Places to visit before Bimini

[armadillo]

I have had my Mac26s for a little more than a year and I have sailed in lakes around Dallas, Port Aransas/Corpus Christi, Biloxi/Cat Island and Pensacola Bay. I have slept only in marinas. I want to take a week o two to sail around one ore two areas in Florida to learn more and prepare a trip for next year to Bimini. Where do you think I should go?

[npsrangerchuck]

I don't know that it necessarily prepares you for Bimini, but one place you should consider a bucket list destination is the 10,000 Islands of Everglades National Park's Northwest (Gulf Coast) District. Amazing place, with plenty of secluded, uninhabited beach islands (legal for landing) and tucked away, sheltered anchorage areas, all free for the taking!
https://goo.gl/images/dICwSB

[Chinook]

Going out to the Florida Keys is a good way to prepare for the Bahamas. Some open water crossings and big water channels. Would help in getting used to reading water depths by color.

[grady]

Armadillo where do you sail at in Dallas? Do you ever get out to Ray Hubbard?

[armadillo]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I never heard about 1000 islands. Im excited that I have a new place to discover. Maybe I can sail in both places. Those don't look too far. Maybe I can start in key largo, using marinas while I learn how to survive without services and then travel to 10.000 islands.

Hi Grady. I have never been in Ray Hubbard . I used to sail at Arlington lake and Lewisville in a laser II and mostly at Grapevine in the Mac. I would love to sail there but I have my Mac in Pensacola waiting for the summer vacations. I would love to meet you one day so you can give me some tips.

[grady]

If you ever want to let me know. We race every Wednesday night at 7:00pm. Usually leave the dock at 6:00pm. I am right in the middle off of I30. Use to be Bay View, now renamed to Bay Side. The developer wanted his development name on it. I guess when you are spending $1 billion dollars you can pick the name. I will PM you my number.

[Sumner]

Where do you think I should go?

I'll second the 10,000 Islands as it will make you stay away from the marinas, but you could do that about any place.

Get at least two good sets of anchor gear (22-26# anchors, 25-30 ' chain and good line). Don't cheap out here. I've had good luck with a less than $100 22# Bruce and a $200+ Manson Supreme 25#. Get use to anchoring in different situations. If you only stay in Bimini you will probably be at a marina, but past there you need to feel comfortable anchoring. There are marinas at different locations but they can become expensive. To me the lure of the Bahamas is the people, the unbelievable water and most of all being able to anchor in secluded places where you have beaches and the water all to yourself. This is especially true with the Mac since the draft lets you get to places the big boats just can't get to. I'll miss that with the Endeavour but will still be able to get to many isolated places.

Again if you go past Bimini you should be able to be self-contained for at least 12-18 days as resupply places can be some distance from each other and weather can lock you into staying in one place at times.

I wouldn't go over without electric charts but many have. I carry 2 different sets of paper charts but relied on OpenCPN and NV charts on the computer, sending waypoints to the handheld GPS. I know one couple that plot with the paper charts and then put a final destination into an inexpensive handheld and that can work as once you are near your destination you will be steering mainly by reading the water as to depth.

The main thing is to just get to where you are totally comfortable away from marinas for a couple weeks time if you go past Bimini. The Bahamas are a great place and I can't wait to return. Have fun, but respect what you are trying to accomplish with a small boat. This is not a trip to be taken lightly.

I have a page on my site devoted to " ..--- Things you should consider Before Heading to The Bahamas In A Small Sailboat --- "

http://1fatgmc.com/boat/mac-1/2015%20Ba ... der-1.html

Sumner

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1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

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