Does anyone have any recommendations for making the Bimini crossing in a 26M. I would like to make the crossing before June 1.
Any information will be helpful.
Bimini Crossing
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davera20023
- Just Enlisted
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2017 12:13 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
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Spector
- First Officer
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 6:53 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Calgary AB, 98 26X 'Cenoté' 2002 Yamaha 60 HP
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Re: Bimini Crossing
Many treads on this in the past.. Search function is pooched after the great crash of '17 so try a google search.
'site: macgregorsailors.com bahamas' (change this last term to whatever you want to search for ie bimini, exhumas etc)
'site: macgregorsailors.com bahamas' (change this last term to whatever you want to search for ie bimini, exhumas etc)
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Sumner
- Admiral
- Posts: 2375
- Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 3:20 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
- Location: SE Utah
- Contact:
Re: Bimini Crossing
Where do you plan to depart from?
If you are making the crossing at hull speed you do not want to be on a heading directly to Bimini. Stay on a heading south of Bimini as the gulf stream will be sweeping you north. I have a lot more info on all of that here at the bottom of this page ...
http://1fatgmc.com/boat/mac-1/2015%20Ba ... age-1.html
If you start there you will also get info on checking in and so forth. Also do not try and cross in any kind of north wind. With the Gulf Stream's current going north and with a north wind driving the water south the waves will become very close together and higher and not conditions you want to be out there in. Because of this you need to plan time in the trip to possibly wait going over and coming back. Earlier in the spring with the cold fronts people sometimes wait a week or more going either direction and this is in boats a lot larger than ours. You have a better chance of not having northern winds when you go but now you are into thunderstorm season and squalls will be more likely. You need to stay on top of the weather. The trades are usually out of the east so probably plan on motoring over for sure and likely coming back also. You also want to arrive there in the light to see going in.
Do you plan on going past Bimini? Good luck and post any additional questions you have,
Sumner
============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015
The MacGregor 26-S
The Endeavour 37
Trips to Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Canada, Florida
Mac-Venture Links
If you are making the crossing at hull speed you do not want to be on a heading directly to Bimini. Stay on a heading south of Bimini as the gulf stream will be sweeping you north. I have a lot more info on all of that here at the bottom of this page ...
http://1fatgmc.com/boat/mac-1/2015%20Ba ... age-1.html
If you start there you will also get info on checking in and so forth. Also do not try and cross in any kind of north wind. With the Gulf Stream's current going north and with a north wind driving the water south the waves will become very close together and higher and not conditions you want to be out there in. Because of this you need to plan time in the trip to possibly wait going over and coming back. Earlier in the spring with the cold fronts people sometimes wait a week or more going either direction and this is in boats a lot larger than ours. You have a better chance of not having northern winds when you go but now you are into thunderstorm season and squalls will be more likely. You need to stay on top of the weather. The trades are usually out of the east so probably plan on motoring over for sure and likely coming back also. You also want to arrive there in the light to see going in.
Do you plan on going past Bimini? Good luck and post any additional questions you have,
Sumner
============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015
The MacGregor 26-S
The Endeavour 37
Trips to Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Canada, Florida
Mac-Venture Links