Note: This data is provided for information only. Navigation decisions are the responsibility of each captain and should be based on appropriate navigation charts for the area supplemented by local knowledge. These passage reports are provided by cruisers based on their experiences. Use with caution.
Area: N of Grand Bahama Island
Passage / Location: Memory Rock Passage
Vessel Reporting: SV Onward
Date: 22 Dec 09
Report: Onward crossed over from Florida to Great Sale Cay on the evening of 21 Dec 09. On a course of 87º Mag to the Memory Rocks waypoint (Explorer Charts, Near Bahamas, Chart 3) and 92º Mag from Memory Rocks waypoint to Great Sale Cay waypoint, the minimum depth encountered along this route across the area shown as the shallowest on Explorer Chart was 11.9'. Just 0.6 nm E of the Memory Rock waypoint, the depth shoaled to 9 to 10' for about 1 nm with a minimum of 8.8' seen at one point. The passage was made at 0430 22 Dec; tide at the Memory Rock station was 0.4' above MLW.
Area: N of Grand Bahama Island
Passage / Location: Memory Rock Passage
Vessel Reporting: SV Onward
Date: 26 Nov 10
Report: SV Onward crossed from Lake Worth Inlet to Mangrove Cay on 26 Nov 10. This year, I left waypoints at the transition point from the shallowest depth shown on the Navionics charts for this area and the next deeper area as Onward sailed to the Memory Rock and then on to the Mangrove Cay waypoints on the Explorer Charts. The new waypoints:
Mem Rk W: 26º 54.595N ; 79º 04.790W; depth = 15.0'; heading 83º
Mem Rk E: 26º 55.041N; 79º 02.315W; depth = 13.7'; heading 94º
The transit was made 27 Nov 10 at ~1500 hrs EST when the tide at the Memory Rock tide station was 2.0' Again, I encountered a shallower area E of the Memory Rock and new Mem Rk E waypoints in an area shown to be in deeper water on the Navionics charts. The depth shoaled to 11' to 12' for about 1 nm.
Area: Gulf Stream
Passage / Location: Between Lake Worth Inlet and Memory Rock
Vessel Reporting: SV Onward
Date: 26 Nov 10
Report: SV Onward crossed the Gulf Stream, departing Lake Worth Inlet at 0430 for the Memory Rock passage onto the Little Bahama Banks. The cross current encountered as reported by the Raymarine E120 chartplotter and autopilot was:
Distance from Lake Worth Inlet (nm); Current set velocity N (kt)
0.5 ; 3.0
4.0; 4.2 - 4.4
20; 3.8
25; 3.1
30; 2.2
45; 2.5
53; 1.0
Note: the reported W wall of the Gulf Stream was reported to be at 7 nm off of Lake Worth Inlet but Onward began to encounter significant N current as soon as we exited the inlet.
Area: Long Island to Jumentos
Passage / Location: Comer Channel to Jumentos
Vessel Reporting: SV Onward
Date: 9 Mar 11
Report:
Note: there is some variation in the guidance given for what the time offset is between high tide in Nassau and the high tide in the Comer Channel. This passage found adequate depths for transit at about 2 hrs before the Nassau high tide. High Tide at Nassau for 8 Mar 11 = 1133
The passage follows a broad natural depression across the banks. Caution: Be on the lookout for ferries, mailboats and other large vessels that use this passage.
Location | Time | NM | Depth | Tide at Nassau |
Indian Head Pt. | 0800 | 0 | 2.20 | |
Comer E | 0940 | 11 | 8.8 | 2.90 |
0948 | 12 | 7.9 | 3.00 | |
0953 | 12 | 7.9 | 3.00 | |
1001 | 14 | 7.4 | 3.10 | |
Comer | 1010 | 15 | 7.5 | 3.10 |
1018 | 16 | 8.1 | 3.10 | |
1042 | 18 | 8.9 | 3.20 | |
Comer W | 1110 | 22 | 11.5 | 3.30 |
Updated: 29 Feb 12