Sunny Winter Fun: THE BAHAMAS

I took 4 sons, for 4 weeks, on a 44’ sloop, through the Abacos… that garland of natural and remote islands circling the NE edge of the grand Bahama chain! We swam with dolphins, made campfires in isolated coves, dove for granddaddy starfish, watched conch harvests, biked and fished, went scuba diving at the Green Turtle, and soaked up sunsets at tiki bars in the middle of nowhere!

You can do this too! It’s this simple:

~Pick a boat! Here is a dependable outfit: http://www.floridayacht.com/

~Get yourself to Miami! It’s only 50 miles from there to the Bahamas, and riding the current of the Gulf stream north to your landfall makes for an easy sail!

~Meet our savvy seaman, Captain Dave! He knows the “ropes” and can be hired to guide you every step of the way, for a safe and anxiety-free journey!

~Do you sailing homework: Sailing the ocean (even just 50 miles of it) is no small undertaking! It can be done by inexperienced adventurers (accompanied by able Captain, of course!) but deserves thoughtful planning.

Work with the captain to organize a thorough safety equipment list, and know how to use it! I invested in water-activated beacons for each life jacket and a Serious spotlight!

Make a Rule Chart, review it with every single person, post it in the boat, and ENFORCE IT STRICTLY! Our big one was: No one on deck without a life jacket!

Pack a good first aid kit. You will be on your own a lot of the time, so be ready to deal with sunburn, insects (take a good After-bite pen), intestinal upset, splinters, burns and cuts!

~Plan! This is the fun part! Get everyone involved!

Start by getting Capt Dave to recommend a good route (the Bahamas has over 700 islands, scattered over 500 miles, with some routes more catering to sailboats than others!

Create a list of activities your family or group enjoys. Are you scuba divers? History lovers? Interested in fishing? Work these into the itinerary.

Plan LOTS of on-board activities. Reading books, marine biology charts and directories, nautical lessons, fishing gear, special menus/treats (the galley works while you’re sailing!), board games of all sorts, CARDS (and a card game book, for new ideas along the way), and journals with journaling supplies!

~Buy a chart (nautical term for “map”—makes you sound official!) so you all can follow, and mark, your route!

~Prepare to be flexible! Many things may change your plans. On our trip, we had setbacks from (more than one) thunderstorm, a melted impellor, a lost ATM card, a jammed toe, and a recalcitrant 14 year old.

~Get excited! So much is in store for you… great seafood, senses full of fresh air and water landscapes, a novel “home”, lands to explore, meals in your bathing suit, and time uninterrupted for you to share with those you love!

If all this just sounds like too much to tackle, the Bahamas are also perfect for:

…an overnight escape to Nassau -less than 2 hours travel time away! (Remind you of those Suitcase parties from college days?)

...a weekend break, for a mini-vacation of sunshine and beaches! (and gambling)

…a Cruise! (Princess, Royal Caribbean, and NCL are just a few cruise lines showcasing Bahamas as a port destination!)

...a romantic getaway at Sandals! Choose between the Royal Bahamian spa resort & offshore island or -- opening January 2010 -- the Sandals Emerald Bay on Great Exuma! Check it out:

http://www.sandals.com/main/emerald/em-home.cfm

…a family vacation to a barefoot-only resort on one of Bahamas outlying islands (see Sidebar. This place is so wonderful, I’ll blog on it soon!)

Whichever way suits you, remember the Bahamas for accessible, inexpensive, island adventure this winter!