What route would you take?

[RobD527]

Thank You everyone for the great advice, it has helped me choose my route.

Now I get to figure out immigration and Covid procedures for Puerto Rico, DR, Turks and the Bahamas. Wow what fun!!

[edmundsteele]

I had my Leopard 47PC for sale in Fajardo, Puerto Rico when hurricane Maria struck in 2017. My vessel wasn't damaged but it was impossible for potential buyers to come to PR when FEMA and the various power company employees were occupying all of the hotel rooms. I decided to “drive” my Leopard to Florida, which I did in 2 hops. It's about 500 miles from Fajardo to West Caicos. I ran at 1900 - 2000 RPM on one engine (150 HP Cummins) for 6 hours and then switched to the other engine for 6 hours etc. Speed was 8 to 9 knots (200 miles per day). I refueled in West Caicos after a 2 ½ day passage and both tanks were still more than half full.

The second leg was a repeat. I passed just south of Rum Cay and crossed the Yellow Bank, entering at Ship Channel Cay, passing south of New Providence. From there I headed for the Northwest Channel and entered the Gulf Stream just north of Bimini. Another 2 ½ day run and again my tanks were more than half full when I got to Florida. I didn't stop in the Bahamas so I didn't have to pay for a cruising permit. Naturally I was watching the weather forecast like a hawk to make sure that I had reasonable conditions to cross the Gulf Stream and you can make that decision while you are still sitting in the bar at the West Caicos marina.
Ed

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by RobD527

Thank You everyone for the great advice, it has helped me choose my route.

Now I get to figure out immigration and Covid procedures for Puerto Rico, DR, Turks and the Bahamas. Wow what fun!!

For a Covid update on each country try https://www.noonsite.com/. Last time I checked they were pretty well up to date but also found links for each country that connected to the appropriate website for that country for the latest.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by RobD527

Thank You everyone for the great advice, it has helped me choose my route.

Now I get to figure out immigration and Covid procedures for Puerto Rico, DR, Turks and the Bahamas. Wow what fun!!

Here is the latest noonsite posts for the Bahamas.


01 September, 2020

For all up-to-date travel requirements and protocols, visit https://bahamasmarinas.com/procedures-and-protocols.

The Bahamas Marinas website also has a list of locations in Florida that offer COVID-19 RT-PCR tests with quick turn around results. Plus links to find locations nationwide.


03 August, 2020

A national lockdown for the entire Bahamas started on 04 August for a minimum of 2 weeks. See details at this news report.
However, the Bahamas is still open to private boaters from all countries.
A valid Bahamian health visa is required. To obtain a visa a Covid test with a negative result taken within 10 days of travel is required. The visa itself is obtained online and requires up to 48 hours to obtain. N.B. It is the test date that is important and not the date that you obtain your results.
Persons arriving by private boat must quarantine for 14 days, however the quarantine can be on your vessel and you can leave before the 14 days is up.
Visitors are expected to wear masks in public, maintain appropriate social distancing and practice good sanitation through frequent hand washings.
There is currently a ban on inter-island travel, however travel between islands with fewer than 25 inhabitants is permitted. The ban on inter island travel is to prevent community transmission between population centers.