2018 Bimini June trip (June 24th - June 30th)

[Bruce]

you just need to be 150 feet out right? Just anchor and put on the anchor alarm at 50 feet radius.

If you want to boat camp, head to the area around the Sapona. The water is shallow and the bugs are far away.

 

[AL-LL]

@justason - Both @AL-LL and @Douglas Lackey will plan to leave Sunday morning at 6am... please advise if there is a captains meeting on Saturday night. Thanks.

 

[Andy S]

@justason - Both @AL-LL and @Douglas Lackey will plan to leave Sunday morning at 6am... please advise if there is a captains meeting on Saturday night. Thanks.

Captains Meeting will be at 7 pm in the lobby of the Marina Building of the Bahia Mar.

 

[ThatJeepGirl]

Just wondering...what is protocol for leaving the boat while the captain is at customs?? 2016 we all stayed on the boat. @ThatJeepGuy came back a few hours later and I was already in “full vacation mode”. Last year customs was at the Sands when we arrived and NO ONE stayed on the boat. I didn’t know if that was allowed last year because customs was actually on site, or if people had to use the restroom so badly they didn’t care???...
Just wondering because having two kids with me this year, and knowing what I NOW know about marine life in the marina causing me to refrain from “swimming”, I’d like to prepare myself for the hell im about to potentially be in while we wait...or maybe the utopia of being poolside while David sweats it out at the airport. Any guidance on the rules would be great...

 

[Andy S]

Just wondering...what is protocol for leaving the boat while the captain is at customs?? 2016 we all stayed on the boat. @ThatJeepGuy came back a few hours later and I was already in “full vacation mode”. Last year customs was at the Sands when we arrived and NO ONE stayed on the boat. I didn’t know if that was allowed last year because customs was actually on site, or if people had to use the restroom so badly they didn’t care???...
Just wondering because having two kids with me this year, and knowing what I NOW know about marine life in the marina causing me to refrain from “swimming”, I’d like to prepare myself for the hell im about to potentially be in while we wait...or maybe the utopia of being poolside while David sweats it out at the airport. Any guidance on the rules would be great...

Technically only the captain is supposed to leave the boat until Customs and Immigration he/she has cleared customs. That being said, clearing customs either at the Big Game club on North Bimini or at the Airport on South Bimini, there won't be Customs or Immigration folks near by, so you can probably do as you want. I have know folks were the captain went to the airport to clear customs and the rest of the crew checked into Bimini Sands without issue.

 

[Bruce]

Last year customs was at the Sands when we arrived and NO ONE stayed on the boat. I didn’t know if that was allowed last year because customs was actually on site, or if people had to use the restroom so badly they didn’t care???...

Last year I made special arrangements with customs and immigration to allow our crews to shelter under the shade at the pool instead of suffering on the boats.

That is not normal. Without aproval it could result in large fines.

Unfortunately there has been government change, we got ripped off on rum last year, the shade is gone and I have not been able to make similar arrangements this year.

 

[Bruce]

@Andy S, a customs agent lives at Bimini Sands now. I understand there was an arrest for not clearing recently.

Incidents like this do happen https://www.thehulltruth.com/florid...ht-not-clearing-customs-poaching-bahamas.html

The boat was seized, the people were arrested and transported to Grand Bahama.

 

[Bruce]

Generally it has been acceptable to go ashore to use the bathroom whether at Bimini Sand or Big Game Club.

I always buy my family drinks and take them to the boat before clearing but only I go ashore.

 

[ThatJeepGirl]

Generally it has been acceptable to go ashore to use the bathroom whether at Bimini Sand or Big Game Club.

I always buy my family drinks and take them to the boat before clearing but only I go ashore.

Sooo...what you’re saying is I can freely medicate with liquid prescriptions, in order to ease some mental torment from two young kids being bored out of their mind, because I WILL be allowed to use the restroom? Great! All I needed to hear

 

[Bruce]

@ThatJeepGirl, have you seen all the sharks and electrical connections? It would be unsafe to jump in the water to go.

I bet @Rana will be paddleboarding while I clear.

 

[justason]

Just wondering...what is protocol for leaving the boat while the captain is at customs?? 2016 we all stayed on the boat. @ThatJeepGuy came back a few hours later and I was already in “full vacation mode”. Last year customs was at the Sands when we arrived and NO ONE stayed on the boat. I didn’t know if that was allowed last year because customs was actually on site, or if people had to use the restroom so badly they didn’t care???...
Just wondering because having two kids with me this year, and knowing what I NOW know about marine life in the marina causing me to refrain from “swimming”, I’d like to prepare myself for the hell im about to potentially be in while we wait...or maybe the utopia of being poolside while David sweats it out at the airport. Any guidance on the rules would be great...

there's a detail on a yellow quarantine flag hanging from your boat till you finish customs as well, A yellow bandana can be used as well. my crew will either refresh themselves by way on input/exput liquids or they can take the boat out to the bouys and float/swim while I do the paperwork....... I'm considering making my wife or guest captain just as we arrive so i pass the customs duties along

 

[ThatJeepGirl]

@ThatJeepGirl, have you seen all the sharks and electrical connections? It would be unsafe to jump in the water to go.

I bet @Rana will be paddleboarding while I clear.

I saw them my first year...AFTER I was finished riding out the storm of boring (ie. waiting for the captain to return). That’s why I needed clarification on leaving the boat.

That was another difference last year...no one out out quarantine flags. I think the rough crossing may have impacted it, but people literally scattered from their boats lol.

Just to be clear... we have a flag. @ThatJeepGuy will be upset with me if he thinks I’m suggesting he is ill-prepared in any way
Actually we have multiple...for some reason we can’t reuse the old one each year

 

[justason]

looks like good conditions for any group

 

[justason]

@justason - Both @AL-LL and @Douglas Lackey will plan to leave Sunday morning at 6am... please advise if there is a captains meeting on Saturday night. Thanks.

is this still current vs the latest groupings list ? (and) you're launching Sunday morning from harbor town like @Julian vs Bahia mar with the balance of folks ?
keep in mind these groups wont be far apart from each other

 

[robert843]

is this still current vs the latest groupings list ? (and) you're launching Sunday morning from harbor town like @Julian vs Bahia mar with the balance of folks ?
keep in mind these groups wont be far apart from each other

If @Julian @AL-LL and @Douglas Lackey all plan to be ready at the basin to catch the first group I will change them to group 1 just let me know.

 

[Valerie]

Any Bimini 2018 stickers going to be available this year?

 

[Andy S]

Instead of all the talk about logistics with moving the departure to Sunday, here is something more fun to talk about. I think Tuesday would be a good day to have the picnic/meeting and greet at Honeymoon Harbour. Monday's forecast is looking a light rough around Bimini but starting Tuesday morning this start to lay down.

 

[Andy S]

Any Bimini 2018 stickers going to be available this year?

@robert843 has them.

 

[robert843]

Any Bimini 2018 stickers going to be available this year?

Yo I got these stickers yo what you need I got Bimini 2018, Abacos 2017, Bimini 2016 and Exuma 2016

 

[Sbrown]

I have reservations Sat. night at the Motel 6 right around the corner from Harbor Towne marina. I'm bringing a UV light. Still working on Bimini for Sunday night.