Sailing to Bimini and then to Berry Islands Bahamas

[C Striker]

I have to agree with Dave B. on this. A week or two would never work.If you must be back so soon, be very careful because there's a chance you may not make it back at all. Do yourself a favor and book a flight. This way you can have a relaxing vacation. If you feel the need to explore the waters simply rent a jon boat. Macs are called coastal cruisers, but with the ability to run and hide from weather with the big outboard. My humble opinion is because your only choice is to run and hide from anything other than ideal conditions. We affectionately refer to our boat simply as Bob now for obvious reasons.

Erik

[cptron]

I am very confident in mine and my boats abilities to travel where I like. I know my limitations. I bought this boat to be able to enjoy more cruising grounds than a regular sailboat on limited vacation time. If one would take the time to research then they would realise that nothing is certain however you can better your chances during certain times of the year. We also tend to run from bad weather so that is why we are going because if you would push your throttle a little farther you would realise that the crossing time could be significantly shorter thus not needing as big of a weather window. Or you can say that the money is not worth such little time in the Bahamas. I can say with a certain amount of confidence that you are probably just afraid to cut the dock lines for uncharted waters for whatever reason. While I do appreciate the words of caution and advise from old salts, I don't appreciate the excuses you try and push onto other more adventurous people that have a wandering spirit.

Like I have said before WE ARE GOING ON VACATION TO THE BAHAMAS IN OUR OWN 26M on May 4-23, 2014. anyone wishing to join up is welcome. you are responsible for your own wellbeing and boat. You can join in part or all. If weather does not allow for an early crossing then we could be stuck sailing the Keys, Biscayne Bay or...

Ron

P.S. My apologies and thanks for letting me rave and get that off my chest.

[SENCMac26x]

Good luck Ron, judging by the number of blogs/journals and stories of people who have done exactly what you're planning to do...without the option to run like hull and exploit a smaller weather window like we have...I dont think it's unreasonable at all.

I think hardest part will be wanting to leave after 3 weeks.

I just wish I could go with you, but I'm no where near ready...hopefully when you return.

[Divecoz]

Ron , this trip has been done so many times before, and by countless other small sailboats and numerous Mac's as well. I "believe" the only real issue stated here has been WEATHER WINDOW... AKA going at the most advantageous time of year for the most frequent Good Weather Windows.
I no longer live in IL. I Now Live in SW Florida.. Port Charlotte Fla. to be exact.. a 4 hour drive from your presumed starting point. Over the last 14 months I have brought up boating with almost every new acquaintance I have made, and a few have been to the Bahama's by boat. A coupleof them left from here ( The West Coast / The Emerald Coast) a few trailered over as we would like to do some day. They all had the same words of Encouragement and Caution.
1. Know your boat.. 2. Know your boat is in really good condition... 3. be prepared to wait for a Good Weather Window Both Ways..Dang this trip requires more time than I can find for the next couple of years.. I really cannot be gone for more than a 7 day trip unless my wife stays home.. and I am RETIRED.. So for us it will be Biscayne Bay and Pennekamp Park and on our Coast 10,000 Islands.... We cannot even find a suitable time window to do The Dry Tortuga's and we can trailer down to Everglades City.. Thats not all that bad. Google Charlotte Harbor Fla. and you'll find no reason to feel sorry for my available sailing grounds. So.... Go Brother.. Just be prepared to wait, for weather windows..
YT
Divecoz

Ron
P.S. My apologies and thanks for letting me rave and get that off my chest.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Welcome to SW Florida Divecoz! There is a pretty large sailing community including a lot of Macs. I just got done cruising Biscayne Bay, Key Largo and 10,000 islands over the last month since this is the best time of year for that. As Spring progresses, my sailing grounds will move further north. Charlotte Harbor to Anclote key over the next couple months, Cedar Key in May and then day sailing in Tampa Bay over the summer. I will cruise the Bahamas one of these years, but probably not this one...wishing Ron a great trip....and post lots of pictures when you get back! For now, I'm going to set my sights on the lower Keys and Dry Torgugas but after being on my boat for a third of the last month, I have to catch up on enough honey-do projects around the house so I'll quit hearing the "he won't fix that because he is going out on his boat" chant from my wife and kids.

[Divecoz]

Thank You Dimitri...I would love to read all you know about...... ALL Those places!!! Any links or suggested books charts etc etc .. It could still be awhile before Wind Wine&Song is dipped in the salt water.. As you may have read today I admit I caused a mess to take place on the bottom of my power boat..

Welcome to SW Florida Divecoz! There is a pretty large sailing community including a lot of Macs. I just got done cruising Biscayne Bay, Key Largo and 10,000 islands over the last month since this is the best time of year for that. As Spring progresses, my sailing grounds will move further north. Charlotte Harbor to Anclote key over the next couple months, Cedar Key in May and then day sailing in Tampa Bay over the summer. I will cruise the Bahamas one of these years, but probably not this one...wishing Ron a great trip....and post lots of pictures when you get back! For now, I'm going to set my sights on the lower Keys and Dry Torgugas but after being on my boat for a third of the last month, I have to catch up on enough honey-do projects around the house so I'll quit hearing the "he won't fix that because he is going out on his boat" chant from my wife and kids.

[mrron_tx]

Ron : Sounds to Me like You 've got a good plan going on I think I remember someone saying that even a bad day of sailing is better than a good day at work Have fun and fair winds to You. Ron. Dauntless.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I would love to read all you know about...... ALL Those places!!! Any links or suggested books charts etc etc ..

Well, there is tons of reading out there, I've done a few reports up on some of the places I've been to. I'm working on one right now for the 10,000 islands trip but its not quite done yet. There is a lot of material on the WCTSS web site too..

The four reports I've written so far are on the MacSailing Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MacSailing/files) and the 5th one is coming soon. I'd also still like to write a report from the 4 day trip I made 2 years ago around Gasparilla and La Costa islands (not far from you) but haven't gotten to that yet. To get to the Yahoo group, you do have to join first because I've seen what the spammers have done to open groups like Conch Cruisers..

[Divecoz]

Thanks Dimitri. I am now awaiting my membership approval..GOT IT TODA : )

Well, there is tons of reading out there, I've done a few reports up on some of the places I've been to. I'm working on one right now for the 10,000 islands trip but its not quite done yet. There is a lot of material on the WCTSS web site too..

The four reports I've written so far are on the MacSailing Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MacSailing/files) and the 5th one is coming soon. I'd also still like to write a report from the 4 day trip I made 2 years ago around Gasparilla and La Costa islands (not far from you) but haven't gotten to that yet. To get to the Yahoo group, you do have to join first because I've seen what the spammers have done to open groups like Conch Cruisers..

[BlueJay]

3 weeks is plenty of time to go to the Bahamas. Especially in May. You dont need to wait untill you have 6 months. The Keys are great but they are not like the Bahamas. The Macgregor is a great boat for it too.

[Ixneigh]

...
I've been to Grand Exuma on my v22.2
It was basically stock except for larger standing rigging.

I saw another v 22.2 over there, as well as a few 25's
One of those developed a bad leak while crossing the stream. Turns out the hull cracked along the inside v berth because of what is referred to in yacht repair and the fiberglass biz as a hard spot. The guy repaired the area, and kept going. The boat looked like it had seen a lot of use. I've also seen big heavy keelboats bite it on the reefs over there. One guy ripped his rudder off his choy lee yawl when he hit momma Rhoda rock right outside Chub key. He was lucky to get the boat off at that.
In the time until I can actually think about going over there, I am just going to sail the frick out of the boat and see what falls off. I picked up a used gennacker off an X boat, that should answer the question about running back stays once and for all, I still have some work to do inside, keeping things from coming loose while heeled way over, and I guess I'll get some SS tubing for the spreader bars next time I have the mast down.
One thing I can tell you about the Bahamas, it seemed to be either flat calm or pretty windy. In order to get anywhere under sail, you will have to drive the boat hard. On my 23 keel boat, that meant hours of rail submerged spray drenched, windward thrashing. Forget being down below. And forget anchoring on the banks in those conditions.
On the v22.2 it was much the same, except I had a mini pilot house, and could get out of the weather and still see out into the pitch black as the yacht flailed herself through five foot banks chop and I wondered when the 600 lb keel was going to go bye bye. Once I got to the Exuma chain thing got better though. While the M has more room, and a bigger engine I doubt she will be as carefree and fun as the smaller sister was on that trip. 14 years ago. It's been too long.
Ix

[cptron]

Thanks all for the encouraging workds. I just wanted to update everyone that We have gotten our passports, YEEAAAHHH. This is the first one that I have ever owned in my life. I guess I am getting a little overexcited about this trip cause I would like to tell the man what he could do with his J.O.B. But then I would have to eat those words when I got back.
Only about three more months until "Sail Day". Wish us luck as we continue to work on our lists that seem to keep groing instead of geating smaller as we complete each task.

[Doug W]

I'll be watching posts, looking for pictures and anecdotes too! Right now, a Miami-Bimini-Berry trip is our current plan for 2016. I'll be looking for the best possible weather window and build the trip around that!

Please keep us updated!
Doug

[cptron]

I'll be watching posts, looking for pictures and anecdotes too! Right now, a Miami-Bimini-Berry trip is our current plan for 2016. I'll be looking for the best possible weather window and build the trip around that!

Please keep us updated!
Doug

You can hear about our trip first hand when you come and join us for the Southport Sail. I will try and keep this board posted about our trip also so stay tuned.
Ron

[vkmaynard]

cptron please attach an EPIRB to your beta autopilot incase of problems

Thanks,

Victor