Cruise Abaco Adds Leopard 44

Joining the Cruise Abaco fleet is Nomad, a Leopard 44 cat with the desirable 4-cabin, 4-head layout, giving each cabin its own head with shower.  The aft cockpit has twin swim platforms plus a versatile seating arrangement around a table for alfresco meals. The helmsperson is protected by a continuous hardtop. Inside, the salon is bright and airy, with a forward door leading to the bow seating area as well as the anchor windlass. The galley is forward, while another dinette wraps around a table, and the salon and all cabins are air conditioned.  Power is a pair of 39hp Yanmar diesels, and Nomad includes an 11-ft. hard-bottom RIB dinghy with a 15hp outboard.  For info, CruiseAbaco.com or 321-473-4223.  

Great New Way To BVIs!!

Getting to the BVIs has been a pain in the a** since the ferries stopped running during the pandemic, and flying from St. Thomas to Beef Island on Tortola has become iffy.  But....

Here's the new cool way.  Dolphin Water Taxi has a seamless way that not only gets you from St. Thomas (the point where many U.S. flights arrive) to Tortola (where your charter starts) that is not only calming but fun.  Their attitude is "Fly In, Water Taxi Out".  Just go to the Dolphin Water Taxi desk (left) at the St Thomas airport (STT) and they will put you on one of their chartered twin-engined planes for the short hope to Beef Island on Tortola.  At the Dolphin counter in St Thomas, your Dolphin rep will meet you with free cold beer, water, and rum shots while you wait for luggage.  Then they escort you directly to the plane and you're there!

Then, when you're ready to return, one of the Dolphin Water Taxi will pick you up dockside at your charter boat (or charter base) and zip you back to St Thomas, where they will zip you back to STT via the Dophin taxi.  How easy can it be? No hanging around at Beef Island airport, no taxis, no grief.

And the price (at present is $199 pp from STT to Beef via airplane, and $169pp from your charter boat (and that includes the taxi!).  Dolphin even clears travelers out of the BVIs, saving you paperwork.  

Love it!  Contact Dolphin Water Taxi at www.Dolphinshuttle.com or call them (340) 774-2628.  

BVI Shoots Self In Foot

Just when you thought it was going to be easier to get back to bareboating in the BVIs, the government has stepped in.  In a bureaucratic move that one wag suggested wasn't just shooting itself in the foot, "It's machine-gunning it's foot!".

Less than 12 hours before the BVI seaports were due to open, Premier Andrew Fahie called a delay until late January (1/21/21).  The reason is the ferry terminals weren't ready.  Whatever.

Now any bareboaters planning to fly to St. Thomas (STT) and catch the public ferry to the BVIs will now have to arrive by air at the Beef Island Airport (EIS).  

The BVI government also slapped hefty fines on a bareboat skipper who was sailing out of St. Thomas.  He allegedly had no intention of going to the BVIs, but inadvertantly cross the border line.  He was taken by BVI police, the crew was put in quarantine at a local hotel, and the skipper slapped with a sizable fine.  Seems a bit unfriendly although, to be fair and considering the GPS and chartplotters now on bareboats, making an "oops, we crossed into another country" seems questionable.  

Just be forewarned that the BVIs are prickly right now, however you hope to arrive.

Sail The Gulf Stream To The Abacos!!

Cruise Abaco, which is not surprisingly nased in the Abacos, is staging another Gulf Stream adventure!  This is a crossing of the Gulf Stream from Florida to their base in the Abacos, on the boat of your choice, either monohull or catamaran.  

On board, you'll have a certified ASA Instructor Captain to provide ASA Training while you're aboard if you wish.  The dates for the next trip are set at December 4 but, personally, I suspect that it's proving so successful that there will be further opportunities to challenge the Gulf Stream.  

For details, contact cruiseabaco.sales@gmail.com or check out their website at www.cruiseabaco.com.  

These are good folks who come with CharterSavvy's recommendation, so start packing your duffel!

If December is a little too close for your planning, the folks at Cruise Abaco are also planning a reverse Gulf Stream crossing from the Abacos to Port Canaveral in Florida for the end of the season in July. Check with them for the exact dates.  

New Rules For Bahamas (Part 57)

If it seems that the Bahamas keeps changing the hoops you have to jump through to go bareboating in the Bahamas, well.....they do.  The latest set of rules is below, but the high point is that the Government has postponed the Rapid Antigen Tests originally required at the Port of Entry, and now are requring the test on the 5th day of stay.  For now, anyway.  

Here's the latest info, which is valid for ten minutes or until dusk, whichever comes first:

• The Government intends to remove the "Vacation-in-Place" (VIP) protocols beginning November 1, 2020.
• All persons traveling to the Bahamas must obtain a negative COVID 19 RT-PCR (swab) test taken no more than five (5) days prior to travel.  Children 10 years and younger are exempt from testing. However, you still must apply for a Travel Health Visa for them.
• All Travelers will be required to apply for a Bahamas Health Travel Visa at travel.gov.bs
• For the duration of the visit, Visitors will complete a daily online health questionnaire for symptom tracking purposes.
• Beginning November 14th, Trip Interruption Health Insurance will be mandatory.  This will be included in the cost of the Health Travel Visa.  
• There will be a cost applied for the Health Travel Visa.  The fees are inclusive of the Day 5 Rapid Antigen Test when applicable as well as mandatory Trip Interruption Health Insurance.
  
  $40 - Visitors Staying up to four nights and five days
  $40 - Citizens and Returning Residents
  $60 - Visitors staying more than four nights
  FREE - Children 10 and Under
• If Visitors stay beyond 4 nights and 5 days, a Rapid Antigen Test will be required.
• This test will be available in all Out Island Destinations (example: Staniel Cay Yacht Club will be offering the 5th day test to Hotel and Marina Guests, as well as travelers in the area).
• The wearing of masks and social distancing guidelines remain in effect.
  
  ***If assistance is needed through the Health Visa process, please contact the Health Visa Compliance Team***
  (242) 502-0829
  healthvisa@bahamas.com