Bimini Sands Resort and Marina on South Bimini Island
January 7 – 18 2012
Latitude:25.71066
Longitude:-79.29953
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We entered the gulfstream shortly after 9:00. The seas are relatively calm, but there are north-south rollers and we are heading west to east, so it is a little rocky. At 9:30, I can still see the City of Miami skyline. We arrived at Bimini Sands Resort and Marina (suggested by Cricket and Charlie Clifton) at approximately 11:30 with our quarantine and Bahamas flags flying. Rick went by taxi to the airport to check in. We have planned to spend about a week in the Bimini’s. Rick returned from the customs office with our clearance for 90 days. He had told them that we plan to stay in the Bahamas for 6 months, but they gave us clearance for 3 months for our $300 fee and told him that he could check in at the customs office, wherever we are in 3 months, for a 3-month extension. We are told that this procedure is pretty common. So, today, 1/7/12 is Day 1 of 90 in the Bahamas (BD1). We checked out the resort and then rested before going to dinner at the Bimini Twist Restaurant. The food was very good but we were disappointed in the service.
BD2 (1/8/12) – We took a dingy ride to the Bimini Bay Resort which is still under construction. We found a nice bar and restaurant, poolside, where I had a pina colada for my friend Joy. As I write this, on Sunday afternoon, most of the weekenders have left and the marina is quiet. We have been told that their “season” doesn’t start until March. We ran the water maker for about an hour this morning and made about 18 gallons of good drinkable water. The restaurant here at the marina is only open for breakfast and lunch at this time of year, but the resort provides bus service to the other restaurant and bar as well as to a nature walk and to the ferry to Alicetown on North Bimini. We plan to do the nature walk and take the ferry one day while we are here.
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BD3 (1/9/12) – We ran the water maker again this morning. This afternoon, we took the dingy out to the south of the marina. When we came in to the resort, their website recommended coming in south of the entrance channel using way-points, then finding a couple of range markers and heading for them. We never saw the markers until today. They are on the island north of the beach club. The closest structure to the markers is a three-story blue house with white trim and a silver-gray metal roof. It also has a matching covered deck on the beach. About 100 yards north of that structure are the two range markers – on the beach. They are difficult to find because some Australian pines have grown up on the beach between the water and the markers. Today was an absolutely gorgeous day. We now think we’ll be leaving on Thursday to move with the best weather.
BD4 (1/10/12) – Today, we walked to the ferry (because the resort bus doesn’t start running until 3:00 at this time of year.) It wasn’t too long a walk and we got to stop in a few shops along the way. One of the shops was called Booze and Screws – that’s right, they sold alcohol and hardware! After reading a Bimini Visitors’ Guide, I was excited to go into Alice Town and take a walking tour. We paid two dollars each one-way to take the ferry over. Our first stop was the craft center. Fewer than half of the 17 stalls were open. I was offered a long-sleeved T-shirt for $20, but I declined. The Bimini Museum, built in 1921, was closed. The public library was open, but we did not go in. We walked past the Dolphin House which was built and is occupied by a local author, Ashley Saunders. It is supposed to contain an art gallery and mini-museum, but we were hungry so we went past it to the Bimini Big Game Club for lunch. This club was made famous by Ernest Hemmingway. It is now owned and operated by Guy Harvey. We walked back toward the ferry along the beach road and returned to the boat mid-afternoon.
BD5 (1/11/12) – The wind is blowing 15-18 mph and it is overcast. We took the bus shortly after 3:00 to the Bimini Sands Nature Walk and took the one-mile self-guided tour. We walked for about an hour and learned a lot about the flora and fauna of the island as well as some history that we had not yet heard. One of the stops along the walk was on a high dune overlooking the beach. It was the ruins of the home of an Australian, Percy Cavill. Winner of the Gold Medal in the World Swimming championships in 1899, he is credited with developing “Australian crawl” swimming stroke. Cavill lived on South Bimini and swam to work at the Bimini Rod and Gun Club on North Bimini each day.
BD6 (1/12/12) – The winds were down and the sun was out, but the seas were still rolling, so we are here for at least one more day.
BD7 & 8 (1/13 & 14/12) – Although Friday might have been our best weather day for a few more, we discovered last night that our waste tank pump is not working. This is an essential pump in the Bahamas. While almost every marina in Florida has a pump out station or access to a mobile one, very few have the same sort of equipment in the Bahamas. We got the pump on Saturday. Rick will work on installing it tomorrow.
BD9 (1/15/12) – Upon arising, Rick found that there is not enough room for him to get into the engine room where the old pump is, so he is going to check with the folks that work here at the marina as to a local mechanic who is small enough to get in there and do the work. It is breezy today, but sunny and a little cool. It is still shirtsleeve weather and wonderful. We have, once again, been rescued by a local working man. First, by the Tow Boat US man between Naples and Marco Island and now by a “skinny” airplane and marine mechanic. He came out on a Sunday and replaced the pump in less than two hours. Now, we just wait on a good weather day to move to our next location.
BD10 (1/16/12) – We went to Alice Town today via the ferry due to the winds. We had lunch at the Big Game Club and then walked just a little further to discover the Memorial Park on the water side and Roberts Grocery across the street. We bought a few fresh vegetables and snacks and headed back to the boat. Note: The historical museum was now open and there were more booths open at the craft center.
BD11 (1/17/12) – We’ve checked the weather sites and have determined that tomorrow will be a good day for us to leave Bimini and head to Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands. Today we’ll use the marina’s laundry facility ($3/load), check systems, and prepare for an early start in the morning.
Topped off fuel tanks and departed on 1/18/12 at 8:00 AM. Rounded North Rock at approximately 8:45.
Our journey has been inspired by Joy and Steve Fredrick. You can see more of their story at