Sailing from Miami to the Bahamas: What You Need to Know in 2024.

Dreaming of sailing from Miami to the Bahamas? Make your trip a success with this comprehensive guide, complete with tips and tricks from experienced sailors (us).

Sailing from Miami to the Bahamas has marked the starting point of many liveaboard journeys.

Including ours (the international part).

We sailed from Miami to the Bahamas on our sailboat, a Privilege 42 catamaran.

With crystal-clear water, soft white sand, coral reefs and amazing sea-life, Bahamas never fails to impress both eager sailors and hesitant teens aboard.

See some of the amazing places we have visited: Our Destination Posts

Here is our first anchorage in Bimini, right by the official buildings, where the captain entered our vessel into the country.

I was a bit nervous about that darn Gulf Stream crossing, but everything was just fine, and we had a great passage.

So, let me help you do the same.

Before you know it, you will be diving in the blue-green water, just like we did during our passage to the Berry islands.

How long does it take to sail from Miami to the Bahamas?

It takes around 10 hours, at 6-7 knots average speed.

We left Miami on a Thursday, at around 2200, and reached Bimini the next morning, around 0730, after around 55 miles of sailing.

The closest island group to the US is Bimini.

A small group of islands around 50 miles from Miami. There is a check in point in Bimini, as well as a beautiful, spacious and protected anchorage, for the crew to wait and rest, while the captain of the vessel is completing the check-in.

As most sailors, cruising south, we selected No Name Harbor, Miami, as our starting point.

To minimize night sailing, you can also leave around 03:00 – 04:00 in the morning and arrive in the Bahamas at noon.

Plan your route and check the weather.

Before setting sail, it’s important to plan your route and check the wind and waves forecast.

That means checking the direction and strength of the wind, as well as the height and period of the waves.

We always use at least two sources (typically Predict Wind and Passage Weather).

All of our boat gear posts: Boat Gear @ No Texting and Tacking.

Wait for the right wind.

You will have to cross the Gulf Stream. It is perfectly doable and can act in your favor if you wait for a favorable weather window.

The best piece of advice we can give you is to never try to cross the Gulf Stream with a wind from the north.

Winds from the southwest would be perfect, but they don’t happen too often. Many of these drag a storm alongside, if strong enough.

Even with as little as 10-15 knots of wind from the north, the waves will build up, and crossing the Gulf Stream can be dangerous, as well as very uncomfortable.

I am not a big fan of sailing and passages in general, so 15-20 knots of wind is plenty for me. Keep in mind that the wind speed you see on Predict Wind is a good estimate, and gusts are always present. Add 5 knots to whatever we see on the chart.

If sailing with a family, and still at the start of your journey, take it slow and easy, thank me later.

Consider the waves.

When sailing out in the ocean, the swells might seem high, but if they are spaced apart far enough, it will be a comfortable passage.

That space between the waves is the wave period.

For me, 10 seconds and up is a nice number. We have sailed in smaller waves, but close together (typically in shallower bays), and the ride is not fun at all.

The waves in the Gulf Stream do build up a bit, and if there is a north wind, pushing against the direction of the massive Gulf, the washing-machine ride is guaranteed.

So, avoid winds from the north, and you will get manageable waves.

Pick the shortest route.

Due to the Gulf Stream’s powerful current, of around 5 miles per hour, you will not be able to cruise to the Bahamas straight across.

The current will end up pushing you to the north, as you are heading east. Keep this in mind, when you adjust your bearing.

Sailboats travel slower, adding to the additional miles to the north.

We were able to sail the entire time, keeping an average speed of around 7.5-8 knots! We even had the sails reefed a bit, but the wind never increased to more than 20kn.

For us, it was a fast sailing trip, with winds on our beam the entire passage, even though PredictWind showed them shifting.

Tip: Take any wind forecast with a grain of salt, the European model on PredictWInd (ECMWF) is more accurate.

Ensure your boat is in good condition.

Before embarking on your sailing trip from Miami to the Bahamas, check your main systems and safety gear. It is a good habit to get into, before any passage.

Repairing anything is a lot easier and faster in the US. Not to mention the hassle of shipping parts.

Here are the tools our Captain deemed most important: 27 Important Tools for Boaters. Our Captain’s Favorite Toys.

Since our boat was a bit of a fixer-upper, we spent 5 months in a boat yard, in St. Augustine (not complaining) before sailing to the Bahamas.

It was a bit unfortunate to lose so much cruising time and almost miss the best season, but we wanted to ensure everything was working. Especially sailing with kids aboard.

Speaking of sailing with kids, check out my popular post:

Sailing and Socializing Kids – 8 Ways to Find Friends on the High Seas.

After a semi sleepless night, we reached the beautiful Blue Gatorade waters of the Bahamas. It was all a gentle cruise for the kids, who took Dramamine and went to bed as we left Miami, only to wake up in Bimini the next morning!

Obtain the necessary documents and permits.

You can complete the pleasure vessel clearance online, but will need to then take the forms to be stamped, at the port of entry. So, print them before you leave for the Bahamas.

We first traveled to the Bahamas during the semi-impossible traveling times of the pandemic. Nowadays, it is much easier.

Here is a list of what you need to legally cruise the Bahamas as an American citizen:

• A valid passport for every passenger aboard.
• Visas are not required up to 90 days of stay.
• A yellow quarantine flag to notify Customs of your arrival.
• A curtesy Bahamas flag to fly once checked-in.
• A cruising and fishing permit (for either 3 or 12 months).
• Immigration cards filled by every passenger aboard (downloadable).
• No Covid vaccinations or Tests are required for entry as of February 2024.

For the most up-to-date and accurate guidance regarding documentation and cruising requirements, visit the official website below:

Pleasure Vessel Clearance – The Bahamas Customs Department

For updated health-related travel information and requirements, visit:

COVID-19 Information for The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands – U.S. Embassy in The Bahamas

You can clear customs and immigration right in Bimini. The anchorage is easy to navigate and plenty deep.

Only the captain of the vessel is allowed ashore, but we had no desire to get off the boat, anyway. The kids jumped in, to snorkel and look for sharks.

Fishing Permit

Even if you have no idea how to fish (like we did not), you will catch something.

The Bahamas waters are excellent for fishing, conch and lobster catching. But conch is impossible to clean. But it tastes so good.

We did it all – fishing off the boat, lobsters and spear fishing. And dinners were amazing aboard Graceful. Little Harbour Cay was one of favorite spots for lobsters.

Just like applying for entry, fishing permit can be obtained online. I read the latest (as of February 2024) rules and regulations and here are the main points:

• Anyone fishing from a foreign vessel needs a sports fishing permit.
• Apply for your fishing permit before you leave your home country (it’s easier).
• Only three vendors are approved for fishing licenses: Click to Clear, Go Outdoors and a third one, whose web-page is currently broken.
• Everyone 12 years and older needs a permit to fly-fish.
• Sport fishers are allowed to have up to 6 mature conchs on their vessel.
• You can only obtain a sport-fishing permit after clearing Customs, not online.
• You need a sport fishing permit, if you wish to spear fish.
• Lobster catching season is from August 1st until March 31st.

Here is the official page for fishing info, for the Bahamas: Fishing Vacations – Frequently Asked Questions (bahamas.com)

Stock up on supplies and fuel.

Fuel and food are available in the Bahamas, as well as water. However, they all come with a higher price tag.

Depending on the duration of cruising, as well as your budget, it might be a good idea to stock up on some supplies and provisions before you leave the US.

We sailed the Berry Islands first, and there were very few options for grocery shopping. Very few.

Great Harbour Cay has a small grocery store, but everything is quite expensive.

I have a very detailed and long post, with meat and vegan meal plans and shopping lists, dedicated to provisioning for the Bahamas:

Provisioning for Bahamas in (With Free Meal Plans – Totally Doable!)

All of our boat gear posts: Boat Gear @ No Texting and Tacking.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Make sure you have a first aid kit on board and know how to use it.

I have a long blog post listing everything we purchased in preparation for our offshore cruising to the Bahamas and beyond. It is quite exhaustive:

First Aid Kit Aboard – Supplies and Organization.

There are doctors and clinics at every populated island town, in the Bahamas. You can find a contact number by asking at the local grocery shop, or marina.

But when it comes to those cool remote islands, it’s just you. So be prepared, just in case. Especially when traveling with kids, who like to jump, dive and chase all the time!

FAQ about sailing from Miami to the Bahamas.

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Worried About Sharks in the Bahamas? 10 Tips for a Safe Swim. 

How to Survive Pig Beach, Bahamas. Behind-the-Scenes Peek.

The Berry Islands – A Tropical Getaway Close to Home.

11 Great Reasons why Visit Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas

Sailing from Bimini to Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas.

6 Reasons why you Must Visit Little Harbour Cay, Berry Islands, Bahamas

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Provisioning for Bahamas (With Free Meal Plans – Totally Doable!)