Med out Bahamas in

oceandrive

oceandrive

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www.oceandrivecharter.com
We are planning to ship the boat out to the Bahamas for a few months to give it a go as a change from the Med. But although this is all booked and a deal done on a slip. I guess the problems are just about to start. So asking anybody with Bahamas boating experience to give me some guidance.

Boat is to be berthed in the new Albany marina New Providance.

Boat is being shipped By Dockwise float on float off. and I as captain go as a rider where I can do maintainance, antifouling, polishing, etc etc on route across the Atlantic, 10-15 days

We have an Atlas converter as part of the deal with the marina so the power should be sorted although I am not fully comfortable that this will be reliable so gens to fall back on.

Plan to be there for around four months Shipping Oct then staying Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar then back to Med April May.

So has anybody done this trip shipping across the atlantic or can anybody throw any advice, tips my way re the Bahamas, especialy licensing or any suprise requirements I may have missed or have not researched.

By the way we fly the Maltese flag.
 
I don't know anything about the practicalities of this but trust me I am already green with envy :p

I spent one week in the Bahamas a few years back when our children were still young enough to go on holiday with us. We just loved it there and the sea was fabulous and teeming with life. The laid back attitude of the Bahamas and large alcohol portions didn't take me very long to adapt to. Oh to have my own boat there too. Heaven!
 
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We are thinking of doing the same thing next year, so would ask you to keep us updated with how things go.

Good luck for the winter.

By the way the charts you sold me are first class. Many thanks.

DougH
 
I hope they dont mind me mentioning them but I think from this very forum, Banjansailor is based in Barbados and Rum Priate is St Kitts.

No doubt they could be helpful with the general area.

Best of luck and enjoy the trip. :) I shall now go a bit greener!!!!!!!!
 
I am somewhat envious of you, as I have never been.

Hope that you have a great time.

Afraid I can't help much as the Bahamas are about 1,050 miles away.

The Caribbean is a fairly large place. :)

Recommend the Mount Gay Extra Old rum. With water/ soda water/ginger ale and a slice of lime NOT lemon. Ice is a given.

The Bahamas are a 'short' 180 mile trip (each way) to Miami.

Water is usually clear and relatively shallow. Watch out for submerged sand bars (and reefs) when gunkholing.

You will have to get used to the laid back attitude in the Caribbean.

They don't have a word like 'mañana' as they have no use for a word with that great a sense of urgency. Chill out man - see my signature below.

VERY IMPORTANT If you do do the Bahamas to Miami trip you WILL need to have a US VISA.

You (UK citizen) will NOT be allowed to enter on the visa waiver program

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html


Important Notices

ESTA Updates:

New ESTA Fee: Effective September 8, 2010, all Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) registration applications or renewals on or after that date will require a $14.00 fee payment by credit or debit card. Existing ESTA registrations remain valid through their expiration date. For more information, please visit the ESTA webpage on the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection website.

ESTA is Required: Effective January 20, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security is transitioning to enforced compliance of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) requirement for VWP travelers. Therefore, VWP travelers who have not obtained approval through ESTA should expect to be denied boarding on any air carrier bound for the United States.

As of January 12, 2009, a valid ESTA approval is required for all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to travel to the United States. The Department of Homeland Security, Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the VWP. It collects the same information as the paper I-94W form that VWP travelers fill out en route to the United States. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel. An ESTA authorization generally will be valid for up to two years. Authorizations will be valid for multiple entries into the United States. DHS recommends that travelers submit an ESTA application as soon as they begin making travel plans.

Learn more about ESTA on the DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website, www.cbp.gov. ESTA applications may be completed online at the official DHS website, which is: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. Review the important DHS Advisory Warning about unauthorized third-party ESTA application related web sites.

Emergency Passports: Effective July 1, 2009, all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) emergency or temporary passports must be electronic passports (e-Passports) to be eligible for travel to the United States under the VWP. This includes VWP applicants who present emergency or temporary passports to transit the United States. Learn more.

GREECE: On March 9, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security designated Greece as a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Greek nationals can travel on the VWP beginning April 5, 2010. However, potential Greek travelers may apply for travel authorization approval under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) beginning immediately.
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File0492.jpg

There is an anchor in this picture. :)
 
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When does a national of a VWP country need to apply for a visa instead of using the VWP?
Nationals of VWP countries must meet the guidelines listed in the section above in order to seek admission to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Travelers who do not meet these guidelines must apply for a visa.

A visa must be requested if the traveler:

Wants to remain in the United States for longer than 90 days, or envisions that they may wish to change their status (from tourism to student, etc.) once in the United States;
Wants to work or study in the United States, travel as a working foreign media representative, come to the United States for other purposes not allowed on a visitor visa, or intends to immigrate to the United States;
Is a national of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Republic of Korea, or the Slovak Republic AND DOES NOT HAVE an electronic passport with an integrated chip;
Is a national of one of the VWP countries not listed above AND DOES NOT have a machine-readable passport (MRP)(depending on the date the MRP was issued, renewed, or extended, it may also need to contain a digital photograph or an integrated electronic chip);
Intends to travel by private aircraft or other non-VWP approved air or sea carriers to the United States. Click here to see the approved carriers list;(http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/87163.pdf)
Has a criminal record or other condition making them ineligible for a visa (see Classes of Aliens Ineligible for Visas).
Has been refused admission to the United States before, or did not comply with the conditions of previous VWP admissions (90 days or less stay for tourism or business, etc.).
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The exhumas are one of the best places I ever visited by boat, about an hour from Nassau wonderful everything, fishing, diving, swimming it's just another world.
 
Thanks Rum Pirate I presumed that visas were OK on the waver program but its something we are just starting to investigate. The boat goes to Port everglades first then we plan to take it to its berth Albany Nassau.

My understandingis that no visa is required for up to 8 months UK parsort holder???? this is one thing I know we must get right also I had been told about crew visas?? Do you know anything about this.

I am also presuming that a YM 200t will be adiquate as a license for both USa and Bahalmas?

Any comments apreciated.
 
oceandrive said:
Thanks Rum Pirate I presumed that visas were OK on the waver program but its something we are just starting to investigate. The boat goes to Port everglades first then we plan to take it to its berth Albany Nassau.

My understandingis that no visa is required for up to 8 months UK parsort holder???? this is one thing I know we must get right also I had been told about crew visas?? Do you know anything about this.

I am also presuming that a YM 200t will be adiquate as a license for both USA and Bahalmas?

Any comments apreciated.
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My understanding is that if UK Passport holders go in by private boat (or nonscheduled carrier - there is a list) you and all aboard WILL require to have a Visa in your passport.

The Visa Waiver Program is NOT VALID for such travel.

At worst, you would probably be held incommunicado and deported at the end of it. :eek:



deported.jpg


Not a good stamp to have in your passport and on your immigration computer record.

Suggest you carefully read the web site AND probably a call to the American Embassy just to check on latest update (if any) would be a good idea.

I have no idea of visa requirements by the Bahama authorities.
 
If you enter the states on a plane and get a 3 month visa waiver stamp you can then re enter by private boat with out a problem within the 90 day period of the visa.
I lived and operated a charter yacht in The Abacos for 3 years, it is a great cruising area particularly if you draw less than 5'
 
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