19 May 2008, Ordinance Island, St George's Harbour
Once we reached the buoys marking the Town Cut, we entered the harbour and raised the yellow quarantine flag as is required when you enter any foreign port. After we've been cleared for entry we'll then be free to lower the Q flag and raise the courtesy flag of our new host country. As we approached the clearing facility on Ordinance Island, Bermuda Radio advised us to stand clear as there were other vessels in process at the time and no available space on the dock. Apache had entered the harbour an hour before us and had been circling for all that time which must have been frustrating and difficult with 5 kids under 10 all desperate to step foot on land. By this time the predicted increased winds of 25-30 knots and gusting had started to hit and it was hard work keeping Meander at bay. Having two motors to manouvre with helped. Both vessels were finally called to the dock by Bermuda Radio and our clearing procedures began. The Importation Permit for Milo was out of date 5 days so we weren't sure how strict they would be in allowing him entry. Worst case scenario was that he wouldn't be allowed ashore. As it turned out, the clearing officer bred Shih Tsus and when he found out Milo was one, he phoned the Dept of Environmental Protection and they gave the ok to allow Milo ashore. Until that time he was restricted to the boat. Clearing in cost us $35 per person and took about half an hour. Then we were free to move the boat, tie up at a dock, lower the Q flag and raise the Bermudian flag, and step ashore as tourists.
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Comments [0]
19 May 2008, 5.15am and 23 nautical miles from Bermuda
It is a requirement that all vessels entering Bermudian waters make contact with the Bermuda Harbour radio on VHF 16 to advise of their approach and impending arrival. We have radioed and estimate our arrival time at 4 hours. They ran through a questionnaire which identified the details of our vessel, our flag, home port and registration no. We ran through the crew list and safety equipment on board including the registration number of our EPIRB. They then advised that once we passed the St David's lighthouse and had the spit buoys in sight, we should radio and request pemission to enter St Georges harbour. About an hour and a half out of Bermuda, its craggy outline rose up on the horizon. For the first time in seven days we had sight of land. It was a sight for sore eyes but we knew we still had a good hour and half before we'd reach the buoys marking the entrance to the Town Cut and St Georges Harbour.
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18 May 2008, 4.30pm and 98.95 miles from Bermuda
Less than 100 miles to Bermuda now and we're all keen to get in nice and early on Monday. Herb has said the winds will build some time tonight and should reach gale force in Bermuda tomorrow morning. When he says gale force, he's talking 25-30kts with gusts up to 35 or 40. Chris predicted differently and said we'd have 20-25 knots in the morning. Herb had suggested we stay south of Bermuda another day if we wanted llighter conditions for entry but we've done these conditions already in this trip so all three of us are ready to take her in on Monday morning. Conditions are really quite comfortable at the moment and we're hoping the increased winds doesn't start up in the middle of the night.
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