#2 Sailing the Bahamas: Bimini to Norman's Cay

[@MaverickSailing]

Nice video, thanks for sharing. I look forward to when I have my boat restore enough to start traveling. I visited the Bahamas when I was a kid, back in the mid 80's with my grandpa, I still remember all the great places we went.

[@kevtamus]

Maverick Sailing Thanks...and we're trying....Exumas is a little trickier than I was expecting....lots of strong currents and lots of shallow places - makes us happy we have a cat, I'd really freak out if we had a deep draft. What kind of boat are you working on?

[@MaverickSailing]

I've got a 1978 Chrysler C26 swing keel that my dad has had sitting for about 8-9 years. When I went with my grandpa we chartered a 37' Irwin, there was a total of 8 us onboard. If you check my videos you'll see I have a lot of work to do.

[@blugrasssful]

Great video work. I think of all the live aboards I watch you folks do the best job with maps and giving us in great detail where you are and where your going. Thanks for taking the time to share.

[@kevtamus]

blugrasssful Thanks - huge compliments....thanks for the kind words

[@MrCaptbear42]

Kevin, thanks for sharing, I knew there was more to the Bahamas than mega-restorts marinas and mooring fields...seeing the remote places off the beaten path is the best. Thanks this is my kind of cruising, I take off this fall, finally. Keep enjoying, fair winds and following seas.

[@kevtamus]

Barry Tyler Your welcome...love to hear feedback like this. And I'm beginning to appreciate the secluded beaches - here in Georgetown, with 300 other boats is cool, and a nice break as we have all of the modern conveniences of home - free over the air TV, wifi internet, pump out boats, and grocery stores...but it will be nice to get back on the move again where we have the whole island to ourselves. Good luck with your cruising plans.

[@Bra55Monkey]

Looks like a blast! I can't wait to make it to that area over the ocean.

[@bobkd5fjd823]

Condolences on the loss of your baby (Daisy Ray). It is very traumatic to lose a pet but I'm sure even more so while on this adventure. Our hearts go out to all of you during this time. I'm sure she enjoyed the adventure as well. Best of luck and glad I found your channel. I have always had the dream you guys are living, and so young. I am afraid time has passed me by for and adventure such as what you are going thru. I will live out me dream with you and several others that I am following. God Bless!

[@kevtamus]

Bob Wieters Thanks for the kind words. And it was tough going through this and just magnified on a boat, we're just thankful we got her to a place in a timely matter so she wouldn't suffer any longer. But time has healed it just a bit. But on a brighter note, we're glad to have you along for the virtual ride through this adventure - and don't forget to get caught up with the rest of the journey all the way to Episode 9 - and I'm now hard at work on Episode 10. Thanks for the comment and for watching and stay tuned.

[@SVLOKEE]

Great job on the videos! and I'm very sorry for your loss...

[@AllynHane]

Awesome adventure! Beautiful clear blue waters . I love your vids. (and out takes too lol)

[@kevtamus]

Allyn Hane Thanks...really appreciate it.....and I wish we had the camera was running more often - as much as I stumble and fall all over this boat, it would make for some really good out-takes. Thanks for watching.

[@rickharris5485]

I don't know why, but my eyes started sweatin, there at the end. That was a nice tribute.

[@iitywyswm]

Hi! Just watched your first two videos and really enjoyed them. I was pretty sure I wanted a cat before I watched, now im sure of it. Those waterline shots did it. I have a C&C 40 that draws 6 feet. (No wonder my insurance doesn't cover the Bahamas. ) Looking forward to more videos. Very nicely done.

[@kevtamus]

William McKelvy Thanks...yeah, sometimes it gets so shallow that it makes us nervous - like even under our keels only clearing by about 6 inches. Thanks for the comment....next video is almost done, I'm still editing the sound...stay tuned.

[@RNZN102939]

Hi again, a pooch is like something that we humans can never emulate, they are always happy to see you, they never get angry with you, all they want to do is please you, so your sadness is well justified, lest we forget. regards Brian s

[@stephensidaras7416]

Happy to show you around Antigua if you come this way.

[@kevtamus]

***** we actually might do that...do you live there? We will be making our way down starting June 1st....keep an eye on our "where in the world are we" link from my blog. Thanks for the comment.

[@patrickhogan4196]

So Sorry for your Loss of Daisy,a Fine tribute! Let the Adventures Continue.

[@kevtamus]

Patrick Hogan Thanks....she was an awesome dog....and thanks again for watching the video until the end.

[@TonyAnschutz]

Well done. Having just finished the same passage on my little Gemini I know it well. Nice to see your side of the same trip. Keep um coming!

[@kevtamus]

ScubaTony Anschutz When did you do it and what again was the name of your boat? (sorry if you've told me before.) And where are you guys now? I've already started on the next video....anytime I'm stuck in the boat, I'm working on the next video....stay tuned.

[@TonyAnschutz]

Boat is called Bazinga. It is in Nassau now. We will be back to it at the end of March to continue south in the Exuma's. Would love to say hi if you are still around the area.

[@kevtamus]

Cool...would love to trade sailing stories with ya'll if we get the chance.

[@richardvaughan6462]

you guys have a nice catamaran!! enjoying your videos.

[@lucky_striker1239]

man I miss the Bahamas that was my best springbreak.

[@legend343]

Wow... Looks perfect there... How deep is your draught.? We have 5'7", maybe a little too deep for that piece of paradise.. Thanks for sharing.! Warren s/y Legend

[@kevtamus]

legend343 We think the draft (I forgot to measure it while it was out of the water) is around 3 1/2 to 4 feet....but we're not quite sure.

[@greenstaraz]

SUPER editing & voice over , Very Nice Gotta Ask, what program are you using ?

[@kevtamus]

greenstaraz Thanks! But I use pretty simple programs - Windows Live Movie Maker for the film editing and Audacity to mix all the music fades and voice over. I also use a Blue Yeti microphone to help with this God awful voice I'm cursed with.

[@greenstaraz]

Kevin s/v Catchin' Rays The Best thing about a Quality Mic like the Blue Yeti microphone is that you should never have to buy another.

[@MOTORVESSELFREEDOM]

I will be there for 3 months....What satellite program do you use to see your boat...Great job

[@kevtamus]

John Ahern So far, its the most asked question....hope the answer doesn't ruin the illusion. Thanks for watching. "I was wondering if someone would ask about that....which means I did a pretty good job. But I have had many more people ask about it than I ever imagined. And now I am almost embarrassed to admit how I did it...and maybe I should just tell everybody I have connections with NASA and they shoot a picture after I tell them my coordinates....but that's not the case.What I did is found my boat on Google Earth (it was still in the boatyard where I bought her)....grabbed that image...cut out all the surroundings, and paste it into where I am anchored and I try to position it the way that I am anchored, and I also "erase" the other boats that might be in the Google image. Its a little cheesy, but it gives our family and others a good idea of where we are and I think it works pretty good. Hope that doesn't ruin the idea that I have satellite images of each anchorage I visit. But it truly is an image of my boat."

[@MOTORVESSELFREEDOM]

Kevin s/v Catchin' Rays Awesome job.......Thanks for answering. Look forward to your next video

[@supredogiton]

great video, also what kind of boat is that?

[@kevtamus]

EristrikeStudios Thanks, and its a 1995 42' Fountaine Pajot Venezia.

[@_kline9571]

does it cost money to stay on hook for the night? im asuming where you stayed its free. im gusing only the marineas charge? if you stay out in open water is it hard to find a place to keep the dingy so you can get supplys??? I'm looking to do the same one day so thanks for the videos

[@kevtamus]

+Aaron Kline Living on the hook doesn't cost a thing....that's why its so great...you get to live in paradise without paying anything. Never a problem to find a dinghy dock to tie up to when shopping....places that have known anchorages, cater to us cruisers, so there will be wifi signals to latch onto, happy hours, specials, etc...but in some places you'll want to have some sort of way to lock up your dinghy to the cleat at the dock....but I think we only did that in St Thomas and that was it, every place else you just tie up and leave enough line out so people can maneuver around you if they need to. Oh, but don't forget, moorings do cost in addition to the marinas...and more and more places are going to moorings instead of letting you set a hook - they say it tears up the ocean floor - so be prepared to have the amount of good anchorages to slowly diminish over time and they usually run between $15-$30 a night depending on where you are. Still too much for us, so we try real hard to only stay on a hook unless we splurge and stay at the marina. Thanks for watching and good luck with your own adventure.

[@noylddot]

Great Video! When you say fast internet, how fast are you talking? Also what are you using to receive internet?

[@kevtamus]

noylddot Thanks, well when I say "fast internet" that doesn't mean its like fiber optics, it means for being over 1000 feet away from shore, using this Alfa router with an omni antenna, its pretty fast - sometimes you can stream youtube videos, and sometimes you have to wait awhile. But I get it with an 8 dpi omni antenna running through an Alfa router and another wifi Alfa box that's stuffed into that orange box on the aft port side of my boat.

[@kevtamus]

Kevin s/v Catchin' Rays Oh...so far its seems we get the best luck with Bahamian Wifi...its found on some of the more populated anchorages and you can pay by the day, week, month, 6 months, or a year.

[@noylddot]

Thanks for the info! It seems like internet access is the toughest problem for cruisers on sailboats.

[@barilro]

Nice video. When you take a google satelite picture of your position, is it your boat visible?

[@kevtamus]

Robert Baril I was wondering if someone would ask about that....which means I did a pretty good job. What I did is found my boat on Google Earth....grabbed that image...cut out all the surroundings, and paste it into where I am anchored and I try to position it the way that I am anchored, and I also "erase" the other boats that might be in the Google image. Its a little cheesy, but it gives our family and others a good idea of where we are and I think it works pretty good. But it truly is an image of my boat.

[@collingtech1]

job well done

[@barilro]

Kevin s/v Catchin' Rays Seemless editing...

[@sachamo100]

Are you retired? What type of work were you involved in before Cruising? I have hoped to do the same but stil need to pay off the house.

[@kevtamus]

sachamo100 You need to go over to my blog where I've documented most of your questions and how we changed our lives completely to be able to do this full time. But I'll start you off with "how we plan to afford it" link. But yes, we are pretty retired as I don't plan on going back to work if I can avoid it...but being a nurse allows me the opportunity to do so if need be. www.catchinrays.net/2013/10/from-dream-to-reality-how-we-plan-to.html

[@sachamo100]

Great, Thanks and the best to your family!

[@mikestone9129]

Did you find any of Carlos Lehder's coke?

[@onlyychevys]

Great video as always! So sorry about Daisy, just like loosing a kid.S/V N2deep

[@kevtamus]

onlychevys Williams Thanks man...and she was a good dog....never thought she'd live long enough to see the boat, but she was a tough cookie, and we're all glad she got to play on the beach a couple of times before she went to heaven.

[@Dougyelnats]

Looks like good times, same with my wife piles of shells, and no stepping in the icky water "something might bite her toes"

[@kevtamus]

Dougyelnats Well...there is a reason....she has a bad wound on her foot that she's been dealing with for almost a year. We have a good video on it under the misc. videos and she still has one tiny spot that is open - so she doesn't want to get it wet until its healed. But its funny how I have gotten some comments about how we carry her to and from the boat...but that's fixin' to change, and that's fine with her. Thanks for watching.

[@ripomatic]

keep up the video's! Very Sorry to hear about your dog, We recently had to let ours go after 16 years, Its much harder tha you ever imagine!

[@kevtamus]

rip-omatic Thanks...yeah, it was really sad around here...but she had a good life and was an awesome dog.

[@mrmcgowan2]

Curious what the little box and antennae is on the rear port side?

[@kevtamus]

ehlo_moto That little box is how I'm able to reply to your question...its our version of the Wirie AP. Its an Alfa R36 router with the Alfa AWUS036NHR under the 8 dbi antenna. Its not the best way to get a wireless hotspot - the hot-stick that uses cat5 is a better choice I think, but so far it picks up a pretty good signal from a few hundred yards away from shore. We also got the waterproof box at Home Depot - these parts are pretty much the same equipment that The WirieAP uses in their system, but this is a fraction of the cost if you don't mind putting it together and doing a little troubleshooting.

[@mrmcgowan2]

Kevin s/v Catchin' Rays Very Cool, Im a network guy and was pretty sure thats what it was. Interesting you chose an omni rather than a directional. Trade off between connivence and range I guess. Love the vids, keep on cruising.

[@kevtamus]

Thank you, thank you very much....and every place I looked, they use an omni - you just move around too much to use directional.

[@bugsmoran21]

sorry for your loss

[@kevtamus]

Bugs Moran Thanks....she was a good dog for such a long time and we still miss her - and every time we watch the tribute at the end of this video, it still breaks us up a bit.

[@irockuroll60]

Awesome... Tough life

[@kevtamus]

irockuroll60 Yeah, but somebody's gotta do it.

[@rainmaker3700]

What make of Cat is that, a Leopard?

[@kevtamus]

Its a 1995 Fountaine Pajot Venezia.

[@foolishbehavior9705]

Heartbreaking loss.

[@kevtamus]

+foolish behavior Yeah...still makes us sad when we see this video.

[@seawolf7559]

Great Vid!

[@kevtamus]

S/V SeaWolf Sailing Thanks guys....I've been keeping up with your adventure as well. I stayed with Chris and Joyce from s/v Saltrun when we got back to the country on August 3rd....it was good to see them - they are back in Miami and working for a bit before next season.

[@gadabout2110]

This videos are an inspiration to us! We are travellers with a hunger for adventure. I would really appreciate feedback on our work and hopefully one day we can share a cold one and good anecdotes.

[@kevtamus]

Thanks. I'll check it out!

[@lowcountrydawg2525]

Nice video, and a touching tribute to your boat dog. I had a great boat dog as well, who sailed the Bahamas with me on two separate occasions. Once from the Abacos down to Georgetown and back, and once just in the Abacos. He lived from 1997 to 2013. Like you said, gone but never, ever forgotten. Fair winds to you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKKpqZtrf7Ohgbc

[@briztia]

does the wife get sea sick???

[@kevtamus]

piney power Maybe a little, but its real hit-and-miss with her, but normally she handles the waves pretty well and has no issues.

[@willymueller3278]

I never understand why they are fishing and then throw the fish back in the water. I only fish when I am hungry, dont just play with those animals, bastards.

[@kevtamus]

We throw back fish that we don't want to eat - hopefully even a dumb-ass like you can understand that.

[@willymueller3278]

Well, that sounds more like it, I know many so called fisherman, they go fishing just for fun and throw everything back in. Dumb - ass.