Another Bahamas COVID Update

Not loosing sleep. NY has 411k cases but a staggering 32k death. FL may have a few more cases 423k cases (although that translates to roughly the same rate because of a higher population) but only a fraction of fatalities at 5800

bahamas so far only has 11 fatalities.

Unfortunately there is no one set of symptoms. It hits different people differently. Seems it mutates extremely well.

First day felt extremely tired and like I was catching something. Second day I had a terrible cough but with no phlegm or nasal blockage that night started a fever and within 2 hours it went to 103.5 degrees......took lots of tylenol cold/flu and a cold bath, felt miserable, next morning fever still 101.5, went to doctor who prescribed prednisone (steroid) and Z-pack (zythromax), I was sick as a dog for 2 weeks and it took 6 weeks for the occasional cough to go away.

Bahamas quarantine expended to all travelers incl private boats and private/charter aircrafts.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/jul/28/all-arrivals-must-quarantine-14-days/

The question is how long can the Bahamas survive... that same paper has an article about 1 in 4 bahamian being in need of food assistance and another one about the need to raise taxes which will only aggravate the crisis.

Mentioning two articles about how desperate things are getting here is not stating an opinion. This is getting completely out of hand.

We crossed back into the US Sunday, from Bimini. Cleared out at Bimini customs with no problems on Saturday afternoon. They had no idea of what the current rules were, and were following the previous rules regarding travel on private boats with a 10 day negative PCR test. To get the health Visa you must have a PCR test – they will not accept a rapid nasal swab test. There were many boats anchored off Bimini who perhaps had trouble entering. The Big Game club was empty, maybe 4 or 5 boats. The marina physically locked the gates so you could not leave the marina premises after 7 PM but you could use the pool. Everything closed by 6 PM.

With Abacos essentially closed, and no one going to the Med or down island, the Exumas were unusually crowded with bigger boats. Lots of big 100+ foot boats anchored throughout and slips are very hard to get. Compass, Highbourne, and Staniel had no slips available for the two weeks we were there, aside from the reservation we had at Staniel.

Highbourne was hit by lightning a week or two ago and had no phones and very limited internet. Fuel was cheapest in years, we paid $3.34 at Hurricane Hole.

Chub Cay was in very nice shape and pretty crowded but they have some new bizarre policy for slip fees where you pay for the slip and not by the foot and the price changes every time you call. I was quoted $379 + tax on the way there for a 55 ft slip, then $250 for a 60 ft slip on the way back, which they would not honor 20 minutes later and finally paid $275 a night.

Good seeing you the other day

We stopped at chub on the way over July 1. Indeed very nice now, but weird. To get the best rate which vary every day, you have to book and pay online.

Publicly speculating on how areas will handle the economic impact is putting pressure on them to ignore the health threat in favor of the economic threat. Definitely propaganda and that's politics. Not our business. Stick to the reports and facts if you don't want the thread to devolve again and end up ticking off Carl again and getting an important thread closed again.

At this point in time it's impossible to plan any trips more than a week out. All you can do is come up with a fluid plan, wait and then make changes depending on where the chips fall at the time. It seems that the only trips really you can plan right now are Maine to Florida.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/jul/28/one-four-need-food-assistance/

propaganda? Speculation? Politics? 25% of the population in need of food assistance. Not our business? How do you think it s going to affect travel to the Bahamas this winter.... I can tell you it is going to affect where boats can go

It was nice to see you as well. I have to say the Exumas remains one of the nicest place to visit with exceptional water and so many islands and anchorages to visit. Staniel Cay seems to be holding up well through the crisis so far.

I should mention that we were approached and questioned in a very professional way by a 150 ft Coastguard cutter about 25 miles offshore, who then proceeded to stop the next distant boat.

Actually on your trip it should've been amazing. None of the 40-50' center consoles running around to all of the spots with 30-50 cruise ship tourists each.

That s happened to us many times over the years.

staniel is a lot nicer without boats.

Yeah, the Big Majors anchorage is so much quieter without all of those tourist center consoles going to visit the pigs. There are about 20 something baby pigs as of last week which would have been a big draw for the tourists.

We stopped at Yacht haven on the way in and had dinner at the Poop Deck. 6:30 PM on a Sunday and there were a total of two tables seated including us. Its absolutely empty in Nassau with Atlantis closed and no cruise ships - much nicer but a heavy economic toll.

We have just returned to the Bahamas.
There are some new regs that must be adhered to, testing is down to 5 days and you must let the Bahamas Maritime Authority know your intentions.
I sent them an email, an heard back 2 days later, after I had already cleared in and made it on to my final destination. They sent me a form which was dated yesterday to fill out, which I did and now waiting for a response for my next movement.
They are definitely coming up with rules and then figuring out how to implement.
Our guests flew in and they were made to download an app and have to check in periodically as they move around so they can be monitored for the 14 day quarantine aboard.
I suggest anyone coming over to check in at Chub, it was easy and quick, I hear checking in at Nassau is a bit more problematic.
Will update as more info becomes available.

Do the Bahamian residents them selves go thru any screening? Seems they come and go to FL with minimum issues.
Rumors, Just old stories and rumors, say the second and largest wave of the virus hit and still expanding when they first tried to open up and residents moved around quickly for visits, shopping and many returning home from the states.

Kind of hard to understand that a bunch of boaters (a back bone of their economy) must jump thru so many hoops.
It is near not worth the effort any more for the small boat owner to go over there.

Operations like Pascals that run an active charter boat in/out the islands are a larger part of that back bone.
I wonder how many charter boats are working the keys or gulf coast.
Still pretty sand, crystal clear water, remote spots, crowded spots, fishing, diving, play-toys, scallops and more.
And your not treated like a parolee.

Figuring the northern islands are still storm clobbered, I figure the islands would try to make it easier for boaters to come over.
Riddles like shooting them selves in the foot or, ready, fire, aim,,,, come to mind.