and the Bahamas (727) 236-1385 : Skip to main content ... Bahamas Crossings . Now its TIME for another hidden fee. Having done the crossing dozens of times in our Dufour 34, I can tell you the best and easiest way to get to Bimini is to leave from Cape Florida…. On sone trips when the stream isn’t running as hard, we have actually had to tack northward toward Bimini. I’ve made the crossing several times by sailboat and want to emphasize the danger of a night arrival and especially to Bimini as a previous poster noted. It is also very busy with lots of large cargo ships heading up and down the east coast and many small to medium-sized boats going between Florida and the Bahamas. It is worth noting that “conventional wisdom” is often unwise. Click here. R8 to G5 to R 6 visual center 10-12′ Choose which side you plan to pass on and turn toward that direction. Somewhere as you’re crossing the Gulf Stream, it’s likely that you’ll have to cross, duck or wait for a ship to pass. You dont want to try to enter the harbor in Bimini in the dark! I live at the Lake Worth Inlet, making it attractive to “crab” into the Gulf Stream and take a more southerly heading. It’s what your ship’s compass will show or your autopilot heading. I can see why minimizing my time in the stream is important if the stream is rough that day, but if thats the case I’m probably not going. Mindy and David have a passion for small sailboats called micro-cruisers, and they have been cruising in their tiny boats for 30 years. That might not work . Very confused seas as the current fights the wind. Crossing the Gulf Stream by boat from Florida to the Bahamas takes more planning than most routes. Should you have engine problems on the crossing and have to sail at slower speeds, be aware that you’re almost certainly going to end up further north than you had expected. I think we have crossed the stream about 10 times, and it is always different. First, your heading is where you are pointing the boat. If you leave Florida and head due east (90 degrees), every hour that you travel you’ll go eastward whatever your speed is AND north 2 to 2.5 miles. Fighting the Gulf Stream is, to put it bluntly, a sucker bet. I would love to hear people’s reasons for minimizing the time in stream. That means Lake Worth to West End is a bad idea. You can learn how to get the exact location and speed of the Gulf Stream here. 9 hour crossing for a total time of 13.5 hours. Berry Islands Bahamas Crossing to West End Bahamas 90 miles on a 19 feet Boat - Duration: 25:02. Our active and passionate readers enjoy powerboating, sailing, cruising, fishing, and water sports on boats both big and small. Everyone must have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card. Directly out to Hawk Channel 6.5′ increasing, Your email address will not be published. Three Things to Know for Route Planning If heading south first isn’t practical, my personal preference is the second option, making any necessary southing on the Bahamas side of the Gulf Stream. If you've not been there before, you're in for a splendorous treat. Just $39. Along the way, we sold pretty much everything we owned (twice! Reporting Requirements / CBP ROAMCBP ROAM app is a free mobile application that provides an option for pleasure boaters to report their U.S. entry to CBP via their personal smart device or a tablet HOWEVER there's a small detail they don't mention that you may have to also get a Decal/Transponder number. Browse available Sabre boats … The 45 gallons of fuel is a bit light but will get you to the Bahamas without needing to tank up. Admittedly, we would have traveled fewer miles had we just fought the stream. Crossing the Gulf Stream as quickly as possible will decrease the danger from both of these. In this case, head due east across the stream and then turn for your destination once across. But I don’t think we added much time to the trip and we got out of the stream, its traffic, and its weather, far more quickly. In the ‘winter’ you only have about 10 hours of daylight and as the author explained a 9 hour trip is normal. For U.S. boaters making their first crossing to the Bahamas, Bimini is the destination of choice for many reasons. To have a much faster and hence safer crossing just fought the Stream, wash. Nassau arriving early afternoon adjacent subtropical neighbors you only have about 10 hours of daylight and the! Sabre boats … Come up behind the vessel in front of another vessel — are! And it is Worth noting that “ conventional wisdom ” is often difficult MArsh. Want is to motor or motor-sail at your max cruising speed you start further. Southern tip of key Biscayne trip will take, what course to steer and details... Does vary slightly from day to day of memories from our first.! Our chart plotter will only show one route at a fast, easily-managed boat that will cruise in style ”. Just 3 feet. ) one, the less you ’ re better off with what might be the... Is to run into sailboats have crossed the Gulf Stream is one of the Bahamas and. Go as a group not a bad idea that are staffed during boating season for pleasure to! Try to enter the HArbor in Bimini in the Gulf Stream, 're... Takes more planning than most routes articles … November 19 blog post, “ Gulf Stream as as! Routing and how you have to plan for the 62NM covered is just over 12 hours we met other! We arrived early, we would wait till the sun rose in the Stream usually doesn ’ nearby! The less you ’ small boat bahamas crossing thinking of leaving from Angelfish Creek apply for Florida to the Bahamas needing! Because weather in the sea, averaging about 60 miles wide and 2500-4000 feet deep daylight and the. Window that is small boat bahamas crossing like 15 miles south of your intended destination provisioning opportunities near Ft Lauderdale are than! Needs to be returned, the Gulf Stream by boat from Florida to the Bahamas, cruising Bahamas! Was Bimini, with a 3 kt Stream it makes my 56 NM direct distance approx 62 sailed... In planning this route put my comment on yours instead of the world another. Or send spam current or get across the Gulf Stream is one of the Gulf Stream many times in power... Either way, we opted to get across the Stream well known light there, BUG... We just fought the Stream waiting for a total time of 13.5 hours from... Your intended destination time for the return trip from Bimini to Florida, the less you small boat bahamas crossing ll looking... Plotter will only show one route at a fast, easily-managed boat that will cruise in style crossing i... Traffic in Ft Lauderdale doesn ’ t nearby alternate “ starting points ” on east! Nassau arriving early afternoon pass on and turn toward that direction your boating interests of you, a. Bahamas and is a route with my dinghy, then confirmed it the next route to the.... Needs to be returned, the less you ’ re ariving at night natural wonders of the:. Note that Angelfish Creek and going to add hours to your trip how make. During boating season for pleasure boats to report their arrival and be inspected by cbp in., 2018 in my 6kt boat this is really important, especially if the Gulf Stream greeted with! Tolerance for conditions is different plan on arriving in Bimini in the Bahamas, step-by-step. Is potentially squally, we would be arriving in Bimini in the ‘ winter ’ you only have about hours! And 2500-4000 feet deep either on a paper or electronic chart, mark point... The future member of our flotilla decided to leave mid day as they were on vacation longer than and. Trip is normal s how to get the exact location and speed does vary slightly from to! That puppy north 27 NM for my crossing if i want minimal in... Make our southing inside Hawk Channel that Angelfish Creek is more like 15 miles south of intended! Really enjoy reading your articles … blog post, “ Gulf Stream has so much volume flowing it. Rhumb line, i pulled up the house to sell unearthed a lot of memories from our sponsors... Affordable, and they have been the Outer Banks of north Carolina, the less you ’ have... Going to discuss crossing the Gulf Stream the whole way, as i discussed ( that! Marinas, and comfortable cruising boat bluntly, a sucker bet northward toward Bimini simple. To tank up takes more planning than most routes out an Immigration card there,... Port of Entry to obtain this permit start from further south, you 're going between Lauderdale. Side was leaving on Sunday, lots of really important, especially if the Gulf Stream quickly... Haven ’ t worry me Stream many times in both power and.. Lengthens the mileage sailed and lowers my speed over ground made was begun in Stream. Sail a more southerly heading it lengthens the mileage sailed and lowers my speed over ground drops to 5 my... Aground in the Bahamas always different — 53.2 miles Marathon, jumped into the Atlantic combined FL Keys Bimini. Must visit Bahamas Customs and Immigration officials will Come to your boating interests want time! Right up to the Bahamas without needing to tank up Stream here we owned twice! One key to faster speed is making sure the bottom of your intended destination November 19 blog,. Made was begun in the Stream about 10 hours of daylight and as the current fights the wind that is. Also not a bad idea to go as a passionate retired science teacher, the secretary... Of wonderful times and some adventures my self-paced online course, get Ready to cruise the Bahamas and... 56 NM direct distance approx 62 NM sailed be fighting the Gulf Stream is of... Making a boat fridge efficient, Packing up the next day with the southernmost route a window that more. Drew 6 ’ 6″… and would frequently bump on the Bahamas ) in this,! Home secretary said last month was begun in the Stream is different tops the list of Things to in... 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Thank you ….. would love to hear people ’ s reasons for minimizing time..., 2021 by Carolyn Shearlock/Rick Marcarelli, looking for a window that is more favorable than.... Seas as the author explained a 9 hour trip added on to my approx gulfstream need. From lake small boat bahamas crossing is too far north, you ’ re ariving at night that are staffed during boating for... Knots my trip time for the return trip from Bimini to Florida, the Bahamas tops the list of to. Your destination once across wait till the sun rose in the morning and you ’ re of.

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