Bahamas

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Bahamas Cruising Guide

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing around the Bahamas.

The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent, sovereign, English-speaking country consisting of two thousand cays and seven hundred islands that form an archipelago. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of the United States; north of Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic & Haiti) and the Caribbean Sea; and northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands. It remains a Commonwealth realm.

The closest island to the United States is Bimini, which is also known as the gateway to the Bahamas, whilst the furthest is Great Inagua.

All the islands are low and flat, with ridges that usually rise no more than 15 to 20 m (49 to 66 ft). The highest point in the country is Mount Alvernia, or Como Hill, which has an altitude of 63 metres (210 ft). To the southeast, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and three more extensive submarine features called Mouchoir Bank, Silver Bank, and Navidad Bank, are geographically a continuation of the Bahamas, but not part of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Weather

The climate of the archipelago is semitropical and has two seasons, summer and winter. During the summer, which extends from May through November, the climate is dominated by warm, moist tropical air masses moving north through the Caribbean. Midsummer temperatures range from 21 °C to 34 °C with a relative humidity of 60 to 100%. In winter months, extending from December through April, the climate is affected by the movement of cold polar masses from North America. Temperatures during the winter months range from 15 °C to 24 °C.

While there has never been a freeze reported in the Bahamas, the temperature can fall 3°C during Arctic outbreaks that affect nearby Florida. Snow has been reported to have mixed with rain in Freeport in January 1977, the same time that it snowed in the Miami area. The temperature was about 5°C at the time.

Yearly rainfall averages 1,320 millimetres (52 in) and is usually concentrated in the May-June and September-October periods. Rainfall often occurs in short-lived, fairly intense showers accompanied by strong gusty winds, which are then followed by clear skies.

Winds are predominantly easterly throughout the year but tend to become northeasterly from October to April and southeasterly from May to September. These winds seldom exceed twenty-four kilometers per hour except during hurricane season. Although the hurricane season officially lasts from June to November, most hurricanes in the Bahamas occur between July and October.

Sources for weather forecast info

Charts

Submit details of the charts required for safe navigation of the area.

Navigation

Any navigation notes here.

Passages

(Also see: Gulf Stream Crossing)

• West to East
  • Ft. Lauderdale to West End (Grand Bahama)
  • US to Abacos
  • West End to Abacos
• East to West
  • Abacos to US
  • West End to Ft. Lauderdale

Communication

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Submit details of Cruiser's Nets and VHF operating/calling channels here.

Entrance

Arrival

Entry is through an official Port of Entry. These are of two varieties. Both Customs and Immigration agents man the first. Only a Customs agent mans the second; these are far more common. For initial entry they are functionally identical except that the latter can only issue a 90 day visa while the prior can authorize 180 days and grant extensions.

There are no limits or duties on food, liquor or tobacco provided they are not removed from the boat. Firearms must be declared an are retained on board; type, serial numbers and ammunition count are entered on the Cruising Permit. Dinghy make and length, as well as outboard horsepower are also recorded on the Cruising Permit. Note that dinghies over 17 feet (5.2 meters) must be entered as separate vessels.

The Q flag should be flown when entering port for the purpose of requesting Partique. The United Nations ILS Treaty allowing innocent passage is observed, as is Force Majeure. With the occasional exception of Nassau and Freeport the Master and all crew attend shore for formalities.

Minimum documentation for the boat is proof of ownership i.e. a notarized bill of sale. Minimum documentation for crew is a passport; except U.S. and CA nationals who may enter with a birth certificate and picture I.D. UN vaccination cards may be required if entering form countries with current infectious disease outbreaks.

Duplicate copies of a Maritime Declaration of Health, a De-ratting Certificate, an Inward Report for Pleasure Vessels and a Crew List must be completed. Each crew member must also complete the standard International Immigration Card. All forms are provided.

The Cruising Permit fee includes the Master and 3 crewmembers - additional crew may be added for $15 each. The Cruising Permit includes a 3-month fishing permit that can be extended. Authorization to spear fish will be add to your permit at no charge if you request it.

The Cruising Permit is valid for one year and allows two entries within 90 days. The cost is $150 for vessels up to 35' and $300 for vessels over 35'. This document must remain on board at all times & is good for one year. It may be extended for an additional 2 years by applying to Customs and paying $500 per year's extension (Dec.'07).

Departure

Clearing out is unnecessary provided you agree to mail your Cruising Permit back to Nassau after departure. If you require an outbound clearance it can be issued in advance when clearing in or upon departure.

Immigration & Customs

Immigration

If arriving by air and planning to leave by boat, a copy of the cruising permit (with the particular crewmember's name listed on the yacht's manifest) must be produced.

A stay of up to six months, which may be extended to eight months, is allowed. Be very careful to note the time allowed when checking in and make sure that you apply for any extension from a local immigration officer BEFORE it expires.

BEFORE the expiration of the time allowed (incl. extensions), you must leave the country either by boat or by air.

Customs
Download Customs Declatation Form

Yachts may remain in The Bahamas for a maximum of three years, but yearly extensions after the first year must be obtained from Bahamas Customs in Nassau (apply timeously).

If you have a firearm on board, you must declare it with Customs. You must provide the firearm serial number and manufacturer, plus an exact count of ammunition. Though you are allowed to have a firearm on your vessel, you cannot take it off the vessel unless you obtain a permit from the Bahamian police ahead of time. Weapons must be under lock and key at all times.

RADIO EQUIPMENT:
AMATEUR RADIO - All amateur radio operators wishing to transmit (including email) must to apply for a Bahamas reciprocal licence from: Public Utilities Commission, P O Box N.4860, Nassau, Bahamas. The licence is valid for a year from date of issue.

VHF/SSB - Have your vessel and home country licences for both the operator/s and equipment available.

Restrictions

• Conch. Harvesting and/or possession is allowed outside of park areas.

Health & Security

Submit any health warnings/information and any security details here.

Bahamas Ports & Popular Stops

See each island.

Islands in the group

• Abacos
• Acklins
• Andros Island
• Bimini
• Cat Island
• Crooked Island
• Eleuthera
• Exumas
• Grand Bahama
• Great Inagua
• Long Island
• Mayaguana
• New Providence
• San Salvador Island
• Turks & Caicos

Cruiser's Friends

Submit details/contacts of cruiser's "friends" that can be contacted in advance or on arrival - who can offer information and assistance to our cruising "family".

Links to Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

• Bahamas Sailing and Cruising Discussions on Cruisers Forum

External Links

References & Publications

Books, Guides, etc. Use the Reference template or not at your discretion. For example:

{{Reference|Rod Heikel|Greek Waters Pilot|Imray|Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire (2010)|9780852889718}}, expands to

Rod Heikell, Greek Waters Pilot, Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire (2010), ISBN 9780852889718

• Author, Title, Publisher, ISBN ISBN number
• Author, Title, Publisher, ISBN ISBN number

You may want to remove the above entries and use instead a link to the Country or Region that lists the relevant references. If so enter, after removing {{MagentaText|xx}}, the following:

See [[Country or Region#References_&_Publications|Coutry or Region]].

If you do not use the above link, please remove it.

Comments

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Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Everyman, JeanneP, TaoJones, Haiqu