Bimini to BVI

[EyesOfTheWorld]

We're leaving later this month to move our boat from Bimini to the BVI. Does anyone have experience with this route?

We've been cruising for nearly 9 years - but never much through the Bahamas. We'd like to sail straight through with our crew of 3 - but wonder if that's a "smart" move in the Bahamas.

Any suggestions are welcome.

[Clark]

When the next weak cold front leaves the east coast the winds will shift to the southwest, then west, northwest and north before returning to the northeast/east.

You want to leave ahead of the front and make as much easting as possible before the trades fill back in with an easterly set, hopefully north of east. By then you should be able to crack off slightly and be able to make it to 64 or 65 west before turning due south to make the Virgins.

Do not turn south before making your easting or you will hit headwinds.

It's about an eight day easy passage.

[EyesOfTheWorld]

Clark -
Thanks for the response. If we wanted to stay closer to the Bahamas for the first part of the trip - would it make sense to go SE when posisble to the Turks Caicos - then turn E when possible to 65 then south to the BVI?

[RB]

for best sailing. You did say straight through, right. Go to I 65 turn right and head for Guyana Island. If you arrive at night a good place to anchor until daylight. If you arrive in daytime a good place to dive at Monkey Point, moorings and protected jsut next to the anchorage. Protected from the north and east. Never any charter boats there as it is a private island. In the A/M/ you can go south throught the channel/cut over the drake's and head into Roadtown. Or West down to Yost for drinks! Either way only a couple of hours.

[EyesOfTheWorld]

I guess my basic question is the feasibility of overnight sailing in the Bahamas. We've not sailed there much - and there are islands everywhere - including rocks. We have GPS and Bluecharts - several backups of each - but when the depth in so many areas is 6 feet (we draw 4.5 ft) - I tend to get nervous about sailing at night. Anyone with experience here? We're willing to motor east if we have to given wind direction - and then turn S to SSE when needed to hit the Virgins.
Thanks.

[Clark]

You don't want to sail through the Bahamas at night. Clear the islands in daylight into open water.

Also, don't follow them southeast. The farther south you go before trying to make your easting the harder it will be on you because the farther south you go the more the trades are directly out of the southeast....right on your nose.

I know a guy who routinely delivers boats from Florida to the Virgins and he recommends never going south of 24*N Lat. until you are as far east as 65 W Lon.

[EyesOfTheWorld]

Sorry to keep hammering away at this - but since we've not sailed in this area before, I have lots of questions. We're picking up the boat in Bimini and will need to provision first. Nassau is about 126 miles east - and appears to be the only option for a good place to provision. To get there we could leave at night and arrive the next morning - by going north of Bimini into deeper water and following it east to Great Stirrup Cay then south to Nassau. From there we could head north east above Eleuthera Island into the open sea - then straight east to 65W.

Also, if anyone knows whether we could get reasonable provisions in Eleuthera - that would save us some time.

Thanks,

[Ron]

There is good provisioning in Nassau. Take a slip at the Nassau Harbor Club or anchor off. There is a very good supermarket across the street and they will deliver to your boat or dinghy. As to getting there from Bimini, leave early and sail to the Berry Islands. the next day sail to Nassau. I know that you want to sail SE to the BVIs, but don't unless you read "The Thornless Path" and plan on taking forever to get there. Just go off shore as others have recommended sailing NE until you get to 65* and then go south. There is no easy way to get to the BVIs from the Bahamas.