Some thoughts from a Bahamas Trip

[C-164]

Howdy Do guys,
I've just returned from a three month trip to the Bahamas. It was all dat and a bag of chips (or in my case, a tube of pringles). The water was beautiful just as advertised and the Bahamians are a very nice people. A great place to stretch your legs for a first cruise.
Thanks to everyone who shared their trips and advise. I especially remember Franks famous remark about using THEE biggest anchor you can handle, and a post from Lynx saying how the cruising was pretty easy. I found that both were true.
First of all, leave preconceived notions at home. Ya gotta make the trip yourselves and experience it through your own eyes. The first thing that struck me was how wrong my preconceived notions were. I crossed from Angelfish Creek and arrived off Bimini right after sunset. Thankfully, I remembered someone had posted that if you arrive after sunset, it's possible to anchor off the beach and not bother with the inlet in the dark. Good advise. I had a preconceived notion that Bimini harbor would be like Manhatten; crowded, busy, no room to turn or anchor, airplanes landing and all kinds of craziness. In the morning when I rounded the point and entered the harbor, I was blown away at how beautiful it was. I wasn't ready for how beautiful it really was because I don't remember a post where someone said "exercise caution upon entering Bimini, it might knock you out". Same goes for Nassau Harbor. I expected a dirty, pain in the a** place. Wasn't like that at all in my eyes. Matter of fact it was fine and dandy, much nicer than I expected. I've learned that preconceived notions are a bad idea on a cruise.
Secondly, I traveled solo and many was the time I wished I had someone to share the magic moments with.
Third, there is more than one way to skin a cat. It's amazing how many things you can improvise when necessary. When I first bought my boat and was fixing it up with a Bahamas trip in mind, I thought there was only one right way to do everything. There are many ways, just make sure it's good and strong!
Not being sure that this wouldn't be my only trip to the Islands, I blasted through trying to cover as much ground as I could. In the beginning of the trip my motto was " another day - another harbor". A few times I wondered why I was rushing around because every island started looking like the next one. "De all look de same" I said, scratching my head.
I did spend alot of time walking the settlements and meeting local people. Also, listening to ZNS, the national radio station was a good way to get a feel for the Bahamian society. It's a great little country with good people.
Another thought concerns the difference between cruising the Bahamas versus cruising in Florida. My feeling is that there were basically 3 rules to follow while cruising in the Bahamas. Respect the environment; respect the people and respect other boaters. And of course, respect the weather forcast. There are few pain in the a** water police there and a zillion other rules we have here in Florida. You are free to do alot of things there that you can't do here. I've got to note one funny difference is the matter of wakes. The Bahamians don't follow the 'no wake zone' rules so even American cruisers will zoom by very close to your anchored boat. "When in Rome...".
Another thing, I got along fine rowing my inflateable the entire trip, even in strong winds. With 2 people onboard, I would have needed a small motor.

Improvements for next time:
I wasn't able to heave-to properly.
I'd like a windvane along with my tillerpilot.
A "yachtboy" radio for weather reports. Past the Exumas I depended on other boaters for a forecast.
A chartplotting GPS would be nice, although my handheld along with the chartkits was sufficient.
A cruising spinnaker would be nice for downwind work. I used the mainsail "surge and roll"  or "roll and surge" method. Burned out two tiller pilots.
A drogue to enter a nasty cut during a rage could come in handy. While I was in Georgetown during rage conditions one boat was stuck outside all night. I couldn't help but remember a book by Capt. Voss. His big thing was how easy and safe it is to cross a dangerous bar with a drogue. "The venturesome voyages of Captain Voss." I wondered what I would do in that situation as a singlehander. If I can't heave-to properly, I can't rest. If indeed one could enter safely with a drogue that would be the greatest thing since sliced bread.
One final thought is how quickly I forgot those lousy times; the passages from heck and the anchorages from heck, that had me wondering WTF did I buy a boat for. AND HOW MANY GREAT MEMORIES I GAINED FROM THIS TRIP.

Aye,
Barry

[s/v Faith]

Barry,

  Great to hear from you, running into you in Nassau was a highlight for Rose and I.  We took away many of the same things as you, especally like;

My feeling is that there were basically 3 rules to follow while cruising in the Bahamas. Respect the environment; respect the people and respect other boaters. And of course, respect the weather forcast.

  I think a BIG part of the reason for your positive experience is probably summed up in that sentence.

  Welcome to SailFar, Your first Grog is on me.... 

[C-164]

Thanks Craig,

We know we're hooked when we forget the hard times.
I just loved those passages when I set the sails and set the tiller pilot and watched the water go by.

Aye,
Barry

Shroud Cay, Exumas

[Lynx]

Yes, we do.

I planed it so that I did not have to go through any rage conditions but I would not want to even with a drogue as the foam could get quite bad and with that no stearage and no prop thrust. Best to waite it out.

[CapnK]

A Grog from me too, Barry! Glad to both have you aboard here, and to have your perspectives.

What is this drogue technique you mantion, I don't think I've heard of it before as such? Sounds like it might be one of those "test once and then file away for future reference" ideas that might come in handy, especially in a rough situation...

Last, I agree - there's magic about, when you can sit back on a passage and let the boat do her thing...

[David_Old_Jersey]

Cool Trip 

Me Jealous? Yup!

Yeah, I think own attitude impacts majorly on the experiance you have in anything............and IME in the 3rd world / poorer countries....neither looking or acting like the stereotypical rich Westerner goes a long way with the locals (they often see enuf of the Stereotype in real life, as well as on TV!)......they already know that you are richer than the average working local - IME just impolite to rub it in by actions.......and showing consideration and respect and a touch of knowing self deprecating humour about "your own kind" often goes down well 

I would figure that being seen on a smaller boat in comparison to many others is a good way to start in announcing that you are not their stereotype........

[C-164]

Capt. K:   This is the book where the author explains about using a drouge to cross a dangerous bar in a small boat. It's also a good read of an adventure trip.

"The Venturesome voyages of Captain Voss" - AKA - "40,000 Miles in a Canoe"
by John Claus Voss


Here's a link to the appendix of that book with alot of good info on small boat storm tactics.
http://www.geocities.com/nelstomlinson/books/voss.appendix.html?20085

Barry

[CapnK]

Thanks, Barry!

He has some good info in that appendix! Will have to get the book...

The way I read it, he basically used the drogue to avoid broaching in the following waves of the inlet by streaming it aft. Makes sense!

Thanks again, and Grog to ya!

[Captain Smollett]

"The Venturesome voyages of Captain Voss" - AKA - "40,000 Miles in a Canoe"
by John Claus Voss

And just as a reminder, this book was HEAVILY used as source/reference material for the Pardey's Storm Tactics Handbook.