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

[robert843]

Not being on this crossing it is easier to make such statements but as I look at the forecasts a few points stick out;

1. The Bimini weather station is operating. It was offline in 2015 & 2017. I suspect that lack of reporting from Bimini significantly contributed to those incorrect forecasts.

2. The forecast for Monday has the wind and waves moving in the same direction with several hours before for the waves and wind to get into agreement.

3. The forecast for Monday has the waves and wind at a slight angle to the bow likely making them easier to cross.

A Monday morning crossing with 2’ footers would not be easy however with the likelihood of a correct forecast, an organized sea state and a good angle for crossing the waves I would not expect it to be a repeat of 2015 or 2017.

But if the wind changes direction the seas will become confused and it will be a beating!

@Bruce the problem with this is the period with both moving in the same direction and a period of 4 seconds they will be stacked you will be stuffing the bow every few seconds. Plus I don't expect true 2ft seas with winds being over 10 mph+ starting at 4pm the day prior and continuing throughout Monday.

 

[Julian]

If you find docking for Saturday let me know everywhere I have called right now has told me the couldn't guarantee me a spot Saturday.

Yup...nothing I can find either. Sunday it is.

 

[DieselCamel]

Site Usage has to be at an all-time high for this last week

 

[justason]

Site Usage has to be at an all-time high for this last week

whalers. don't recall if they return Saturday or if we'll pass them Sunday in the crossing

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Grady whites leave the Sands Sunday I believe.

 

[Gofish206]

Go ahead and count our group in on Sunday as well.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Guys. For those that do not have a Sunday night reservation this is my suggestion....

1. Buy sleeping bags. You get them cheap in Walmart.

2. I have a 2 bedroom with living room condo. Some of you can crash in my living room for the night. It is perfectly alright.

 

[Bruce]

@Bruce the problem with this is the period with both moving in the same direction and a period of 4 seconds they will be stacked you will be stuffing the bow every few seconds. Plus I don't expect true 2ft seas with winds being over 10 mph+ starting at 4pm the day prior and continuing throughout Monday.

Robert, I am not trying to influence Andy’s decision. Just throwing my thoughts out there.

SailFlow and Windfinder are in agreement about the wind speed and direction of both wind and waves. Windfinder is predicting smaller waves. I suspect that SailFlow has a more accurate wave forecast. Both are predicting smaller waves than the Beaufort Scale would suggest.

On Sunday the wind is predicted to be easterly while the waves are mostly southernly. This will create confused seas but neither the wind or the waves are forecast to have enough energy to become a problem on Sunday morning.

By midnight the wind and waves are forecast to synchronize into southeasterly. That gives six hours for the waves to organize and clean up before any Sunday morning departure. The forecasts show this wind and wave synchronization until early Monday afternoon.

If the wind was to switch to northeasterly then I would expect to see conditions akin to the 2015 & 2017 crossing.

 

[BigN8]

Robert, I am not trying to influence Andy’s decision. Just throwing my thoughts out there.

SailFlow and Windfinder are in agreement about the wind speed and direction of both wind and waves. Windfinder is predicting smaller waves. I suspect that SailFlow has a more accurate wave forecast. Both are predicting smaller waves than the Beaufort Scale would suggest.

On Sunday the wind is predicted to be easterly while the waves are mostly southernly. This will create confused seas but neither the wind or the waves are forecast to have enough energy to become a problem on Sunday morning.

By midnight the wind and waves are forecast to synchronize into southeasterly. That gives six hours for the waves to organize and clean up before any Sunday morning departure. The forecasts show this wind and wave synchronization until early Monday afternoon.

If the wind was to switch to northeasterly then I would expect to see conditions akin to the 2015 & 2017 crossing.

Dang fellas......you know your boat is too small for this kind of undertaking when you have to put this much analysis into a weather forecast..... I would love to do this, but there is no way my anxiety could handle it.

 

[jayasaki138]

I wonder if it the whole building? You are the third one that was moved from there @Amar Nanduri you may want to check your reservation

Amar is at building 21 now.

 

[Valerie]

Amar is at building 21 now.

It must be the whole building

 

[Gofish206]

 

[Julian]

OK....Alistair and I now have a reservation at the Motel 6 just down the street from Harbor Town for Saturday night. Our plan is to get up as early as I can get the "old fella" up and hit the ramp. Not sure we'll connect with the main group departure at 6am....but we shouldn't be too far behind! Once we are in the water, we will monitor channel 69 to see where you guys are at, and appraise you of our status. Will also connect via cell phone with @Andy S or @bronze_10 (or whomever is designated/volunteers) just to keep in sync. We won't get down to FL until 9-10 Sat night. I hope to get the boat prepped (like Bimini cover on etc) that night as we are literally 5 blocks from the ramp....so no highway trailering issues.

Our living room floor/couch will also be available in case anyone from Monday needs a place to sleep.

 

[Valerie]

Ok, so its time to cancel Sunday at the Bahia Mar and add Sunday to the Sands?

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Amar is at building 21 now.

Yeah. I had to upgrade my condo to a 2 bedroom + den and 3 bath. Bldg 21 is the only one available.

 

[justason]

Ok, so its time to cancel Sunday at the Bahia Mar and add Sunday to the Sands?

did it up this morning...I didn't get in on the JB.net bahia discount so it was a nice refund

 

[jayasaki138]

Since Sunday has more boats to Bimini. Can we arrange Immigration to Bimini Sands ?

 

[Valerie]

ok
we are booked in 8-F from Sunday-Saturday
I anyone is updating the map its
@Valerie
@Girlfriend
@jayjay
Sarah
Diana

 

[justason]

Since Sunday has more boats to Bimini. Can we arrange Immigration to Bimini Sands ?

tag @Bruce he's been the point of contact between us. getting the govm't to move within 4 days may be a miracle. @Bruce we are at approx 16 vessells and 50+ people at the moment for sunday

 

[bronze_10]

OK....Alistair and I now have a reservation at the Motel 6 just down the street from Harbor Town for Saturday night. Our plan is to get up as early as I can get the "old fella" up and hit the ramp. Not sure we'll connect with the main group departure at 6am....but we shouldn't be too far behind! Once we are in the water, we will monitor channel 69 to see where you guys are at, and appraise you of our status. Will also connect via cell phone with @Andy S or @bronze_10 (or whomever is designated/volunteers) just to keep in sync. We won't get down to FL until 9-10 Sat night. I hope to get the boat prepped (like Bimini cover on etc) that night as we are literally 5 blocks from the ramp....so no highway trailering issues.

Our living room floor/couch will also be available in case anyone from Monday needs a place to sleep.

My wife has accepted the position of communications officer for our boat during the crossing... She will monitor the handheld radio with a set of head phones and the inreach as well as any phone messages...