JetBoaters.net Bimini Fling July 10th to 15th 2017

[Bruce]

True...our boats won't sink within 48 hours....but that doesn't mean it won't fill with water completely and in wavy situations allow waves to wash your stuff out of it...including those not holding on. A self bailing deck isn't going to do a thing once your engine is swamped. But those who plan to do this for the first time would be well advised to watch videos of some of the serious sub-moves people have done, and how keeping forward momentum can clear water from your boat-and why keeping your deck drain clear is important.

The 212 with the tall flag in these pictures has taken on water up to knee level, has engines that are full of water, the bilge pump that is circulating water inside the boat instead of pumping it out and most of the cargo has made it into the ocean. Despite this situation she still has quite a bit of freeboard remaining and together in the boat is a much safer place for the crew to be than in the ocean. I would only ever abandon our boat unless there was an immediate plan for transfer to another vessel and would rope the crew together at that point.



These clips are from @robert843's footage of the first crossing attempt in 2015.

Robert do you happen to have similar footage from the second attempt? It looks so much more dramatic from your elevation. If @DieselCamel had had a camera attached to his head all we would see is clouds (sorry I had to).

 

[Drift Away]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Regardless of whatever happens...no one is going to end up on Gilligan's Island or get lost at sea, I can promise you that.

I mean i would not mind if i am suck in Bimini with Mary Ann and Ginger (i think thats their names i am on 36 little before my time)

 

[Michepe69]

Hey Bruce-sorry I just saw your posts-I have not been here in a while. We already have reservations at the Hilton, we couldn't pass on the deal. I have tried booking the sands before to no avail for a couple of times-was being asked to call for rates, and they came out way more expensive the other times I tried if I remember correctly. I have been there many times to refuel and to use their infinity pool and like the place, just haven't had any luck booking it. Their marina is awesome and really quiet since it has its own inlet. We have stayed at Bimini Big Game the two times we've been there as a group.

My group is staying till Sunday am. As of now I'm taking my boat and my jetski, and there are another 3 jet skis confirmed. We have around 4 more jet skis and 2-3 boats that still are not confirmed. As far as eating out we usually like to hit all the local spots, we have not had a bad experience there with food yet and always have the best expeiences with the local, they are always very nice. As a group we also do a nice dinner once at the Hilton and of course we like to hang out at the casino a lot.

I will keep checking in here and keep in touch in the mean time. We can not wait to go!

Thank you for reaching out!

Regards,

Mike S

@Michepe69, have a look at the first post of this thread for a description of our trip plans. You might find some of them appealing.

For example we stay at Bimini Sands who give us a nice discount. Their marina is directly connected to the ocean with a fuel dock inside the marina. By staying in the condos we have access to full kitchens and a washer / dryer. The marina has very nice floating docks that allow us to moor near our condos. Most of us will hang out at the infinity pool in the evenings.

The Resorts World Hilton does have nice docks which you will enjoy compared to Big Game Club. Do you plan to eat out for most of or all of your meals? Have you priced dockage at Resorts World? I remember the rates being very high. Having the casino local may make the food and dockage costs worthwhile to you.

Personally the desctruction that Resorts World has caused and continues to cause to Bimini are too great for my family to stay at their facilities.

 

[Justin Edwards]

Diving mishaps are very effective on putting safety as the top priority.
I have been trapped in an uderwater cave while solo diving. For 10 minutes I could not go forward, backward, up or down. I could only rotate and that required removing tanks and harness. I got lucky because it was the beginning of the dive and less than 500feet from the entrance.

I got separated from my dive buddy while spearfishing in the Dry Tortugas. Doing anchor dives when we should have been doing drift dives. Came up far from boat, thought Captain saw me signal but knew I was first one up and he couldn't move until all the others were up. About hour later realized they were up and they did no see me. Last dive of day. 4 hours later it was approaching 8:00 p.m. and boat was out of site by now. C11 Coast Guard Plane flew by once with no luck. Filmed good bye video on the Go Pro to kids and prepared for a rough, dark night. Park Services sent out two boats being only 10 miles away and knowing Key West Coast Guard was 90 miles away. They found me at 8:10 p.m. A few minutes before sunset! 2nd life!!!

 

[Betik]

4 hours adrift !.....
I have only been separated once from the group. It was a night dive too, but the captain picked us ( me and a South Korean girl who was my dive buddy) up within 20 minutes. He spotted the lights on our heads.

 

[Bruce]

@Justin Edwards, @Betik, Wow those were some close calls. Glad you guys are ok. Seems like a great reason to carry a PLB or a handheld VHF with DSC when diving.

I hope that we will make it to Tuna Alley and the Victory Reefs around Cat Cay this year. They have a strong current. Everywhere else I have snorkeled in Bimini was pretty calm.

 

[2nazt]

They have a nautilus radio but that is spotty in use also. The hard part of having one while diving is the waterproof along with the high pressure aspect. Unless you carry a float and leave on your float or marker.

 

[tim h]

I think we should organize some fishing and spearing trips...

 

[ACrews]

I got my SunPass today. Does anyone remember how much the tolls are to get through Florida?

@Bill D if you get on turnpike at Wildwood & go down to Ft Pierce, your tolls should be around $23-24.

 

[Bruce]

I think we should organize some fishing and spearing trips...

There are three mooring balls at Tuna Alley. Perhaps more but I saw three. I want to take a group there to fish while others go to the Victory Reefs to snorkel / dive. I hope that we can raft boats up on the mooring balls and share chum.

Here are a few minutes of our Tuna Alley fishing experience in 2015. @Rana and @Emma both catch nice ones.

 

[MrMoose]

There are three mooring balls at Tuna Alley. Perhaps more but I saw three. I want to take a group there to fish while others go to the Victory Reefs to snorkel / dive. I hope that we can raft boats up on the mooring balls and share chum.

Here are a few minutes of our Tuna Alley fishing experience in 2015.

Awesome! Absolutely Awesome!

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

There are three mooring balls at Tuna Alley. Perhaps more but I saw three. I want to take a group there to fish while others go to the Victory Reefs to snorkel / dive. I hope that we can raft boats up on the mooring balls and share chum.

Here are a few minutes of our Tuna Alley fishing experience in 2015. @Rana and @Emma both catch nice ones.

Forgive my ignore, but is that area protected or were the seas just that calm?

 

[Bruce]

Forgive my ignore, but is that area protected or were the seas just that calm?

We had some really rough and some really calm days after the group left in 2015. We chose a really calm day to go to Tuna Alley.

 

[Bruce]

Who likes barracuda? @MrMoose, The Hesperus looks like the perfect swimming spot for you.

 

[MrMoose]

Who likes barracuda? @MrMoose, The Hesperus looks like the perfect swimming spot for you.

View attachment 52194

Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TexasPilot71]

This is what remained available at Bimini Sands yesterday.

1 bedroom marina view – 7
1 bedroom ocean view – 1
1 bedroom with a loft marina view – 9
2 bedroom with a loft marina view – 3
2 bedroom with a loft ocean view – 1

If anyone still wants to go please grab them before they are gone.

@jlcj7, this is your chance!

@1948Isaac, @Hector, @Augusto David Rodriguez, @Hamp, @Jr15g, @Justin Edwards, @Lakeboy, @Larry Robinson, @scubarick314, @TexasPilot71 I see you guys as registered for the trip but do not have a record of you having a condo. If you have made reservations please share your condo number so I can update my list of who is going.

Thanks

Sorry for the delay. These dates won't work for us, so we're going with another group June 15-18. Wasn't sure how to un-register for this trip.

 

[Bruce]

Sorry for the delay. These dates won't work for us, so we're going with another group June 15-18. Wasn't sure how to un-register for this trip.

Thanks for letting me know. No need to unregister. I use the condo reservations to determine who to plan for.

 

[GMAN2015]

There are three mooring balls at Tuna Alley. Perhaps more but I saw three. I want to take a group there to fish while others go to the Victory Reefs to snorkel / dive. I hope that we can raft boats up on the mooring balls and share chum.

Here are a few minutes of our Tuna Alley fishing experience in 2015. @Rana and @Emma both catch nice ones.

I'm up for it.

 

[Valerie]

Ugh

http://www.wesh.com/article/bahamas-swimming-pigs-die-tourists-feed-alcohol/9083824

 

[Drift Away]

So funny story. I was at a friend of a friends for a house warming party. Was just about to leave when I see someone walk in with a bright yellow shirt this is 2016 Bimini. And it's none other than @tim h . I got to spend a few hours picking his brain about the trip. Got me even more excited for it.