ft lauderdale to the Exumas

[motion30]

what is the best route from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to Georgetown in the Exumas?. I am in a 44 foot motor yacht and will cruise about 8 knots. what would be the best port to clear in ?

[Bohemian17]

Bimini, then Nassau or fresh creek Andros then Georgetoen.

[motion30]

I see those are the broad strokes. Can anybody give me a little more detail?

[Oliver L.]

Motion,

crossing over to Bimini is a long day. Then you have the option of going over the bank or staying in deep water - depends on your draught. You can anchor at Chub Key for a night, then on to Nassau, where you can also anchor easily. From there you can go to Highbourne Cay, and south from there you have lots of options - the primary one whether you prefer the shallow side (west) or the deep water.

We just did the same in reverse and did mostly just day trips stopping at several anchorages. To get into the harbor you need to do a short jaunt on the deep part...

Have fun!

Oliver

[Vasco]

Ft. Lauderadale to North Rock, onto the Great Bahamas Bank to NW Channel Light, into the Tongue of the Ocean to Nassau, inside to Black Point then through the Dotham Cut to the sound and down to GT.

Clear in at Nassau.

[Cheechako]

Biscayne to North Rock or Bimini will give you a bit better angle on the Gulf Stream current. If you are waiting around to cross just daysail down to No Name Harbor in Biscayne.
Although It might be easier getting out of Lauderdale if you leave in the dark.
I have bypassed Bimini before and checked in at Chub Cay. Arrived at Chub in the dark using radar and checked in next am.
Either way time it so you go thru NW Channel Light in day light...

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Biscayne to North Rock or Bimini will give you a bit better angle on the Gulf Stream current. If you are waiting around to cross just daysail down to No Name Harbor in Biscayne.
Although It might be easier getting out of Lauderdale if you leave in the dark.
I have bypassed Bimini before and checked in at Chub Cay. Arrived at Chub in the dark using radar and checked in next am.
Either way time it so you go thru NW Channel Light in day light...

A powerboat capable of cruising at 8 knots will not gain much by going down to Cape Florida to set out across the Stream.

A note on the NW Channel light. It's not just extinguished, it's not there anymore. The whole structure is gone. We usually go through at night when heading to Nassau. No problem if you have Explorer Charts.

[Cheechako]

Yeah, it was gone last time I went thru years ago. I made it thru just as it was getting dark. Not sure a first timer should go thru in the dark though.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Yeah, it was gone last time I went thru years ago. I made it thru just as it was getting dark. Not sure a first timer should go thru in the dark though.

The "new" structure just disappeared this year. Many of the lights in the Bahamas are extinguished but usually you can see the structure. Don't know if someone knocked it down or the tower just rusted out.

[motion30]

I will do the "intetesting " parts in the daylight for sure. ,I will be traveling alone and I will probably need to make one stop for fuel. My boat draws 4ft

[motion30]

And I did buy the explorer chart books

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by motion30

I will do the "intetesting " parts in the daylight for sure. ,I will be traveling alone and I will probably need to make one stop for fuel. My boat draws 4ft

Unless you leave Ft. Lauderdale at night or anchor on the bank you will go through NW Channel light at night. This is the trickiest part of the whole trip not for difficulties in navigation but wind and tidal currents. If the tide is going out and it's blowing in at NWC light it can be quite exciting. If conditions in the Tongue of the Ocean are too rough it's adviseable to hide behind Frazers Hog Cay until it gets better. I think it's about 15 miles from NWC Light.

As for fuel you should make sure you can get to Nassau without re-fueling. You cannot rely on there being fuel in Chubb Cay.

[Cheechako]

Trying to remember.... I think the time we went direct to Chubb, we left Biscayne about 1 am and just made NW Channel at dark. 19 hours sound right?

[motion30]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Trying to remember.... I think the time we went direct to Chubb, we left Biscayne about 1 am and just made NW Channel at dark. 19 hours sound right?

What was your average speed ?

[motion30]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Unless you leave Ft. Lauderdale at night or anchor on the bank you will go through NW Channel light at night. This is the trickiest part of the whole trip not for difficulties in navigation but wind and tidal currents. If the tide is going out and it's blowing in at NWC light it can be quite exciting. If conditions in the Tongue of the Ocean are too rough it's adviseable to hide behind Frazers Hog Cay until it gets better. I think it's about 15 miles from NWC Light.

As for fuel you should make sure you can get to Nassau without re-fueling. You cannot rely on there being fuel in Chubb Cay.

Looks like nassau is roughly 200 miles from Fort Lauderdale, does that sound right ?I will have plenty of fuel for that