Lynx Nov BAHAMAS!! / Made it to Bimini Bahamas!!

Oldrig · March 03, 2008, 03:38:36 PM

Ahhhh!

Just what I needed here in the land of (seemingly) perpetual snow.

AdriftAtSea · March 03, 2008, 04:42:03 PM

What i need is the season to get here... :)

Lynx · March 06, 2008, 07:52:51 AM

Lynx · March 06, 2008, 08:10:27 AM

skylark · March 06, 2008, 11:02:00 AM

very nice, thanks for the pics!

TexSail · March 06, 2008, 01:22:31 PM

Lynx - this is my first post on the board (I have lurked here for a while) and I wanted to use it to say thank you for sharing your experience with the rest of us.

Lynx · March 06, 2008, 03:27:30 PM

Welcome and your welcome TexSail. More to come.

Shipscarver · March 06, 2008, 05:51:51 PM

I didn't know pictures could talk.
None the less, I keep hearing that Green Turtle Cay hammock calling, " . . .come to me, come to me, come to me . . ."
Thanks for the great pic;s.

Lynx · March 13, 2008, 06:34:53 PM

Green Turtle Cay was nice. I stayed at the Bluff House Marina that would credit your slip towards meals (on edit, this ends around March 15 every year). Nice if you wanted to eat ashore for a while. Bluff House Marina is a little more livelier than Green Turtle Marina. It may change.

Here is a sunset from Green Turtle restaurant -
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/fQ*OsDxaogjUlxo44m9JOGXhwr%3DTsat-OtWZ-pl9bz3PuLYt%2597_k*u3S4qpwsBp/item.JPG?rot=1

Coco Beach Green Turtle
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/5ktJxiH9z-gXrWJ2.9Ah.YI%25JckuFE8wMW2vsgxFRiXYUHO57Leo2nT%25%3Dy1e5GSu/item.JPG?rot=1

Some new friends -
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/j7n2NK%25g1hLE3Wu*RP4kG3OIoqNTdlO8Ner53nBgt_Z8DZ7IYydBB*orJ0FR%3DGnu/item.JPG?rot=1

New Plymonth -
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/%2617YKrYQUHA94YN%25G5zL5khZI7SGp0CyKS2IV%25yEUvDQ%3DDJbZzhegcMd_RFoTwuv/item.JPG?rot=1
Nice little town way to many roosters for me. I was woken up in Man of War every morning with them and do not want to anchor in another town with them.

I am in Marsh Harbor now -
It is so crowded than it was in Nov. Starting peak season soon. Still places to anchor for me. Still the same problems and the paid internet - OII.net - is much worse. It took me over 1 hr to download these 4 photo's. This is the only town in the Abaco's with 24 hr poilice and their is no water police in the harbor. Everybody speeds. Here is one taken through my window -
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/cRvEYVtoVu*WwA7mV14sxR8UXilMCpxeSYd2Zq-EkK*13YqKt2o3Kx_2npAw0Ogp/item.JPG?rot=1
As usual, I am anchored in 1 1/2 foot of water and, as usual, they come speeding by and about 2 a day break their props. ;D :D ::)

Lynx · March 20, 2008, 12:22:50 PM

Marsh Harbor and dusk -
http://f02-f03.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/Wn-*B%3Dj-Zh45SaN*T7HRXAUWolN1cD-.uSkaFxiwiLdLeh-6GIU.vQTX.1Xtgb_v/item.JPG?rot=1

Marsh Harbor before sunrise -
http://f02-f03.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/Sb6I.ZK5De4_viD%25x3RmMHlfDFYiw%26F8%25hQM1BZEMnEXcPDTMEesUKCf%3DRK2t%26bb/item.JPG?rot=1

Marsh Harbor is a nice anchorage but has gotten quite crowded and far too busy. There is no respect for the 5 MPH speed limit and power boats will come so close to you, one or two times an hour, to make it very dangerous. I suggest fishing when in Harbors. Most boats only have out 1 anchor out and when a major wind shift happens they drag, all anchorages. I was in 2 feet of water and was in no danger of being dragged into. There is also a noise problem. Dogs are barking all night long and there is a noisy bird. I wish I had brought a dog whistle. A lot of the Cays have birds making noise to wake you up and they do not care.
Hopeing these fronts will calm down I have taken a slip at Bluff House Marina in Green turtle Cay for a month. Quite here and not so much traffic.

Sea of Abaco looking North to Marsh Harbor -
http://f02-f03.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/8AZXh%262VKTsFLT4wQ5N21xaCyvcTsQJdeN%25AVC3J*0AOl1VlRuHJ8LdJ.yfHykdk/item.JPG?rot=1

Tilloo Bay, very good holding. Sea plane on the west side, please stay away. Open somewhat to the North. Really nice shallow anchorage with a few homes around. -
http://f02-f03.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/KH.bjsS6ZO9i9NbYhducu1NaFY*OdHjaN.PI0h*Lb7WUZHUtMNS.vrr-O87V2NY/item.JPG?rot=1

Why you need long dock lines and a lot -
http://f02-f03.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/MvpFQH29c1iLaaVJ*QGeyeoWIw456.G8Eu_1QXjOINP0C%3DQB1rR.HTdW5s5nnRFa/item.JPG?rot=1

http://f02-f03.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/zVaIuyXBOC1WAuV-PyDiGg0NxB8mweL%3DK.k%26FyskgvU4KFhge9pkRiAS%26taFc6aT/item.JPG?rot=1

AdriftAtSea · March 20, 2008, 02:19:01 PM

Thanks for the photos Lynx...

GRR... Gonna be getting more rain and possibly some snow here later this week.

Lynx · April 19, 2008, 03:18:43 PM

Tim · April 19, 2008, 08:41:48 PM

I thought would post a few of the pics from our Sea Pearl sail through the Exuma Cays last week.

Here is a link to a Google Map of the route;
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&om=1&msa=0&msid=109186956869513622876.00044ad7f0ca8950053d2&ll=24.147067,-76.343651&spn=0.162906,0.276031&t=k&z=12
After spending a few days acclimating at Palm Bay Beach Club

Where somebody had sent up this fish kite that stayed up by itself for 3 days and would have stayed up for a week with the steady 10 to 15 knot breeze.
We sailed out of Barreterre northward along the Cays, with the wind coming from the East shifting slightly from South to North. The Sea Pearls were perfect for the occasion,

Lignumvitae was a great campsite that we did a layover on providing great snorkeling where we saw shark and barracudas

Another camp was at Big Farmers Cay

From where we went to dinner at the Ocean Restaurant in Little Farmers Cay
We made a great lunch stop at a beach on Gualin Cay

That was an iguana sanctuary

Our final camp was at Sandy Cay off Staniel Cay where they would routinley feed the sharks and rays

Our flight back to Georgetown provided an opportunity for a picture of sand waves formed around the Cays

Lynx · April 21, 2008, 08:21:49 PM

Nice Pics Tim -

Morning Sunrise about 8 miles from West End, Grand Bahamas -
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/NxxFOUbh3k%25g%26DTau_63EN*r%26%26-bN9YqGWH5mRh1UiR.N8yOpPrMTXoF2PEWvo%26l/item.JPG?rot=1

Midday, about 30 miles out in the middle of the Gulf Stream -
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/4KLkl6Q4b4zjmFNzdk.%25ds6Fi0kX2WDPu-jQNu1wEJSgHQ*7%3DmOBrU*eJcsVBpNf/item.JPG?rot=1

Looking down right next to the boat -
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/6rISDz0CYtZSt.8xJ3bJnTPN8XyciD-sav7CAOQKF9FFwCxq7C20zO*XidQ8QXwS/item.JPG?rot=1

Too close 20 miles from Florida -
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/QgF50uDSkZwH58575kW-S*O0J4GP6CZBkwwxECk4zbPyJF%254v5YyzCjKVIV%26slGf/item.JPG?rot=1

Arrive at St Lucie Inlet around 3 pm and anchored North of it. First morning sunrise after being 5 months in the Bahamas -
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/4xEFYmSXxUVOjAcsGTOZGUviSJIIktUKYgxe9kHStvi9ht8gA2xn*MKpwFhDBDd*/item.JPG?rot=1

Fl Side -
http://f01-f02.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/RPFK4gmUa.CX%26DiS4n_sDuMOhQUyXm%26VmvnO.yIm6O_PgyrkU7CjL%25%25QBv4jL5I6/item.JPG?rot=1

Called customs after I set the hook and cleared in Ft Pierce the next day.

I made it back!!!

Tim · April 22, 2008, 08:40:12 AM

Thank YOU for all the great pics, How long did it take for you to come back across?

Shipscarver · April 22, 2008, 12:48:05 PM

"As usual, I am anchored in 1 1/2 foot of water and, as usual, they come speeding by and about 2 a day break their props."

Lynx - Sort of reminds you of a duck decoy. ::) Nice work!
IU wonder if we can replicate that idea all up and down the ICW?

Grand read. Thanks for all you efforts to keep us up to date.

Lynx · April 23, 2008, 03:31:32 PM

Thanks.

The Crossing took about 10 hrs. There is tidal currents up to 3 mph in the cuts in and in the ICW.

Lynx · April 25, 2008, 07:33:13 PM

I have been back in the USA a week and I wanted to put some final thoughts on my 5 months
Bahamas cruise.

Doing something for 5 months does change someone. I do not know what yet - but seeing the
USA again with all the people and stuff was culture shock. I do not drink much and do not do
drugs. Those types of parties I stayed away from. It rarely was below 68 degrees and most of
the time sunny with a few clouds. Very nice. If it was little warmer and it may have been to
warm to sleep well. From what I was told it was a warm winter in the Abaco's. Of the 5 months
I spend 3 of them on a Mooring Ball or in a slip. I found the holding to be poor and very few
places to anchor offered protection from all winds. I saw to many boats drag including myself.
The water was so nice. That alone made the trip worth it. I am glad that I went. I really think
that the Abaco's is a great place to start cruising, there is so much to learn and it is easy to
get to safety if in trouble.

Some of the problems I created – (others say they have not had these)
The Abaconians are a proud people and have been told how to do things so many different
ways. I made the mistake of telling them how to do things. I suggest that you do not. They
have been told so many times already and if they wanted to change they would have. If you
have problems with the way they are doing things then leave. When you offend someone
you may not have a pleasant experience in the next day or 2.

They need money, just like in the USA, and will try to get more out of you, just like in the USA.

The Quality and Caliber of service is less that what I expected. I should have done it myself
or left. I was not expecting so many people not knowing much English. I also suggest that
one should not go to non-tourist areas.

When I took cash out from a Bank, everybody knew how much.

I was a bit naïve to believe that there "Was no Crime in the Abaco's".
This is my observations - the cruisers are the ones who are breaking the law most – speeding
in harbors, stealing water and showers, anchoring in mooring ball fields, etc. The tourists
are next and then the locals. I see very few non-working/local people jailed except for fighting.
(I should note that you can say that you are going to hit someone and in the Bahamas it is
the same as hitting them). The jailable crimes that I saw were mostly related to drugs. A few
was because people did not have enough money for food. However this number was about
10% of the small Island population per year. The numbers are few.

Summer '07 and winter '07 – '08 season has been slow, not much money coming in. Next
winter season may be slower. If so there may be more crime for food and less places open.
I do not think it will ever be as bad as what one would expect in the USA but you should
take more precautions than in the past.

There is a Bahamas politician who does not want the cruisers there. As a group we
probably spend less per person and complain more. However, we also promote to a lot
of people. During peak season there is an estimate $ 1,000,000 USD per month spent by
the cruisers in the Bahamas. That does not include any of the people who come to the
Bahamas through reading or listening to our adventures. The Bahamian Government
must come to terms with this. We can spend less money cruising in the USA than in the
Bahamas. The holding is better, goods are cheaper, food is better/cleaner, better medical s
ervice and we have more rights.

Let me end by saying I am glad that I came and thank the Bahamians who service me and
allowed me to be there. One always weighs where one will spend their time. For me it
will be in the USA winter '08 – '09. I am glad that you enjoyed my pictures.

TomRay · July 22, 2008, 04:21:46 PM

Hi Lynx,

Great trip report and pix! Brought back some nice memories for me!

The vines are trying to take over your trailer in my driveway. I hit 'em with some weedkiller yesterday.

News:

Lynx Nov BAHAMAS!! / Made it to Bimini Bahamas!!