Bermuda

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Bermuda
32°17.700'N, 064°46.900'W Chart icon.png
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Bermuda
Bermudaflag.png
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Flag
Capital Hamilton
Language English
Currency Bermudian Dollar (BMD)
Time zone AST (UTC–4) , DST: ADT (UTC–3)
Calling code +1 441

Bermuda is a favorite, if challenging destination for off-shore yachts - a number of races start/finish here. Because of it's distance from the US, Bermuda is not that popular with cruisers - unfortunate because, once there, it is a heaven of beautiful anchorages, pink sand beaches and first world services. It makes an excellent rest-stop for cruisers on passage from the Azores or those heading N.E across the Atlantic to Europe, etc.

Crossing from the US mainland motorsailing is typically a 4 day event. Passgages east to the Azores 8 - 15 days. The preferred time to cross is May - June. Attention should be taken of hurricane threats between July - October. Passages from New England to Bermuda in the autumn can be difficult due to frequent storm systems. Passage south from Bermuda re-opens in November and can be quite pleasant in early December.   

St.Georges Harbour

Charts

NOAA Charts
5161 - Newport to Bermuda, including rhumb line
DMA Charts
26341 - Bermuda Islands
26342 - The Narrows to Grassy Bay
26343 - St. George's Harbour
26344 - Great Sound Plan: North & South Basins
26345 - Hamilton Harbour

See Also Anchoring Charts - Anchoring chart rendering, courtesy of Bermuda Yacht Services

Weather

The best time to visit Bermuda is from Spring through to Autumn. Although the island is an associate member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), it is not actually in the Caribbean Sea and has a different climate. It is much farther north, but the warm waters of the Gulf Stream help give it a quasi-tropical atmosphere.

The islands have ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes. As a result drinking water is collected on the roofs of all buildings (by law) and in special catchment areas, and stored in tanks under the ground for each home or property. Bermuda has a mild, humid subtropical maritime climate though gales and strong winds are common in winter. The hurricane season is from June to November.

Weather links

Passages

Islands

Key to symbols: |Port of entry icon – port of entry |Harbour icon – harbour |Marina icon – marina |Anchorage icon – anchorage |Needs data icon – needs data ||
Main Island St.Georges Island Ireland Island Bermuda (Sandy's Parish)
HamiltonHamilton/wiki/Hamilton_Bermuda Harbour icon – harbour |Needs data icon – needs data |
St.Georges Harbour St.Georges Harbour/wiki/St.Georges_Harbour Port of entry icon – port of entry |Marina icon – marina |Anchorage icon – anchorage |

Entrance

Arrival

All yachts MUST check in at St.Georges Harbour in St.Georges Island.

Note: A pre-arrival questionaire must be faxed to Bermuda Maritime Operations on Fax number 4412971530. These can be obtained from:
Pre-arrival Questionaire - (pdf)
Rescue Co-ordination Centre/Bermuda Maritime Operations
19 Forge George Hill, St George GE 02, Bermuda.
Ph:441 297 1010, Fax:441 297 1530, VHF 16 or 27
Email

Clearance formalities must be completed at the Yacht Reporting Centre, Ordnance Island.

After clearance, the Dockmaster can be contacted on VHF 14 to arrange berthing at one of the harbour wharfs - Market Wharf West (limited to 48 hours), Market Wharf East (1/2 hour only), Somers Wharf (All day) and Hunters Wharf (All day).

Departure

Details?

Customs and Immigration

Customs

  • Firearms and ammunition (Incl. spear guns, flare guns, etc.) MUST be declared to Customs on arrival. These will either be bonded by Customs or sealed on board until departure.
  • All prescription drugs and medication must be declared to Customs on arrival.
  • Fruit and vegetables from other countries are not allowed.
  • Yachts can stay up to six months, after which time customs will impose a tax of 33.5 per cent on the yacht's value. You can however apply to Customs for an extension.
  • PETS: All animals that arrive in Bermuda must have Health documents and an Import Permit issued by the Bermuda Department of Environmental Protection in advance. Any animals arriving without the proper documentation will be refused entry. There are no quarantine facilities in Bermuda. See Official website

Immigration

All arrivals (including US nationals) must be in possession of a valid passport .

Nationals of the following countries require visas:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China (Peoples’ Republic of), Croatia, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudia Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Serbia & Montenegro. Visas are obtained from a British Embassy or Consulate. Visas are valid for three months from date of issue. Visas are not required if any of the above are permanent residents of the UK, USA or Canada.

The initial allowance of stay is 21 days. Applications for extensions can be made to the Immigration Department in Hamilton (Ph:- +1 441 295 5151). This extension is only for individuals, and for the yacht to remain, application must be made to Customs. If delayed in Bermuda during the hurricane season, crews may be given permission to stay for up to 5 months provided that they can prove the means to support themselves and hold health insurance.

Crews leaving Bermuda for other countries (USA in particular) must have visas for those countries before leaving. If yacht crew intend to leave by other means (by air), they must have written proof from the owner/skipper of means of departure. The owner/skipper holds the responsibility that these crew actually leave the island.

Fees and Charges

Restrictions

  • No spearfishing is allowed within one mile of shore. Spear fishing with scuba gear is not allowed. Spear guns are not allowed to be used in Bermudian waters.
  • All yachts should be fitted with either holding tanks (to contain sewage for discharge in waters outside the outer reef edge) or have approved marine sanitation devices aboard. However, wherever possible, onshore sanitation facilities should be utilized. The discharge overboard of sewage, or any other pollutant within the 12 mile Bermuda Territorial Limit, is an offence.

Health and Security

Health

Submit any health warnings/information. Remove any of these sections do not apply to this particular country.

Security

Details?

Berthing

See individual Islands above.

Transportation

List transportation to other countries, etc.

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

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

Links

References

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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Names: Lighthouse, Monterey


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