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Old 04-09-2019, 07:42 AM   #11
Maerin
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City: East Coast
Vessel Name: M/V Maerin (Sold)
Vessel Model: Solo 4303
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 886
We've departed No Name a number of times, it's pretty straightforward. We have left before sunrise, at sunrise. If your wife is averse to the dark, a daylight run a day ahead or so would give you a track to follow in the dark. It's really a no-brainer, since you're not going to be venturing out in crap weather anyway. Remind her that the calmest seas will likely be before dawn. OR, just leave at 1st light. We have determined that it's much easier to retrace our steps and leave well before sunup and have the advantage of arriving at an unfamiliar anchorage/location well before daylight is waning. Much more relaxed. FWIW

Attached is a screenshot of our 2015 track, we left at 0641, we were buddy boating with folks who were also averse to being in the dark. We cruise at about 6.6 kts. you can see our avg. speed and the total length. I can send you the track if you'd like for reference. We typically go to Blue Water Resort Marina, $1/ft. close to Customs & Immigration, can typically get tied up and checked in well before Customs closes. Recommend call them a day or 2 ahead to reserve. The marina stay is inexpensive, secure, and if the WX window isn't great, you can wait it out securely. There are worse places to wait WX than Bimini. We also take a day and get Bimini bread, and stop at the BTC store to get SIM cards and get the phone setup.

Honeymoon Harbor is great in settled WX. If E winds pipe up, there's a WHOLE lotta fetch that can make that area very uncomfortable. Entrance between Gun & Cat is easy, go by the Explorer charts. The entrance to Bimini Harbor is easy, some of the markers are really off station, AC has current tips.

You can also check in at Cat for a fee. Slips there are pricey. If you stop off at Honeymoon harbor, take some bait along to feed the rays, lots of fun! They congregate by the recently installed pier on N end of Gun.

Enjoy!
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NoName_depart.jpg  
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