Bahama Fling

H

Hap-E-Cruzer

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I need the good, bad and ugly about going to the Bahama's with one of the Bahama sponsored ( I assume they are) Flings in June or July. Any info would be helpful, is this something a newbie should consider?
 
Well, I admit that my info is both limited as well as old, but I have always heard that joining a "fling" was THE way for a "newbie" to make the crossing.

The most important aspects are that you are going as a group, and, in this case, that is a real plus. If something goes wrong, you will likely nave nearby assistance. Plus, everyone will be going to the same place, at more or less the same time, so your navigation skills will be "backed up" by other vessels making the trip.

I'll leave all other details to those with more/fresher experience than I have.
 
I could go into a rather long diatribe on this. It's late. But briefly, if you consider the weather carefully, know you capabilities and equipment well, choose a crossing likely to be favorable with many others, you don't need a fling. You might even be better off.
We did it on our own every time. We will not consider otherwise. Will we regret it? Damned if I know.

Fire away with questions...
 
Well, I certainly respect ya'lls opinions. Since I am following Boatbum on the blog, I am aware of your knowledge and experience.
We are still thinking about making the trip this year, just don't know if there would be others to hook up with when the time comes. I am very comfortable with my skill level and feel the vessel is mechanically good to go. Since this 420 Sea Ray has never made a crossing it lacks many items, such as, EPIRB, life raft, inverter, back up GPS/Chartplotter, etc. I was thinking we might be able to avoid some of these expenses if we went with a fling the first time over. I would install the inverter and maybe the Chartplotter either way. We do have radar, RL80C, and auto pilot but it's all 8-10 years old
We don't necessarily like the idea of having an agenda but that's just part of a group trip.
Thanks for the help......
 
The age of your electronics has little to do with it as long as you understand how to us them properly. As a back I'd just get a hand held GPS with a dash mount.

I would definitely go with the Fling if that makes you feel more comfortable.
 
Ok, no sweat. Include some spares for the ride. Fuel filters, impellers, belts etc.. I forget are you gas or diesel?

FWIW we paid 5.89 for diesel in Marsh Harbour the other day. Put a sting on the credit card and only 160 gallons.

I believe there have been folks that went the fling route a few years ago and if you are going to scrimp on safety gear perhaps that is the best plan as long as you can keep up, or they keep up with you.

If you are going to do it, I'll suggest the Abaco trip. Hopefully they can get discounts at the marinas during that time frame.
 
First, going in June or July is the best time to make a crossing, definitely the best time to go. Winds are almost always out of the east to south east in June and July and you might even get lucky and get winds of 5 knts or less out of the south. We have always crossed on our own, but have run into the Bahama flings groups before. These are particularly good if you are in a small center console. We carry a full suite of safety equipment including 2 epirbs, ocean liferaft, etc., but we do a couple of Bahamas trips a year solo and as far as the exumas as well as offshore runs with the boat between the Chesapeake and FL.

So for us, I consider the safety equipment mandatory and would not cross the gulf stream or run 50 miles offshore wihthout an epirb and life raft if going alone, but would do it without an epirb or liferaft with a Bahama Fling group. The worst case scenario is you have a problem in the middle of the gulf stream and drift north into the atlantic and then an epirb and liferaft could be very handy, at the same time on most days, especially weekends you will see several boats crossing between the Miami/West Palm inlets and West End/Lucaya or Bimini. My BoatUS towing pachage goes from the FL coast line to something like 100 miles out off the southern FL coastline.

Navigation is pretty easy if you very carefuly follow the GPS coordinates in the must have Steve Dodge guide to the Abacos or similar Explorer charts for Bimini and the Exumas. We use both the explorer charts and the guides routinely. If you venture off of the standard routes into anchorages or less traveled shallower areas, then caution and an ability to read the water become important. You should definitely have a backup GPS, in our previous boat I carried a backup handheld battery powered GPS with all coordinates pre-programmed but in our current boat there are two helms each programmed independently and we keep the hand held in the ditch bag with a hand held VHF and PLB.

We have two trips planned this year mid June to the Abacos and mid July to the Berrys and Exumas. Although we usually travel alone, you are welcome to cross with us if the dates work out.
 
Dan....it's a diesel

Rick....thanks for the offer, we'll see how this pans out....

Should know more for sure in next couple of months, we have several small trips planned between now and then so we'll see how they go and will be upgrading our boat in the meantime.
Thanks again guys.....
 
We will be crossing in May this year for the month. We have gone once in April (that was breezy!). May was good for us twice. June, last year, was windy so we stayed in the Keys. We have a 30' power cat that cruises at 17 knots and burns 4gph. PLBs on both life vests, sat phone, SPOT, XM weather, spare GPS. No life raft as we do not have room and the boat has positive flotation.

We went with a sister ship the first time. Then two trips on our own. My advice to you is to wait for a good weather window, do not stick to a schedule, and most importantly, do what you are comfortable with. You are obviously a good captain for asking such questions.
 
I've been on two Flings. My first crossing was a 4 day trip with a Fling. The weather was great and the trip was great fun. Two boats had minor problems that were taken care of by members of the fling. My second crossing was planned to be 12 days. The morning of departure had thunderstorms offshore. We delayed departure until 10am. We left in conditions that I would never have gone on my own. We ended up in 6 - 8 footers before I turned back. I was the 5th boat to turn around.

The lessons I learned from both of these flings are:
1. Some people who go on flings don't prepare their boats for offshore travel to remote locations.
2. The fling provides a false security. I allowed the fling leader to determine when I would start the crossing.

As the captain of your boat, only you decide when everything is ready (weather, boat, and crew). It is easier to delay when you travel alone. The preparation of the boat should be the same.

I really enjoyed the first fling. I learned a very valuable lesson on the second fling. I've made 3 crossing alone since.
 
quote:
Originally posted by deerows

I really enjoyed the first fling. I learned a very valuable lesson on the second fling. I've made 3 crossing alone since.

Click to expand...


Sounds like two good reasons to try a Fling. :-)
 
I have been going to the Bahamas since 1995, first on as 23' boat, and first time with the Bahamas tourist group. They have several "flings" each summer. I was the "fling" lead boat on many trips after 1999. You met many great people. And for your first trip I would suggest the fling. Contact Richard Treco and the Bahamas tourist group in Ft Lauderdale....he is usally the Bahamas contact and will very helpful. Mention my name to him, he will know me, for sure.
Good luck, after you first trip with a group you will be able to do it over and over alone.
 
On one of our trips over to Bimini there was a Fling staying at the Bluewater.

They were having a ball and got a lot of comfort of traveling with a group.

There will always be some issues when you have a large number of boats together making a crossing unless it is a flat day with everyone's equipment in great shape. Many of the issues on a rough day are seasickness, water in fuel tanks shaken up and causing problems etc.

The BoaterED group that started crossing in 2001 was larger than most Bahama Flings. We had 20 plus, one turnback, one prop change halfway across and a good time was had by all.

The turnback solved their issue and cruised into Bimini before sundown!

DaveS
 
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